Apperley Bridge railway station
Encyclopedia
Apperley Bridge was a station on the (Leeds and Bradford, later Midland) line between Leeds
and Shipley
, West Yorkshire
, England
, between 1846 and 1965. Metro
, the Passenger Transport Executive
for West Yorkshire, intends to re-open the station, along with Kirkstall Forge
in 2012.
Go-ahead for construction of both Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge was given in the National Infrastructure Plan released on 29 November 2011.
opened on 30 June 1846. At first, there were no intermediate stations, such had been the haste to get the line opened. Temporary stations were quickly provided, including Apperley Bridge, which opened some time during July 1846. A permanent structure followed about a year later. It comprised two platforms, partly covered by an overall roof. The main building ran parallel to the railway on the south side up at road level. A principal customer of the station was Woodhouse Grove School
, whose land had been crossed by the Railway. About 1849, the Railway agreed to purchase gas from the school in order to light the station.
The Leeds & Bradford Railway was leased to the Midland Railway
from just before its opening, an event of some importance in terms of railway politics. It contributed to the downfall of George Hudson
and helped ensure that Bradford never had a through railway. It had previously been thought that the Leeds & Bradford might join with the Manchester & Leeds Railway.
The Railway was widened to four tracks in about 1900, taking more land from Woodhouse Grove School, who used the money to build a swimming bath. The station was enlarged to four platforms, with a distinctive wooden building above at road level. The original station building was swept away when the cutting was widened to accommodate the new "fast lines" on the south side. Platform four, on the up slow line, remained the original of 1847 as there was not room to develop it. The other platforms, number 1 on the down fast line and numbers 2 and 3, the island between the up fast and down slow, were longer, wider and higher. Steps were needed to board trains on platform 4. There were canopies on all four platforms.
The station became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
during the Grouping
of 1923, and then passed to the London Midland Region of British Railways
on nationalisation in 1948. It was transferred to the North Eastern Region in 1957 and gained ten tangerine totem signs about 1961.
A goods yard operated in the angle between the main line and the Ilkley branch. This handled domestic coal until closure in June 1964. By that time the cattle dock was well overgrown. A small housing estate now stands on the site. The passenger station gained an enhanced service, almost at regular intervals, when diesel multiple units were introduced in January 1959. Just one stopping train remained steam-hauled after that, the 6.24 p.m. to Leeds, which conveyed more parcel vans than it did passenger stock. This was the "Derby Slow". It continued to Derby
after a lengthy pause at Leeds
.
The station was used by about 80 passengers a day, that is 80 joining and 80 alighting. With 40 stopping trains, that was an average of only two per train.
Apperley Bridge station was finally closed by the British Railways Board
, as a result of the Beeching Axe
, at about 9.30pm on 20 March 1965. The station handled parcels by passenger train right up to the final day. The delivery area was then transferred to station.
announced that Apperley Bridge was amongst five new or reopened stations which they wished to see achieved over the ensuing five years. One of these stations has opened - in 2005.
Metro has now submitted a business case and designs for both Apperley Bridge and Kirkstall Forge
. Plans for the station were displayed to the public on the 15 and 16 May 2009. It will have staggered platforms and a car park for 300 vehicles. It is projected that the station will re-open in 2012. A planning application was submitted in December 2009 and permission to build was granted by Bradford Council in March 2010.
Following the Comprehensive Spending Review in Autumn 2010 the Leeds Rail Growth Package has been included within the "Development" pool of schemes. Metro will submit a "Best and Final Funding Bid" in September 2011 and anticipates a decision from the Department for Transport in late 2011
Leeds City railway station
Leeds railway station is the mainline railway station serving the city centre of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England...
and Shipley
Shipley railway station
Shipley railway station serves the town of Shipley in West Yorkshire, England.Train services are mostly commuter services between Leeds and Bradford, the Airedale Line , and the Wharfedale Line...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, between 1846 and 1965. Metro
West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive is the Passenger Transport Executive for the county of West Yorkshire, England. It is the executive arm of the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority and was originally formed on 1 April 1974 as the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport...
, the Passenger Transport Executive
Passenger Transport Executive
In the United Kingdom, passenger transport executives are local government bodies which are responsible for public transport within large urban areas...
for West Yorkshire, intends to re-open the station, along with Kirkstall Forge
Kirkstall Forge railway station
Kirkstall Forge is a proposed station between Leeds and Shipley, West Yorkshire, England. Metro, the Passenger Transport Executive for West Yorkshire, intends to open the station along with Apperley Bridge....
in 2012.
Go-ahead for construction of both Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge was given in the National Infrastructure Plan released on 29 November 2011.
History
The Leeds and Bradford RailwayLeeds and Bradford Railway
The Leeds and Bradford Railway was formed in 1843 to bring the railway to Bradford: the line opened on 1 July 1846. The company was always closely allied with the Midland Railway, and within ten years the L&BR had been absorbed into the Midland, and disappeared.-History:The line and the two...
opened on 30 June 1846. At first, there were no intermediate stations, such had been the haste to get the line opened. Temporary stations were quickly provided, including Apperley Bridge, which opened some time during July 1846. A permanent structure followed about a year later. It comprised two platforms, partly covered by an overall roof. The main building ran parallel to the railway on the south side up at road level. A principal customer of the station was Woodhouse Grove School
Woodhouse Grove School
Woodhouse Grove School is an independent, coeducational, day and boarding public school and Sixth Form college in Apperley Bridge, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England for children aged between 11 and 18...
, whose land had been crossed by the Railway. About 1849, the Railway agreed to purchase gas from the school in order to light the station.
The Leeds & Bradford Railway was leased to the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
from just before its opening, an event of some importance in terms of railway politics. It contributed to the downfall of George Hudson
George Hudson
George Hudson , English railway financier, known as "The Railway King", was born, the fifth son of a farmer, in Howsham, in the parish of Scrayingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire, north of Stamford Bridge, east of York. He is buried in Scrayingham...
and helped ensure that Bradford never had a through railway. It had previously been thought that the Leeds & Bradford might join with the Manchester & Leeds Railway.
The Railway was widened to four tracks in about 1900, taking more land from Woodhouse Grove School, who used the money to build a swimming bath. The station was enlarged to four platforms, with a distinctive wooden building above at road level. The original station building was swept away when the cutting was widened to accommodate the new "fast lines" on the south side. Platform four, on the up slow line, remained the original of 1847 as there was not room to develop it. The other platforms, number 1 on the down fast line and numbers 2 and 3, the island between the up fast and down slow, were longer, wider and higher. Steps were needed to board trains on platform 4. There were canopies on all four platforms.
The station became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
during the Grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
of 1923, and then passed to the London Midland Region of British Railways
London Midland Region of British Railways
The London Midland Region was one of the six regions created on the formation of the nationalised British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway lines in England and Wales. The region was managed first from buildings adjacent to Euston Station and later from Stanier...
on nationalisation in 1948. It was transferred to the North Eastern Region in 1957 and gained ten tangerine totem signs about 1961.
A goods yard operated in the angle between the main line and the Ilkley branch. This handled domestic coal until closure in June 1964. By that time the cattle dock was well overgrown. A small housing estate now stands on the site. The passenger station gained an enhanced service, almost at regular intervals, when diesel multiple units were introduced in January 1959. Just one stopping train remained steam-hauled after that, the 6.24 p.m. to Leeds, which conveyed more parcel vans than it did passenger stock. This was the "Derby Slow". It continued to Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
after a lengthy pause at Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
.
The station was used by about 80 passengers a day, that is 80 joining and 80 alighting. With 40 stopping trains, that was an average of only two per train.
Apperley Bridge station was finally closed by the British Railways Board
British Railways Board
The British Railways Board was a nationalised industry in the United Kingdom that existed from 1962 to 2001. From its foundation until 1997, it was responsible for most railway services in Great Britain, trading under the brand names British Railways and, from 1965, British Rail...
, as a result of the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
, at about 9.30pm on 20 March 1965. The station handled parcels by passenger train right up to the final day. The delivery area was then transferred to station.
Future
In 1999, MetroWest Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive is the Passenger Transport Executive for the county of West Yorkshire, England. It is the executive arm of the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority and was originally formed on 1 April 1974 as the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport...
announced that Apperley Bridge was amongst five new or reopened stations which they wished to see achieved over the ensuing five years. One of these stations has opened - in 2005.
Metro has now submitted a business case and designs for both Apperley Bridge and Kirkstall Forge
Kirkstall Forge railway station
Kirkstall Forge is a proposed station between Leeds and Shipley, West Yorkshire, England. Metro, the Passenger Transport Executive for West Yorkshire, intends to open the station along with Apperley Bridge....
. Plans for the station were displayed to the public on the 15 and 16 May 2009. It will have staggered platforms and a car park for 300 vehicles. It is projected that the station will re-open in 2012. A planning application was submitted in December 2009 and permission to build was granted by Bradford Council in March 2010.
Funding
In September 2008, the West Yorkshire PTE announced that the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Transport Board had approved funding for its "rail growth programme" which includes stations at Apperley Bridge and Kirkstall Forge; this allowed a full business case for the two stations to be developed.Following the Comprehensive Spending Review in Autumn 2010 the Leeds Rail Growth Package has been included within the "Development" pool of schemes. Metro will submit a "Best and Final Funding Bid" in September 2011 and anticipates a decision from the Department for Transport in late 2011