FAQs

The Huddersfield Rail Station Connections scheme forms part of the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) for ‘transforming cities by transport’.  The Fund forms the next major programme of transport infrastructure for the Leeds City Region and will be essential to reducing reliance on car travel and meeting the Region’s commitment to become a net zero carbon city region by 2038. This will support better air quality, health and wellbeing outcomes for residents. Through improvements to bus quality and reliability as well as improving infrastructure for walking and cycling, we will create an attractive alternative to the private car and create more liveable places.

The scheme will contribute towards the outcomes of the TCF programme. It is estimated that the Leeds City Region TCF programme will: 

• Improve public transport and active travel options for 1.5 million people, of which 41% live in the 20% most deprived communities.
• Take up to 12.5 million car trips per year off our roads by 2036.
• Against a forecasted increase in carbon emissions from transport, reduce CO2 emissions from car travel by up to 1.5% (up to 15,000 tonnes) by 2036.
• Increase bus trips by up to 6%, rail trips by 4% and walking and cycling to 7% by 2036 – contributing to our targets.
• Add over 1,100 jobs and up to £1bn to the economy by 2036.
• Support connectivity to 650 housing and 220 employment sites that have the potential to deliver 45,000 new homes and 1,573ha of employment space. 

The results will be delivered by:  

• Transforming access to employment opportunities and skills provision for our communities in areas of persistent poverty.
• Creating smart, clean and liveable places which make cycling and walking the obvious choice for accessing town and city centres.
• Improving air quality and reducing car dominance in our town and city centres.
• Transforming the public transport and active travel offer to and from housing and employment sites, ensuring that people are able to make sustainable travel choices from day one.
• Making travel by bus an attractive and more reliable offer for commuters by spreading the benefits of ‘Connecting Leeds’ to the rest of the City Region. 

Funding of £13m has been allocated to the Huddersfield Rail Station Connections scheme.

The scheme is being funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF).

The money has been allocated to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority from Central Government for the Huddersfield Rail Station Connections scheme. The funding cannot be spent on other schemes.

The current proposals and options are based on feasibility drawings.  The feedback from the public and stakeholders will be used to inform the Outline Business Case submission to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The current forecast date for this is December 2021, although this is subject to change.

We will develop detailed designs as part of the Full Business Case submission to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The current forecast date for this is July 2022, although this is subject to change.

The current aim is to start work on site in autumn 2022. However, this is subject to approval from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s assurance process and Kirklees Council’s Cabinet.

Assuming a start on site in Autumn 2022, the current aim is to finish work on site in 2023.

A range of options have been considered during the development of the scheme. All options were reviewed based on their ability to meet the scheme and TCF objectives, cost, overall deliverability and impact on general traffic. Any options that were considered to be undeliverable though TCF, or had significant constraints associated with their delivery, were discounted. This helped narrow the options down to the final three which have been presented to the public.

In order to provide the dedicated cycle facilities (options 1 and 2), parking would be removed from beneath the railway viaduct and outside Empire House in John William Street, and opposite the former Post Office in Northumberland Street. In option 3, the parking beneath the viaduct would be removed, but it may be possible to retain parking near the former Post Office; this will depend on the space available for footways. The scheme is at an early stage of development and therefore the proposals to restrict parking are likely to evolve at the next design stage. Alternative parking is available nearby at Bath Street, Brook Street, Fitzwilliam Street, Lord Street, St Peter’s Street, Viaduct Street and Wood Street. In the 20 mph option 3, we are also proposing to provide a few replacement parking spaces on John William Street.

The one-way and two-way cycle lane schemes (options 1 and 2) would require the removal of the taxi rank outside nos. 68 and 70 John William Street. It may be possible to keep the taxi rank in the 20 mph option 3, depending on space available for the footway. As part of this consultation, we will talk to taxi operators and the businesses that might be impacted by the proposals.

There are no proposals for any new bus stops. However, for the cycle lane schemes (options 1 and 2), the bus stop/shelter at stand J4 on the west side of John William Street (near the George Hotel) serving outbound services would be made smaller than now to create more space for pedestrians.

The one-way and two-way cycle lane schemes (options 1 and 2) would mean the removal of the bus stop at stand J5 outside no. 72 John William Street for inbound services. It may be possible to keep this bus stop in the 20 mph option 3, depending on space available for the footway.  If the bus stop needs to be removed, provision will be made south of the junction, either in a new stop outside Lion Chambers or at the next block down where there is already a bus stop J3 outside no. 26 John William Street.

Yes. All three options will meet all legislation surrounding accessibility, Health and Safety and other similar requirements. Dropped kerbs and tactile paving will be provided at proposed crossing points to assist mobility impaired users.

New and upgraded pedestrian and pedestrian / cycle crossings may be provided throughout the route. This scheme aims to improve pedestrian safety and make it more pleasant and safer to walk in the area through footway widening in certain locations where existing provision is very poor and / or there is high footfall demand.

The provision of new cycle lanes would be achieved through widening into the central reservation, narrowing traffic lanes and in some locations possibly removing on-street parking. The potential location for cycle facilities and any impacts of this, particularly on parking availability, are shown in the consultation plans.

The aim of this first consultation phase is to find out public opinion on the principle of the proposals before investing further funding in scheme development. Initial modelling of the scheme designs using computer simulation has been undertaken to estimate any potential impacts on traffic delay. The next stage of design will develop this modelling further.  

Pedestrian access to all properties and shops will be maintained. Though we are proposing to prohibit motor vehicle access on Wood Street this would exclude access for loading and deliveries. Some of the proposed parking removal may mean that alternative loading areas would have to be used, or that deliveries would be restricted to certain times of the day (such as outside of peak periods). The scheme is at an early stage and these restrictions are likely to evolve throughout the design, which is why we are seeking your input now within this consultation.

No green spaces will be lost as a result of the proposals. Where feasible, we will explore the option of enhancing existing green spaces. The 20mph quiet street option, in particular, involves the planting of trees long the proposed central reserve and footway on Northumberland Street as well as John William Street.

Currently, there are parking restrictions along the sections of St. John’s Road, Oxford Street and Beck Road within the scheme area. Therefore, the scheme will have no impact on the current parking arrangements along these sections for residents and businesses, compared with the existing situation.  

On St John’s Road, the provision of new cycle lanes would be achieved by removing the central white line hatching, to the north of Beck Road, and by reducing the number of northbound lanes from two to one, between Fitzwilliam Street and Bath Street. Cycle lanes on Oxford Street will be achieved by reducing or removing the grass verge. These locations are shown on the consultation plans.

New and upgraded pedestrian and pedestrian / cycle crossings will be provided throughout the route. This scheme aims to improve pedestrian safety and make it more pleasant and safer to walk in the area, through footway widening in certain locations where existing provision is poor, or where large numbers of people walk,  and/or providing extra space for shared use cycle and pedestrian areas.

There are no proposals for any new bus stops.

The only bus stop that will be affected by the scheme is the one opposite Beck Road which will be moved north to improve safety. The proposed location is shown on the consultation plans.

Pedestrian access to all properties and shops will be maintained. The type of cycle lane considered may mean that alternative loading areas would have to be used, or that deliveries would be restricted to certain times of the day (such as outside of peak periods). The scheme is at an early stage and these restrictions are likely to evolve throughout the design, which is why we are seeking your input now within this consultation.

Each of the options presented mean that cyclists will be able to safely and conveniently cross the ring road. The subway has and will retain ramped access, meaning cyclists would not need to dismount when using the facilities.  

The proposed improvements to the pedestrian and cyclist crossings at road level feature dedicated provision for cyclists including a segregated cycle lane, meaning cyclists will be able to cross the Ring Road without mixing with pedestrians or motor vehicles, improving safety for all users. 

As part of our scheme consultation, we will engage with local cycle groups. Because the scheme is still in its early stages, we would like to hear your thoughts on this to help us develop the plans. 

Each of the proposed options aim to improve pedestrian safety and the local feel of the environment through providing new and upgraded crossing facilities at this busy junction. The improvements will make it safer and more convenient to cross the Ring Road, providing better access into the town centre.

It is envisaged that the scheme will have little or no impact on existing road space for cars. Where possible, general traffic lanes will be narrowed rather than removed to accommodate the segregated cycle facilities without taking space away from pedestrians. Some proposed improvements to crossings may result in a few more seconds delay, to enable pedestrians to cross more safely and conveniently, including disabled users.

Yes. Each of the options has been designed to ensure the scheme is fully accessible for disabled users. The proposed subway underpass will continue to have ramped access to ensure it is able to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The proposed improvements to the road level crossings include tactile paving and dropped kerbs for people with physical and sensory impairments and improve the currently informal crossings by introducing zebra or signalised crossings.    

We are also undertaking extensive engagement with key stakeholders including local accessibility groups, to ensure the scheme is fully accessible and meets the needs of all users. The proposed improvements will meet all legislation surrounding accessibility, health and safety and other similar requirements.  

The aim of this first consultation phase is to gauge public opinion on the principle of the proposals before investing further funding in scheme development.  The next stage of design will include modelling analysis and appraisal which along which, taken with the consultation feedback, will be used to develop the scheme further.

As the scheme is focussed on a junction where parking is not currently allowed, it is expected there will be no or minimal impact on parking.  This will be developed as the scheme evolves, and residents, businesses and any other stakeholders would be consulted regarding the detail of any impact on parking before any changes can be made.

As the preferred option to be delivered is still undecided, it is not yet known whether the scheme will require land outside of the existing highway boundary or land owned by Kirklees Council. This will be confirmed as design progresses and the preferred option is determined. Any affected landowners would be contacted directly by the project team.

In the unfortunate event we must remove a tree we will replace it with another three semi mature trees in a suitable location as close as possible. Our landscape team will aim to improve the biodiversity of the current landscaped areas around the junction.

The proposal will make the existing path more accessible, safer and attractive thereby contributing to the connectivity between the rail station and the town centre in general. The scheme has also been designed to allow for the addition of a cycle path, between the footpath and the proposed lighting, if the cycle network needs to expand in the future.

The railway station can become very busy at peak periods, and particularly when sporting or other events are taking place in Huddersfield. As upgrades are made to the Transpennine route and the town continues to grow, we expect this problem will worsen.  

We want to make travelling via rail in and out of Huddersfield as easy and convenient as possible. To help ease the flow of passengers through the station, we are working with the station facilities operator TransPennine Express (TPE) on the proposed changes at the entrance hall.

We will look to minimise disruption to the transport network during construction and in operation. We don’t anticipate that mobility hubs would significantly impact traffic conditions.

Yes, by simplifying journeys, mobility hubs will make Huddersfield more accessible to everyone and provide better links to the public transport network. Special measures are also being considered to enable mobility impaired users to travel longer distances with greater ease.

Mobility hubs are a relatively new concept to the UK, but they have proven successful where they have been introduced in various forms across Europe in recent years.

Mobility hubs will provide the flexibility to travel around Huddersfield more easily, regardless of whether or not they have access to a car. This will benefit people travelling for all purposes, including the daily commute and travelling for leisure.

The four main roads have been selected for mobility points because they have a high frequency of bus services linking the residential areas of Huddersfield to the town centre. They provide good links to nearby walking and cycling routes to enable people to travel without using a car.  The roads are also being improved as part of other projects, and mobility points would complement other measures to enhance waling, cycling and bus facilities.

The consultation period will take place from Tuesday 12 October 2021 until Tuesday 02 November 2021. Members of the public can have their say via the survey on this web page or email yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk. We are keen to hear from local residents, businesses and all road users.

Leaflets and posters are being provided in the areas around the scheme and real time information screens at bus shelters will display information. Stakeholders and services in Huddersfield town centre will also have leaflets. Anyone who cannot access the survey online and needs to request an alternative format should contact MetroLine on 0113 245 7676 or on email yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk and a paper copy of the consultation materials and survey can be sent to them for free.

We welcome opinions and feedback from all members of the public. Whether you travel by public transport, walk, drive, or cycle, are a resident, business owner, or just travel through the area, your views, opinions and insights are valuable to us to shape the project. Please share the link www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/hudds-access with anyone you think would be interested in taking part.  

If you intend to submit a joint response on behalf of a group/organisation, please do so via email on yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk. Please also share the web page link with your colleagues/members so they can provide an individual response, should they wish to do so.

You can register to follow the project and have your say in any future consultations at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/hudds-access. 

Updates on project progress will also be provided via the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Kirklees Council webpages and via press articles. You can also contact your Local Ward Councillors. We will publish a report on the consultation response on this website. 

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.

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  

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.

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.

The programme will deliver:  

• two new Park & Rides
• one new rail station
• four new foot and cycle bridges
• six new or improved bus stations and interchange hubs
• new high quality cycle routes along six corridors
• bus priority along six key bus routes to create more reliable and faster bus journey times
• 800 new cycle parking spaces
• seven improvements to Rail Station Gateways
• new Real Time Information and improved passenger experience across the network.

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.

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.

The West Yorkshire 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.

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.    

The Combined Authority is 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.

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.

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 DfT’s TCF 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   

For more information about Connecting Leeds visit www.leeds.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/connecting-leeds-and-transforming-travel   

For more information about CityConnect visit www.cyclecityconnect.co.uk

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  

Public consultation and engagement activities are taking place throughout 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 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.

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