FAQs

In January 2021 we held a public consultation on the initial design of Halifax Railway Station and asked for your feedback on the proposed improvements. The feedback we received has been considered in the updated design plans we are presenting in this public consultation. We have used your feedback to highlight how we are respecting and incorporating Halifax heritage into the new building, footbridge design and underpass. The design shows how the building will use sustainable products and greener features to meet the Net Zero Challenge.

Proposals for Halifax Railway Station are currently at an advanced design stage. In autumn 2021 we are asking all interested parties for their feedback on the design proposals through a public consultation. The feedback we receive will help inform the planning application. 

We are looking to submit the planning application in February 2022.

Work could start on the improvements in late 2022/early 2023 subject to planning approval. 

Calderdale Council is developing the scheme with Network Rail and Northern Trains which respectively manage the tracks and the station. Adjacent landowners including Eureka! and Nestle have been involved in shaping the improvements. The improvements are funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transforming Cities Fund and the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund.

The station will be operational with a normal service timetable throughout the improvement works, although facilities and access routes will be altered. 

It may not be possible to provide step free access at all times during the improvement works. We will notify station users in advance of temporary access changes and make alternative arrangements. 

Further details will be made available during 2022 to set out the proposed temporary arrangements during the new station construction.

The existing station footbridge is maintained by Network Rail and we are in discussions with them to make improvements to both the footbridge and platforms, including the platform lift, to make access easier for all passengers and visitors.

Four new bus stops will be created nearby, two on Alfred Street East and two on Horton Street. The new bus stops are improvements proposed as part of the A629 Phase 2 Programme. The Halifax Railway Station scheme will provide new signage at the station directing people to the bus stops. Installation of real time bus information at the railway station is being investigated.

There will be a dedicated pick-up and drop-off area for taxis as well as a pick-up and drop-off area for the general public immediately outside the station ground floor entrance. In circumstances where train services need to be replaced, buses will also use the pick-up and drop-off area directly outside the station.

A new town footbridge will provide direct access to make it easier and more convenient to get between the town centre and the railway station.  

A lift will take people between the western underpass, the ground floor level and first floor level.

There will be improved wayfinding towards Halifax Town Centre, the Piece Hall and connecting to the Eastern Gateway. We are providing step free access from the station to the Northern car park and Eureka! The historic underpass will be reopened to provide step free access to the station.

There will be an improved and more spacious waiting lounge inside the station building at both ground and first floor levels, providing passengers with a view of the platforms outside. The new facilities will include real time journey information boards. Passengers can wait for trains on the platforms or in the improved waiting lounge. Passengers will also have the option to wait on the platform for their train to arrive.

We have undertaken an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening which has determined that an EIA is required for the improvements to Halifax Railway Station and have agreed the scope of the EIA with the Local Planning Authority. The EIA will form part of the planning application. We have also undertaken ecology and tree surveys to inform the design and identify opportunities for increased planting of more varied species to be located in and around the station. The project team are currently undertaking lighting, noise and air quality surveys to inform the EIA and construction strategy.

We have undertaken a scoping exercise to identify potential transport impacts and we are currently carrying out further surveys and assessments. These will help to inform the Transport Impact Assessment. The details will be submitted with a future planning application.

We are undertaking a Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) to ensure that the needs of all railway station passengers and visitors have been taken into account. The DIA focusses on specific characteristics such as age, gender and religion (complete the list here) as defined in the Equality Act. The results of the DIA will be submitted with a future planning application.

By the time the station is completed, we would anticipate rail demand being back to pre-COVID levels. Increased railway use will be an important part of our carbon neutral agenda so having a facility fit for future demand is important. We will, however, ensure that plans are resilient to take account of any likely changes in demand and any future public health requirements.

Over the past few years, we have issued several press releases about the Halifax Railway Station scheme which have been reported by the local press, for example in the Halifax Courier and Huddersfield Examiner. Images shown in previous press releases may not be accurate as our designs have continued to develop. The plans that have been shared as part of the current consultation are the most up to date.

The footbridge design shown in this proposal is the twisted weave design, which is currently being taken forward subject to planning permission.

The existing station car parking provision on the road bridge will be relocated to the current Eureka! northern car park in front of the new station building at ground floor level. Spaces will be available for those using the station and for staff.

The new car parking areas will feature accessible walkways, well defined bays, improved lighting, CCTV, Electronic vehicle (EV) charging, and disabled user spaces. We will provide generous parking bays, to help people loading and unloading luggage as well as providing space for families and children. 

The proposed improvements to Halifax Railway Station have been made possible through funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transforming Cities Fund and the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund.

The funding has been allocated and is subject to confirmation of scheme details as follows:

• £16.5 million Transforming Cities Fund
• £10.6 million West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund
• £1.3 million Transforming Cities Fund Carbon Mitigation

The TCF is a major new programme of transport infrastructure investment aimed at providing a viable alternative to car journeys. Find out more information at  www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF

Network Rail, Northern Trains and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are currently discussing the management and payment arrangements for station car parking at Halifax Railway Station.

The station will have a new ticket office, ticket machines and potential for passenger turnstiles.

There will be new toilets in the station building for passengers. The facilities will include accessible toilets, baby change facilities and a Changing Place. Changing Places are designed so that they are completely accessible and provide sufficient space and equipment for people who are severely disabled. 

The toilets provided in the new station are being designed in line with Network Rail design guidance on public toilets in stations published earlier this year: Public Toilets in Managed Stations design manual NR/GN/CIV/200/04 (networkrail.co.uk) 

A lift will take people between the western underpass entrance beneath the station, the ground floor level and first floor level where the platforms are accessed via the existing footbridge, stairs and lift. The station facilities will comply with the latest standards for improving access for everyone, including those with disabilities.

Improved CCTV will be installed in the station building, car park, and within the reopened underpass. Better lighting will also be installed in the station building, car park and in the reopened underpass.

The redevelopment of Halifax Railway Station is part of an exciting wider investment portfolio for Halifax funded by Calderdale Council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, HM Government and others. This includes investment already delivered at the Piece Hall and Trinity College and Northgate House, and planned work to   the town centre infrastructure, Halifax Bus Station, Borough Market and Victoria Theatre. To see some of the schemes proposed for Halifax and Calderdale visit http://www.calderdalenextchapter.co.uk/ .

All interested parties can participate in the public consultation. Whether you live in, work in or visit Halifax, your views, opinions and feedback are valuable to help shape the improvements. 

Please share the link www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/hrs with anyone you think would be interested in taking part in the public consultation. If you intend to submit a joint response on behalf of a group or organisation, please share the link with your colleagues or members so they have the opportunity to provide an individual response, should they wish to do so.

If you have any other queries, please email: rachel.pechey@mottmac.com 

People travelling by bike will benefit from increased and more secure cycle storage facilities, step free access into and out of the station and improved access to local routes, including the Hebble Trail and A629.We will be providing off-highway cycling routes that will connect the new station to Church Street and Halifax Town Centre as well as further afield. 

We will also be providing e-bike charging points within the station mobility hub, to enable people to use more sustainable transport methods.

Providing an accessible, attractive and cleaner alternative to car journeys is at the heart of Leeds City Region’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) - a major new programme of transport infrastructure investment secured as part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal. The programme will be funded through £317 million from the Department for Transport (DfT) plus local match funding of up to £140 million. In partnership with local authorities, the Combined Authority will deliver transformational infrastructure, which will dramatically improve people’s access to walking, cycling and public transport. It is estimated TCF schemes will improve journeys by bus, rail, bike and on foot for up to 1.5 million people, take up to 12 million car trips per year off our roads and reduce CO2 emissions from car travel by up to 15,000 tonnes by 2036. Communities across Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York are set to benefit from the schemes, which include new or improved bus and rail stations, cycling and walking infrastructure, and new Park and Rides.

The Combined Authority is working in partnership with local authority colleagues from Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, Selby, Wakefield and York councils on the TCF programme.

It is estimated TCF will: 

• Improve journeys by bus, rail, bike and on foot for up to 1.5 million people
• Take up to 12 million car trips per year off our roads by 2036 
• Make 33 million rail journeys easier by improvements to rail stations 
• Increase bus, rail, and walking and cycling trips by up to 6%, 4% and 7% respectively by 2036 
• Reduce CO2 emissions by up to 1.5% / 15,000 tonnes from car travel by 2036 
• Create more than 1,000 jobs and add up to £1 billion to the economy by 2036 
• Support connectivity to 650 housing sites and 220 employment sites

As part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal, the Combined Authority secured £317 million from the DfT’s TCF programme to deliver schemes in the low-cost scenario. Since then, the Combined Authority has approved the use of future gain share funding, alongside other income streams, to deliver the high-cost scenario up to an additional £140 million. This additional funding will help us deliver more transport improvements, which will benefit communities across West Yorkshire.

This work is more important than ever, not only as we look to address the health and economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038. We need to reduce car trips by 21% and increase cycling trips by 2,000%, walking trips by 78%, bus strips by 39% and rail trips by 53% if we are to achieve our ambitious net zero targets in this time frame. The programme will connect people to economic and education opportunities through accessible, affordable, attractive and cleaner transport, boosting productivity and helping to create healthier and happier communities for the future. Through the programme and building on the significant progress already made, we are working in partnership to transform our town and city centres for walking and cycling, improve bus reliability and journey times, and investing in our region to prepare for HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

Communities across Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York are set to benefit from the schemes, which include new or improved bus and rail stations, cycling and walking infrastructure, and new Park and Rides. The programme is focused on connecting people in the communities of greatest economic need with job and training opportunities.  This will, in turn, help boost productivity, living standards and air quality.

There are 22 packages of schemes, comprising of 35 individual projects, within the overall programme. Different schemes are at different stages, right through from the development of business cases and designs, to gearing up for public consultation, with Halifax Bus Station redevelopment due to start on site in spring 2021. Find out more information at www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF  

The schemes funded through the DfT need to be delivered by spring 2023, with schemes financed by local match funding being delivered beyond these timescales.

To date, there has been minimal impact of the programme as a result of COVID-19.  The majority of the projects are at the early stages of development and much of the work required can be carried out virtually.    As the schemes move to the next stage of delivery, we will continue to monitor the impact and identify any risks to delivery. We are also looking at best practice ways of delivering public consultations and engagement activity to ensure all members of the community get the opportunity to have their say on TCF schemes during COVID-19. The full implications of COVID-19 on the region, the economy and the transport system are still to be understood and the impact on the Combined Authority’s programmes and schemes to date has been mixed. We are working closely with our local authority partners at every level of our appraisal process to ensure delivery timescales have taken into account the current issues and that each scheme is stress tested to ensure its ongoing viability. In the wake of COVID-19 it is more important than ever to assess the changes to the landscapes of our towns and cities, and the impact on current and future planned schemes, particularly, but not exclusively, those relating to transport. The impact of COVID-19 in relation to travel behaviour into and around towns and cities is assessed as part of each scheme’s appraisal. While public transport patronage is currently lower than pre COVID-19 levels, it remains a priority to invest in public transport infrastructure to both help with economic recovery and to have the required infrastructure in place to respond to an increase in demand post-COVID-19.

A range of options are being developed as part of each business case to determine the best scheme, which will include a range of options up to the high-cost scenario. As part of the devolution deal, the Combined Authority secured £317 million from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) TCF fund to deliver schemes in the low-cost scenario. Since then, the Combined Authority has approved the use of future gain-share funding, alongside other income streams, to deliver the high-cost scenario up to £140 million.

It will build on the significant investment already made through the Combined Authority’s other programmes, such as the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund, Connecting Leeds and CityConnect. Many of the TCF schemes provide enhancements or extensions to the projects being delivered through these programmes, helping to spread the benefits across a wider geography. The programme is focused on connecting people in the communities of greatest economic need with job and training opportunities.  This will, in turn, help boost productivity, living standards and air quality. For more information about the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund visit www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/projects/west-yorkshire-plus-transport-fund (External link) For more information about Connecting Leeds visit www.leeds.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/connecting-leeds-and-transforming-travel(External link) For more information about CityConnect visit www.cyclecityconnect.co.uk (External link)

Find out more information about the Transforming Cities Fund programme at www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF (External link)

Public consultation and engagement activities are scheduled to take place in 2021. Details of the TCF consultations can be found at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk.  You can get in touch with the Combined Authority’s Consultation and Engagement team via YourVoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk (External link), 0113 245 7676 or Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA). Please note that, due to the COVID-19 crisis, the majority of the Combined Authority’s staff are working from home and there will therefore be significant delays in receiving any postal contributions. If you can, please contact the team using another method to ensure a quick response.

The bid was led by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with the 10 local authorities across the Leeds City Region. It was developed in two stages, with a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) submitted to the DfT in June 2019. The final bid was submitted to the DfT in November 2019. The bid documents can be found at www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/TCF (External link)

The bid was developed in partnership with local authorities across the Leeds City Region, including Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, Selby, Wakefield and York. The bid was also co-developed with the DfT, which provided feedback on the plans as they emerged.  In line with other Mayoral Combined Authorities, we are required to feedback on the progress of the programme’s delivery.

The programme is focused on connecting people in the communities of greatest economic need with job and training opportunities.  This will, in turn, help boost productivity, living standards and air quality. As part of the bidding process, the Combined Authority was asked to develop a series of schemes, which could be delivered under three different cost scenarios (low, core and high).   Each scheme needed to meet the Combined Authority’s priorities, as well as objectives set out by the DfT, such as reducing carbon emissions, and increasing capacity for commuters with better access to employment centres, especially from disadvantaged communities. Schemes put forward by local authorities were scored against the objectives before being reviewed as a programme.   Once agreement had been reached between local authority and Combined Authority officers, the programme was signed off by each of the leaders, as well as members of the Combined Authority’s Transport Committee.