Regional leaders to discuss Leeds Bradford Airport railway station plans after years of little movement
The plans were first mooted over a decade ago
Proposals for a new parkway rail station to serve Leeds Bradford Airport have re-emerged after years of little to no movement.
The plans for a new station were first mooted over a decade ago – but since then there has been little progress on the ambitious scheme, which would make it much easier for passengers to get to the airport by public transport.
But next week West Yorkshire Combined Authority will discuss the next steps needed to push forward with the station.
They will hear that the suggestion is for a new station on the Harrogate line, between Horsforth Station and Bramhope Tunnel. Passengers would then travel to the airport by a shuttle bus.
On Thursday the Combined Authority board, made up of Councillors from across the region, will be told that the lack of a nearby rail station is a “drag” on the growth of the airport.
A report to members also says the station could help with plans to develop more housing to the East of Otley.
They will be asked to “endorse continued development of the LBA Parkway project including:
- Completion of a Full Business Case.
- Completion of necessary Ground Investigation work at the site.
- Identification of a workable timetable for LBA Parkway, including definition of any network enhancements required, and
- Identification of a funding strategy for the station.
A report says: “Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) is the largest airport in Yorkshire, over the past 25 years growing from a small airport handling circa 1.6 million passengers to an operation with circa 4.4 million annual passengers in 2025, contributing £460 million to the regional economy and supporting 6,600 jobs.
“LBA’s ambition is to grow to achieve seven million annual passengers using the airport by the early 2030s, and with that contributing an estimated £940 million to the regional economy and supporting a total of 12,140 jobs.
“The growth plans include £200m of private investment by the airport to increase the terminal and apron capacity and improving the customer experience.
“Whilst providing a different offering to other airports, there is strong evidence that a significant element of LBA’s expected catchment market is being ‘lost’ to other airports with some 9.5 million air passengers in Yorkshire and the Humber using other airports.
“Poor surface access is cited as a challenge to the accessibility of LBA and a factor in making other UK airports more attractive.
“It is a drag on the growth of the airport, with airport passengers travelling predominantly by car (88 per cent) utilising pickup and drop off, taxis, or the short and long stay car parks in and around the site, which places pressure on the local highway network.
“Currently public transport access to LBA comprises the Flyer bus network which runs three services from Leeds and Bradford and used by approximately 6-10 per cent of airport passengers, with the Bradford services being subsidised by the Combined Authority including a financial contribution from LBA.
“There is no direct rail link to LBA, with the nearest rail stations being at Horsforth or Apperley Bridge, with the latter connected by the A2 flyer bus.
“As a comparison, 20 per cent of passengers travelling to Manchester Airport do so by public transport, with approximately 16 per cent of all passengers doing so by rail.
“The rate of airport growth is being held back by these access issues.
“Investment in the highway network and public transport system to improve connectivity and offer flexibility to passengers is required to complement the airport’s £200m of private sector investment.
“The current surface access strategy is nearly ten years old and included ambitious targets around public transport mode share. This needs to be updated and implemented to support future planning applications, expedite growth targets and to ensure that regional economic growth can be maximised.
“Beyond the economic opportunity presented by LBA, there are proposals to develop the Northwest Leeds Employment Hub, a 36-hectare strategic employment site adjacent to LBA.
“The site has the potential to deliver large-scale employment growth across 65,000sqm of employment floorspace, generating over 750 jobs and an estimated £112m of GVA impact from development.
“There are wider aspirations to deliver significant housing growth in North Leeds, such as at East of Otley, and the emerging Leeds Local Plan has identified a need for further housing growth in North Leeds.
“The LBA Parkway Station scheme proposes to build a new rail station, car park and spur road connecting to the existing public highway (Scotland Lane) on the Leeds-Harrogate-York Railway Line between Horsforth station and the southern portal of the Bramhope Tunnel.
“The new station would provide a rail interchange to serve LBA and surrounding existing and proposed commercial developments. The rail station would also provide rail park and ride facilities through the provision of a rail station car park to serve commuters and leisure users travelling to major centres such as Leeds or York.”
It says the most recent estimates suggest a parkway station would cost around £65m.
A rail route that travels directly to the airport would have cost between £350m and £400m – although those estimates date back to 2016.
The meeting will be held in Wellington House in Leeds at 11am on Thursday.