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Monday 20 Oct 2008

BRINGING IN THE CHANGES AT BRADFORD

Region & Route:

Rail improvements works which will speed up journey times and reduce train congestion at Bradford Interchange are being carried out during the October half term.

Network Rail is investing £8.5m on works to track, station buffers and signals to improve passenger services at the station.

Some track works have already been completed and Network Rail is taking advantage of the school holidays, when there are traditionally fewer travellers, to complete the more complex works.

Warrick Dent, area general manager for Network Rail, said: "The massive amount of work we are carrying out at Bradford is to get rid of an historic bottle neck. It will speed up journey times between Leeds and Bradford by up to a minute and a half and will also mean that we can bring trains from Halifax in to platform one at the same time as a service from Leeds comes into platform two or four."

No services will operate from Bradford Interchange from 11pm on Friday 24 October to 5am on Monday 3 November. Bus replacement services will operate during this time.

Steve Butcher, area director, Northern Rail said: "Passengers will benefit from more reliable journey times once this work is complete. It will also help us deliver more journey opportunities for our customers along the Calder Valley with the introduction of our new timetable in December, including a fast service between Bradford and Manchester taking less than an hour."