Plans for two new city rail stations on track with new funding bid

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) began public consultations on opening stations close to the White Rose Shopping Centre, at Morley, and at a proposed park and ride scheme in the Thorpe Park area of East Leeds back in 2018.

Bids have now been submitted to the Department for Transport’s New Stations Fund, which announced £20m of new funding for the construction of new stations and restoration of disused rail links in February.

The plans are part of WYCA’s wider Connecting Leeds programme. The Thorpe Park scheme would, it said, improve transport links for commuters into the city centre and provide a much needed park and ride. The White Rose scheme would benefit shoppers and staff at a nearby office park.

Chair of WYCA Transport Committee, Coun Kim Groves, said: “Both stations will result in improved transport links across the region and will act as a catalyst for local regeneration and housing growth, economic activity and jobs in the surrounding area. We await to hear the government’s decision.”

surrounding area. We await to hear the government’s decision.”

When details of the scheme were first announced, Leeds City Council said the Thorpe Park station would provide "a rapid public transport link into the city for the planned population growth around it".

The White Rose scheme would "complement the transport offer in the area which already has a park and ride at Elland Road and where cycling infrastructure is due to grow with longer-term ambitions for the City Connect Superhighway in the future", Coun Richard Lewis, then-executive member for regeneration, transport and planning said.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said the bids had been received and would be assessed along with all of the other nominated stations.