UK City 200-miles From London Gets £35m Boost With New Lines Launched

Source: Visit website

A new rail platform has officially opened with its first new direct services to London. The expansion of the now four-platform station in Bradford was made possible by substantial government funding.

Beginning this week, around seven direct trains a day will run from the station to the capital – with more services expected to be added in December. This includes a morning northbound service that arrives in the West Yorkshire city at 9.52am.

The previous government announced funding for the new platform back in 2024, promising to support Bradford for its 2025 City of Culture year. The platform expansion was made possible thanks to £35million of funding from the government.

The report continued: "This is enabled by the opening of the new Platform 0 at Forster Square. LNER's expanded services to Bradford mark a significant boost in connectivity, supporting the city's UK City of Culture celebrations while driving economic growth and opportunity across the region."

Hinchcliffe confirmed that the new LNER trains will also benefit Shipley and will begin stopping off at the station's lengthened platforms in August.