White Rose is a planned railway station between Cottingley and Morley railway stations on the Huddersfield Line. It was featured in the Government's plans for the railway in November 2017[2] and in July 2018 further details were revealed as part of the Connecting Leeds Vision[3] with the consultation inviting opinions from the general public.[4] It is anticipated by the developers that Cottingley railway station will close due to the proximity of the two stations.
White Rose  | |
|---|---|
| Heavy rail | |
 The location of the station is behind the train, in line with the telephone mast | |
| General information | |
| Location | White Rose Centre, City of Leeds England |
| Coordinates | 53°45′40″N 1°34′44″W / 53.761°N 1.579°W |
| Grid reference | SE278294 |
| Managed by | Northern (proposed) |
| Line(s) | Huddersfield line |
| Platforms | 2 |
| Tracks | 2 |
| Construction | |
| Structure type | Elevated |
| Key dates | |
| 2024[1] | Expected opening |
History
editThe planned station will serve the White Rose Centre and the Millshaw Business Park,[5] and its location would be 2,460 feet (750 m) south of Cottingley railway station. Leeds City Council are considering whether to retain Cottingley station or to close it, when White Rose opens.[6] Speculation about the closure of Cottingley railway station has only been from the community who have pointed out that the station attracts only 265 passengers a day on average.[7]
The station is to be financed from the £173.5 million Department for Transport money that was given to Leeds City Council but left without portfolio when the trolleybus scheme across Leeds was denied permission by Patrick McLoughlin.[8] The funds needed to be used by the financial year 2020–2021.[9]
The station was approved by Leeds City Council in June 2020, with two platforms and a service pattern of two trains per hour in each direction.[10][11] The developers stated that this will probably lead to the closure of the nearby Cottingley railway station, and whilst this was not initially confirmed by Northern, Leeds City Council or the Department for Transport, confirmation of the station closure came in October 2021.[12][13][14]
Upon completion, each platform would be capable of accepting six carriage trains, with scope to expand the length to accommodate eight car trains. The scheme anticipates a footfall of 340,000 people per year.[15]
Construction delays
editConstruction of the new station was expected to be completed in early 2024, with an estimated cost of £26.5 million.[16][17][18] However, construction was halted in March 2024 due to increased costs.[19][20] In August 2024, it was still unclear as to when construction would resume,[21] though by November of the same year, it was announced that work would restart early in 2025, with a view to opening the station later that year.[22]
Services
editThe station is expected to be served by two trains per hour running between Leeds and Dewsbury/Huddersfield.
| Preceding station | Future services | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Trains | ||||
References
edit- ^ "White Rose Rail Station takes shape as Spencer Group delivers for partners". 19 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ Milner, Chris, ed. (January 2018). "Long-term reopenings to 'reverse Beeching cuts'". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 164, no. 1, 402. Horncastle: Mortons Media. p. 13. ISSN 0033-8923.
- ^ "White Rose Rail Station | Your Voice". www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ Lavery, Mark (4 July 2018). "Two new rail stations proposed in Leeds: Your chance to have a say on schemes". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ Kilgannon, Laurence (14 June 2017). "Funding to be granted for studies into major Leeds transport spending". Insider Media Ltd. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ Clark, Jess (5 July 2018). "Details of two new Leeds stations revealed". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ Comfort, Nick (March 2020). "White Rose station could mean Cottingley closure". Today's Railways UK. No. 219. Sheffield: Platform 5. p. 23. ISSN 1475-9713.
- ^ "Plans for three new Leeds railway stations unveiled". www.railtechnologymagazine.com. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ "Airport railway station plans revealed". BBC News. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
- ^ Murphy, Lizzie (12 November 2020). "New train station to be catalyst for growth". The Yorkshire Post. Business. p. 6. ISSN 0963-1496.
- ^ "Permission Granted For New White Rose Rail Station In Leeds". White Rose Office Park. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ Farell, Stephen (18 June 2020). "Green light for new Leeds railway station". Insider Media Ltd. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ Beecham, Richard (19 June 2020). "New train station to be built at White Rose shopping centre in Leeds". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ Beecham, Richard (5 October 2021). "Yorkshire railway station to close - and move to new stop half a mile down the track". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
- ^ Ryder, Alistair (19 June 2020). "Green light for £22 million White Rose train station in Leeds". Leeds Live. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "White Rose Rail Station". West Yorkshire Combined Authority. 2022.
- ^ Stein, Joshua (23 January 2020). "Plans for £22M Leeds station submitted". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ Wright, Greg (22 April 2022). "Spencer Group begins work on £26.5m White Rose rail station". The Yorkshire Post. p. 18. ISSN 0963-1496.
- ^ Jones, Leigh (19 March 2024). "White Rose railway station: Building work on a new railway station halted after 'unforeseen increase in costs'". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Grant, Alex (25 April 2024). "White Rose Station: Work on new Leeds train station remains on hold over cost concerns". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Stokes, Spencer (12 June 2024). "Uncertainty over future of new railway station". BBC News. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Johnston, Howard (20 November 2024). "Regional news - White Rose". Rail Magazine. No. 1, 021. Peterborough: Bauer Media. p. 24. ISSN 0953-4563.