Metro’s plans for new rail stations at Kirkstall and Apperley 
Bridge have moved a step closer.

Leeds City Council has given planning consent for Commercial Estates Group (CEG) to redevelop the 56-acre former Kirkstall Forge site in Leeds.

CEG has committed £4 million to the creation of a new railway station at the development where it is building modern homes, offices, leisure facilities, a hotel, retail, community facilities, bars and restaurants.

Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge stations will be built on the busiest stretch of the Airedale and Wharfedale lines between Leeds and Shipley. Building them at the same time on the same stretch of line will enable Metro to reduce costs and timescales.

Part of the funding from the CEG development could also be used to secure the additional trains required to meet the extra passenger demand that the new stations will create when they open, which could be in late 2010 / early 2011.

Metro is commisssioning Network Rail to oversee further work on the scheme for the two new stations in order to develop the station layouts and design and to develop a full business case that will then need to be considered by Metro, Northern, Network Rail and the Department for Transport.  At the same time Metro will be working closely with Northern to finalise timetable development for the revised service and start the procurement process for the additional trains.