Our Rail Strategy

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This engagement has now closed, thank you for taking part.

The full consultation outcome report is now available to view as well as an executive summary. You can also read the project team’s responses to points frequently raised in consultation responses.

On 14 March 2024, the Rail Strategy was approved by the Combined Authority.

The information below was presented during the public consultation between 12 June and 3 September 2023.

Train Tracks
The role of rail  

The railway plays an important and varied role in the lives of West Yorkshire’s residents and businesses.  It helps us get to work, goods get to market, visit friends and families and enables users to reach leisure, social, health and education opportunities.  It is a highly energy-efficient and low-carbon mode of transport.  

Rail journeys can be quick, comfortable and convenient. However, there are many challenges facing the rail network including overcrowding, poor punctuality and cancellations of trains, which are an inconvenience to passengers. 

Investment in new and existing rail infrastructure is vital to our region’s economy, as well as to our ambition to be a net zero carbon economy by 2038. 

Watch and listen to our West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin, introduce our rail strategy consultation: 



Rail Vision and Rail Strategy  

We engaged with you regarding our draft Rail Vision in January 2021 as part of the Connectivity Infrastructure Plan engagement.  The objectives set out in the Rail Vision were strongly supported by those who replied to the engagement survey. All feedback received has been considered, along with further technical input, and has informed this latest Rail Strategy.  You can read the You Said We Listened report here. 

The emerging Rail Strategy sets out our priorities and the next steps needed to deliver the Rail Vision for West Yorkshire up to 2050. It looks at how we can address the urgent issues impacting the railways, such as frequency, capacity, performance and the quality of the passenger experience.  It also looks at our priorities for the development of the rail network, transforming national and regional rail connectivity and ensuring there is adequate capacity for increased freight (non-passenger trains carrying goods) on the railways.  

Our Rail Strategy has identified four key priorities, with an implementation plan supporting their delivery. The priorities are: People disembarking a train

  • Delivering capacity for growth 

  • Improving station facilities and train services including accessibility for all

  • Decarbonisation (Transpennine route upgrade and further programme of electrification) 

  • Increased capacity for non-passenger (freight) trains carrying goods 

 


Who is this consultation for?  

The purpose of this consultation is to gather feedback on the Rail Strategy from statutory consultees, interested stakeholders and rail users’ groups who represent the interests of rail-user communities.  

Once the emerging Rail Strategy is confirmed, it will be further developed into a pipeline of interventions and schemes on which separate, public consultation will be carried out at a later stage. 


I am not a stakeholder, how can I have my say? 

We understand that rail is an important topic for many of you and we are pleased you want to share your views.  If you would like to complete the online survey please do so. We look forward to hearing your opinions. This is only the beginning of our process to engage with our communities about our rail plans.  

To make sure you don’t miss out on any further engagement, register to Your Voice so that we can keep you informed on future rail developments. 


Sharing feedback about specific journeys or services

We always encourage you to share your feedback about any issues you have with specific journeys or services.  However, the main aim of this consultation is to gather views on the Rail Strategy. This means that we will not be focusing on concerns about the operation of specific train journeys or networks at this time.  

If you do experience any issues with your rail service, and you want to share your feedback with us, we encourage you to speak to our Customer Feedback team. Find out more information and contact details here(External link). Or you can contact one of the train operators listed here(External link).  


Have your say 

Between 12 June and 3 September 2023, we are asking for your feedback on the Rail Strategy.  Your views are important, so please tell us what you think. 

Step 1: Have a look at the Executive Summary and the Rail Strategy (opens in a new tab) or by opening the relevant documents in the 'Please Read - Our Rail Strategy' section. 

You can also read our Frequently Asked Questions. 
 

Step 2: Tell us what you think by clicking the button below to complete our survey. You can respond to the survey anonymously. 

A teal button linking to our Rail Strategy Survey

Webinars 

We will be hosting a series of online webinars as part of this consultation. During the webinars you will have the opportunity to hear more about the Rail Strategy and ask your own questions to the project team.  

Please sign up for any of the webinars by following the registration links below: 

Please note, these webinars have now taken please. You can watch a recording under 'Webinar Recording' on this webpage. 

If you were unable to access our webinars, we are happy to provide further webinars, or face to face sessions, or contact you via your preferred method.  


Contact us  

To give your feedback on the proposals, please take part in the consultation survey via the link above. If you have any questions, you can get in touch with us via: 

  • Our Questions tool: Submit your questions and we will get back to you 
  • Email: yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk 
  • Telephone: 0113 245 7676 (MetroLine) 
  • Post: Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA) 


We look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments on our emerging Rail Strategy. 

The full consultation outcome report is now available to view as well as an executive summary. You can also read the project team’s responses to points frequently raised in consultation responses.

On 14 March 2024, the Rail Strategy was approved by the Combined Authority.

The information below was presented during the public consultation between 12 June and 3 September 2023.

Train Tracks
The role of rail  

The railway plays an important and varied role in the lives of West Yorkshire’s residents and businesses.  It helps us get to work, goods get to market, visit friends and families and enables users to reach leisure, social, health and education opportunities.  It is a highly energy-efficient and low-carbon mode of transport.  

Rail journeys can be quick, comfortable and convenient. However, there are many challenges facing the rail network including overcrowding, poor punctuality and cancellations of trains, which are an inconvenience to passengers. 

Investment in new and existing rail infrastructure is vital to our region’s economy, as well as to our ambition to be a net zero carbon economy by 2038. 

Watch and listen to our West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin, introduce our rail strategy consultation: 



Rail Vision and Rail Strategy  

We engaged with you regarding our draft Rail Vision in January 2021 as part of the Connectivity Infrastructure Plan engagement.  The objectives set out in the Rail Vision were strongly supported by those who replied to the engagement survey. All feedback received has been considered, along with further technical input, and has informed this latest Rail Strategy.  You can read the You Said We Listened report here. 

The emerging Rail Strategy sets out our priorities and the next steps needed to deliver the Rail Vision for West Yorkshire up to 2050. It looks at how we can address the urgent issues impacting the railways, such as frequency, capacity, performance and the quality of the passenger experience.  It also looks at our priorities for the development of the rail network, transforming national and regional rail connectivity and ensuring there is adequate capacity for increased freight (non-passenger trains carrying goods) on the railways.  

Our Rail Strategy has identified four key priorities, with an implementation plan supporting their delivery. The priorities are: People disembarking a train

  • Delivering capacity for growth 

  • Improving station facilities and train services including accessibility for all

  • Decarbonisation (Transpennine route upgrade and further programme of electrification) 

  • Increased capacity for non-passenger (freight) trains carrying goods 

 


Who is this consultation for?  

The purpose of this consultation is to gather feedback on the Rail Strategy from statutory consultees, interested stakeholders and rail users’ groups who represent the interests of rail-user communities.  

Once the emerging Rail Strategy is confirmed, it will be further developed into a pipeline of interventions and schemes on which separate, public consultation will be carried out at a later stage. 


I am not a stakeholder, how can I have my say? 

We understand that rail is an important topic for many of you and we are pleased you want to share your views.  If you would like to complete the online survey please do so. We look forward to hearing your opinions. This is only the beginning of our process to engage with our communities about our rail plans.  

To make sure you don’t miss out on any further engagement, register to Your Voice so that we can keep you informed on future rail developments. 


Sharing feedback about specific journeys or services

We always encourage you to share your feedback about any issues you have with specific journeys or services.  However, the main aim of this consultation is to gather views on the Rail Strategy. This means that we will not be focusing on concerns about the operation of specific train journeys or networks at this time.  

If you do experience any issues with your rail service, and you want to share your feedback with us, we encourage you to speak to our Customer Feedback team. Find out more information and contact details here(External link). Or you can contact one of the train operators listed here(External link).  


Have your say 

Between 12 June and 3 September 2023, we are asking for your feedback on the Rail Strategy.  Your views are important, so please tell us what you think. 

Step 1: Have a look at the Executive Summary and the Rail Strategy (opens in a new tab) or by opening the relevant documents in the 'Please Read - Our Rail Strategy' section. 

You can also read our Frequently Asked Questions. 
 

Step 2: Tell us what you think by clicking the button below to complete our survey. You can respond to the survey anonymously. 

A teal button linking to our Rail Strategy Survey

Webinars 

We will be hosting a series of online webinars as part of this consultation. During the webinars you will have the opportunity to hear more about the Rail Strategy and ask your own questions to the project team.  

Please sign up for any of the webinars by following the registration links below: 

Please note, these webinars have now taken please. You can watch a recording under 'Webinar Recording' on this webpage. 

If you were unable to access our webinars, we are happy to provide further webinars, or face to face sessions, or contact you via your preferred method.  


Contact us  

To give your feedback on the proposals, please take part in the consultation survey via the link above. If you have any questions, you can get in touch with us via: 

  • Our Questions tool: Submit your questions and we will get back to you 
  • Email: yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk 
  • Telephone: 0113 245 7676 (MetroLine) 
  • Post: Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA) 


We look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments on our emerging Rail Strategy.