2 June 2009

Staff from both organisations will be available to answer questions at St Mary's Church, Hawkeswood Crescent, Hawksworth Wood on Friday 5 June between 2pm and 6pm, and on Saturday 6 June between 10am and 2pm.

Plans for the new station, in association with the development of the Kirkstall Forge site by developers CEG, include a 125-space car park, fully-accessible platforms with both staircases and lifts, CCTV surveillance and passenger 'Help Points', passenger information displays and public address system, secure cycle parking and modern waiting shelters.

Initially, it is proposed that two trains per hour will call in each direction, between Leeds and Bradford Forster Square.

The proposed station is a key component of Metro's plans to improve services between major centres in West Yorkshire and the wider City Region, by tackling congestion along a key corridor, expanding capacity across the network, improving access to work and leisure opportunities and improving journey reliability.

Because the proposed station is on an electrified line, there are also environmental benefits, as the potential for reduced CO2 emissions from cars is not replaced by emissions from diesel trains.

"New stations and more park-and-ride facilities will make the rail network more accessible and encourage more people to make business trips and commuter journeys by rail," said Metro Chairman Cllr Chris Greaves.

"Kirkstall Forge, and its proposed sister station at Apperley Bridge, will help reduce congestion on local roads by taking off commuter journeys between Leeds, Shipley and Bradford.

"And because electric trains - like the class 333 trains that pass through the site at the moment - will call at the station there will be reduced CO2 emissions too, which is good for everyone.

"We had a great turnout of visitors to the Apperley Bridge consultation a few weeks ago, which shows that interest in new stations is high, and has been positive. I hope we get a similar amount of interest for Kirkstall Forge."

"CEG has been working closely with Metro, Network Rail and Northern Rail to deliver a new rail halt at Kirkstall Forge since 2002, which will connect the site to Leeds City Centre in just five minutes," said Charles Johnson, Development Manager for CEG.

"The station is vital to creating a new and sustainable community and will provide direct benefits to people living and working at Kirkstall Forge and for visitors to the amenities which will include restaurants, bars, retail uses, a gym, a spa and a hotel."

Warrick Dent, area general manager for Network Rail, added: "This is an incredibly busy route and this new station is a vital part of our plans to continue to grow and develop the railways in Yorkshire.

"Metro has been a driving force in securing the funding for the station and we look forward to working with them to deliver the station which will be a valuable addition to the rail network."

Subject to approval, the station could be opened in 2012.

Metro submitted the Leeds Rail Growth package, a bid for Regional Funding Allocation, in July 2008 to help with the implementation of proposed new rail stations at Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge together with car park extension schemes to tackle congestion within Leeds City Region. The scheme has been identified as a priority by the Regional Transport Board with an estimated total scheme cost of £16.74 million.