Bradford Interchange Bus Station closed until further notice

357 · 24 Jan 2024

Andyh82 said:
First’s drivers facility is technically in the railway station building so I think it is unaffected

The access to it is from the area that is closed. Don't know if there is another entrance though.

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Deerfold · 24 Jan 2024

Andyh82 said:
First’s drivers facility is technically in the railway station building so I think it is unaffected

They'll have to get to it somehow, leaving their bus somewhere.

357 said:
The access to it is from the area that is closed. Don't know if there is another entrance though.

There certainly used to be access from an entrance halfway down the stairs from the rail level.

Andyh82 · 24 Jan 2024

The latest update that has slowly trickled out is that the concrete actually fell two weeks before the bus station was closed.

Bradford bus station concrete fell two weeks before closure

Bradford's bus station remained open for nearly two weeks after concrete collapsed, a meeting hears.

www.bbc.co.uk

Bradford's bus station remained open for nearly two weeks after some concrete collapsed, councillors have been told.
The station was closed by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) on 4 January due to safety concerns.
A meeting heard that a piece of concrete measuring 8in by 20in (20cm by 50cm) fell into its underground car park 13 days before.
Simon Warburton, WYCA's transport director, said public safety was the authority's "top priority".

Note that WYCA keep quoting this line that a temporary bus station has been set up, it hasn’t

There is a temporary ‘dolly stop’ on Nelson Street open to the elements, with most buses using existing city centre stops.

The mayor in election year is distancing herself from this fiasco, instead focussing on the positive BSIP improvements that are coming in certain areas next month.

Rikki Lamb · 31 Jan 2024

Andyh82 said:
The latest update that has slowly trickled out is that the concrete actually fell two weeks before the bus station was closed.

Bradford bus station concrete fell two weeks before closure

Bradford's bus station remained open for nearly two weeks after concrete collapsed, a meeting hears.

www.bbc.co.uk

Note that WYCA keep quoting this line that a temporary bus station has been set up, it hasn’t

There is a temporary ‘dolly stop’ on Nelson Street open to the elements, with most buses using existing city centre stops.

The mayor in election year is distancing herself from this fiasco, instead focussing on the positive BSIP improvements that are coming in certain areas next month.

It's likely to be closed for quite sometime. The mayor usually sits on the fence having her picture taken unless it's something that gives her publicity, then she is all over it like a rash.

It is thought the survey will say that all was not fine as the previous survey undertaken before resurfacing began stated.

Leeds1970 said:
Plus, when the concrete slab was built it was for buses weighing around 10 tons and had maybe 200 vehicles a day spread out across the entire site. Now buses are around 13 tons and about 500 a day using only a third of the original site.

The original structure was built to support the bus platforms and glass roof. Now it is expected to support an office block, a redesigned bus station and buses using stand positions that the structure wasn't designed for.

They've changed too much above and not enough below to cater for the changes. In all honesty, Metro and these days WYCA have neglected the interchange.

The original tarmac surface was never designed to be out in the open to the extent it is nowadays, the heavy buses and rain would never help tarmac settle on tarmac. From what I understand at a recent WYCA meeting, alot of the current problems point back to the 'rebuild' 23 years ago.

D6130 said:
No room for buses there!

Actually by 1972, only half the exchange was in use. Buses could have used the closed half perhaps and the surrounding land.

mm333 · 31 Jan 2024

A couple of quick photos from when I came through at the weekend. The shutters were down at the top of the stairs up to the rail concourse. And all very eerie on the lower concourse.

NorthernSpirit · 1 Feb 2024

thejuggler said:
Bus stations in West Yorkshire are still owned and operated by the old Passenger Transport Executive which is part of the West Yorkshire Mayor's office, not the individual Councils.

61653 HTAFC said:
The exception (I believe) is Wakefield which is owned and managed by Arriva. Hence it being decked out in their colour scheme rather than the standard Metro Red.

From what I recall the only reason why Halifax (the 1989 / previous design) and Todmorden were painted green rather than Metro's garish red was down to Calderdale Council wanting them green to fit in to their colour scheme.

Isn't Keighley owned by Transdev or is it just the travel centre that is?

M60lad said:
Considering First have got a canteen in Interchange what are their drivers doing at the moment during their meal breaks?

Also am I right in thinking in that it could be months now before the Bus Station opens (indeed if it ever does)?

Where is this current temporary Bus Station that they're on about?

More than likely finding the nearest Greggs and using that as the canteen instead, not ideal but it would make sense to erect a portakabin and use that as a canteen in the short term if they can't access the main site.

I cannot see the current bus part of the interchange ever reopening, the ground above has been modified far too many times which will have weakened the structure leading to what we see now. I wouldn't be too suprised to see the next metro mayor candidates use the Interchange as a taking point during the West Yorkshire mayoral elections and how sackless Brabin has been since she was elected in 2021. It seems 2024 will be an interesting year.

The temporary bus station that's been mentioned would more than likely be located on Jacob's Well car park.

Bletchleyite said:
While if they had to knock it down and rebuild they could no doubt do a cheaper ground level job.

It’d make sense to level and rebuild, given how weak the structure is now.

If it was levelled it should be to the same height as to where Greggs and the old Travel Centre are, with the stands located on the site of roadway where the DIRO part is and layover in the centre.

Ianigsy said:
Otley is owned by First - I belong to an organisation which funded some planters in the bus station about 15 years ago and it was definitely First that we (and Otley Town Council) dealt with.

I've always thought that Otley was owned by the Town Council. I wonder why First didn't paint the place up in corparate colours?

Deerfold · 1 Feb 2024

Ianigsy said:
Otley is owned by First - I belong to an organisation which funded some planters in the bus station about 15 years ago and it was definitely First that we (and Otley Town Council) dealt with.

Did First own it, or just operate it?

Otley bus users miss out on safety cash

Bus users in Otley are missing out on a £1.64 million security programme being introduced by transport bosses - because the town's station is…

www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk

But passengers using Otley's bus station won't benefit because it is owned by London-based firm TBI plc, which also owns the Orchard Gate shopping complex attached to the bus station.

Rikki Lamb · 1 Feb 2024

NorthernSpirit said:
From what I recall the only reason why Halifax (the 1989 / previous design) and Todmorden were painted green rather than Metro's garish red was down to Calderdale Council wanting them green to fit in to their colour scheme.

Isn't Keighley owned by Transdev or is it just the travel centre that is?

More than likely finding the nearest Greggs and using that as the canteen instead, not ideal but it would make sense to erect a portakabin and use that as a canteen in the short term if they can't access the main site.

I cannot see the current bus part of the interchange ever reopening, the ground above has been modified far too many times which will have weakened the structure leading to what we see now. I wouldn't be too suprised to see the next metro mayor candidates use the Interchange as a taking point during the West Yorkshire mayoral elections and how sackless Brabin has been since she was elected in 2021. It seems 2024 will be an interesting year.

The temporary bus station that's been mentioned would more than likely be located on Jacob's Well car park.

It’d make sense to level and rebuild, given how weak the structure is now.

If it was levelled it should be to the same height as to where Greggs and the old Travel Centre are, with the stands located on the site of roadway where the DIRO part is and layover in the centre.

I've always thought that Otley was owned by the Town Council. I wonder why First didn't paint the place up in corparate colours?

It would make sense to knock it down and rebuild but it would take considerable filling of the former bus depot to level it off as the depot now car park is at a lower level than the concourse. Also what about the Santander offices - would that part of the structure be left standing?

Deerfold said:
Did First own it, or just operate it?

Otley bus users miss out on safety cash

Bus users in Otley are missing out on a £1.64 million security programme being introduced by transport bosses - because the town's station is…

www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk

The owners of Orchard Gate own it, First run it. It was owned by WYRCC until 1987 when that operator was privatised. Much of their property went to Parkdale Holdings whilst the buses went to Alan Stephenson - asset stripper. In 1989, the bus station was sold by Parkdale to the developers of Orchard Gate and the bus station was reduced in size.

Keighley bus station is Metro owned these days since redevelopment in 2000/2001, prior to which it was owned by Keighley and District. Transdev run the travel shop.

Theproinsider · 2 Feb 2024

Halifax was owned by Yorkshire Rider. It was they who applied for the planning permission to rebuild it in the 80s. I presume, at some stage, ownership passed to Metro.

Roilshead · 2 Feb 2024

Rikki Lamb said:
Keighley bus station is Metro owned these days since redevelopment in 2000/2001, prior to which it was owned by Keighley and District. Transdev run the travel shop.

Was Keighley owned by Keighley & District or leased by them? Keighley bus station, bus depot, and the old tram depot on South Street (latterly used as a store) were owned by Keigley-West Yorkshire Services Ltd until the NBC purchased Keighley corporation's 50% share in November 1973, as part of which Keighley-West Yorkshire (not wound up and absorbed into its parent West Yorkshire until February 1975) assumed full ownership of the bus depot whilst the bus station and South Street premises passed to Keighley corporation (and then to Bradford Metropolitan District Council in April 1974), with Keighley-West Yorkshire/West Yorkshire having a lease on the bus station.

Otley bus station was originally owned by Otley Omnibus Station Ltd, a company owned jointly by the users West Yorkshire (60%) and Samuel Ledgard (personally, 40%). If I remember correctly, on Samuel Ledgard's death his shareholding passed to his daughter, Frances. Presumably at some point the Ledgard family shareholding passed to West Yorkshire, after which the company could have been dissolved.

Rikki Lamb said:
Actually by 1972, only half the exchange was in use. Buses could have used the closed half perhaps and the surrounding land.

But the Interchange was a vanity project by Bradford corporation who wanted a a huge show-piece redevelopment of the former BR goods yard - comprising Interchange, transport department offices, central motor bus depot (that was probably a good idea as Bradford had a plethora for small ex-tram sheds which were poorly suited for longer motorbuses and of which Horton Bank Top was primitive in the extreme and Bankfoot had lost its forecourt in the Manchester road widening and was situated amongst/accessed from residential terraced streets), modern hotel, and multi-story car park.

When it became clear that local government reorganisation would lead to the loss of the transport department to the West Yorkshire PTA/PTE ambition and cost would have become irrelevant to Bradford corporation as they would have been aware that they could pass whatever they started, and its running costs, onto the new county council. It is on record that when Tom Lord, Leeds GM and PTE Director General Designate, and his chief officers went to visit the site Edward Deakin, Bradford GM, proudly revealed a model of site which had had two floors added to the office block to serve as the headquarters of the PTE . . . done by Bradford corporation without any discussion - by this time I think the PTE had decided to set up its HQ in Wakefield, the County town and home of the County Council offices, so as to be near its political masters and not based in any of the former municipal operating districts.

Indeed, around the time of the Interchange's opening the PTA/PTE went public to state that if they had been able to exert any influence earlier in the planning/construction process then the Interchange would have been on a much less ambitious scale - for God's sake a needless coach station for excursion and seasonal express services was included at a time when these operations were in terminal decline.

Ignoring the unfortunate issues with the waterproofing of roadway/garage roof, the Interchange had problems even before it opened: each bay had to be constructed with door at both the front and the rear to accommodate the large number of Bristol Lodekka FS types that West Yorkshire then employed on its services; however, no provision was made for passengers exiting BCT or LCT dual-door buses, who were faced with a brick-and-glass wall and a squeeze alongside their bus to access a door; in order to allow buses to pull in/out of bays half the constructed bays could not be used (that is every alternate bay); sliding doors between the bays and the roadway/buses were designed to opened automatically when buses pulled in . . . but as buses pulled alongside each platform they triggered a sequential opening of doors along the platform until they reached their bay, this led the automatic opening/closing devices to be disconnected in favour of manual control by passengers (but generally the doors were just left open, which led to heat from the passenger shelters continually escaping out into the roadways and a huge increase in running costs); the reduction in the number of bays available coupled with increased running times to access the Interchange meant that some cross-city services never accessed the Interchange and continued to use city centre loading barriers.

The Interchange was a bold idea . . . but too big and too bold for a declining wool town about to slide into mediocrity. But talk of using Exchange station as a basis for an alternative is nonsense: exchange was too big for BR's needs, clapped out, and required a road-crossing that could be avoided by a resited station. Interchange station was the correct solution (although the platforms are way too long now that London trains depart from Forster Square) to BR's problems, as was the sale of the goods yards to Bradford corporation . . .

Rikki Lamb · 2 Feb 2024

Roilshead said:
Was Keighley owned by Keighley & District or leased by them? Keighley bus station, bus depot, and the old tram depot on South Street (latterly used as a store) were owned by Keigley-West Yorkshire Services Ltd until the NBC purchased Keighley corporation's 50% share in November 1973, as part of which Keighley-West Yorkshire (not wound up and absorbed into its parent West Yorkshire until February 1975) assumed full ownership of the bus depot whilst the bus station and South Street premises passed to Keighley corporation (and then to Bradford Metropolitan District Council in April 1974), with Keighley-West Yorkshire/West Yorkshire having a lease on the bus station.

Otley bus station was originally owned by Otley Omnibus Station Ltd, a company owned jointly by the users West Yorkshire (60%) and Samuel Ledgard (personally, 40%). If I remember correctly, on Samuel Ledgard's death his shareholding passed to his daughter, Frances. Presumably at some point the Ledgard family shareholding passed to West Yorkshire, after which the company could have been dissolved.

But the Interchange was a vanity project by Bradford corporation who wanted a a huge show-piece redevelopment of the former BR goods yard - comprising Interchange, transport department offices, central motor bus depot (that was probably a good idea as Bradford had a plethora for small ex-tram sheds which were poorly suited for longer motorbuses and of which Horton Bank Top was primitive in the extreme and Bankfoot had lost its forecourt in the Manchester road widening and was situated amongst/accessed from residential terraced streets), modern hotel, and multi-story car park.

When it became clear that local government reorganisation would lead to the loss of the transport department to the West Yorkshire PTA/PTE ambition and cost would have become irrelevant to Bradford corporation as they would have been aware that they could pass whatever they started, and its running costs, onto the new county council. It is on record that when Tom Lord, Leeds GM and PTE Director General Designate, and his chief officers went to visit the site Edward Deakin, Bradford GM, proudly revealed a model of site which had had two floors added to the office block to serve as the headquarters of the PTE . . . done by Bradford corporation without any discussion - by this time I think the PTE had decided to set up its HQ in Wakefield, the County town and home of the County Council offices, so as to be near its political masters and not based in any of the former municipal operating districts.

Indeed, around the time of the Interchange's opening the PTA/PTE went public to state that if they had been able to exert any influence earlier in the planning/construction process then the Interchange would have been on a much less ambitious scale - for God's sake a needless coach station for excursion and seasonal express services was included at a time when these operations were in terminal decline.

Ignoring the unfortunate issues with the waterproofing of roadway/garage roof, the Interchange had problems even before it opened: each bay had to be constructed with door at both the front and the rear to accommodate the large number of Bristol Lodekka FS types that West Yorkshire then employed on its services; however, no provision was made for passengers exiting BCT or LCT dual-door buses, who were faced with a brick-and-glass wall and a squeeze alongside their bus to access a door; in order to allow buses to pull in/out of bays half the constructed bays could not be used (that is every alternate bay); sliding doors between the bays and the roadway/buses were designed to opened automatically when buses pulled in . . . but as buses pulled alongside each platform they triggered a sequential opening of doors along the platform until they reached their bay, this led the automatic opening/closing devices to be disconnected in favour of manual control by passengers (but generally the doors were just left open, which led to heat from the passenger shelters continually escaping out into the roadways and a huge increase in running costs); the reduction in the number of bays available coupled with increased running times to access the Interchange meant that some cross-city services never accessed the Interchange and continued to use city centre loading barriers.

The Interchange was a bold idea . . . but too big and too bold for a declining wool town about to slide into mediocrity. But talk of using Exchange station as a basis for an alternative is nonsense: exchange was too big for BR's needs, clapped out, and required a road-crossing that could be avoided by a resited station. Interchange station was the correct solution (although the platforms are way too long now that London trains depart from Forster Square) to BR's problems, as was the sale of the goods yards to Bradford corporation . . .

I completely agree with your points and thank you for the further points that I was unaware off, particularly Tom Lord.

It was a huge vanity project, I remember in the 60s BR had plans to modernis the Exchange but these would have proved a waste of money and resources.

As early as 1989, Metro wanted to sell half of the interchange off and instead of paying the debt off, they chose opulent offices in Leeds with the funds from the sale of Yorkshire rider.

Keighley bus station was owned by Blazefield until 2001, it was always painted in Keighley and District toothpaste livery too when it was introduced. I would assume the Ledgard share of Otley Bus Station passed to WYRCC when the Ledgard executors sold out to them.

Tetchytyke · 2 Feb 2024

Theproinsider said:
Halifax was owned by Yorkshire Rider. It was they who applied for the planning permission to rebuild it in the 80s.

The current Halifax bus station site only came into use in the late 1980s (1988?), previously the bus station was further up the hill past where the Premier Inn now is.

Are your sure the current site was owned by Yorkshire Rider? I’d have expected the old one to have passed from the corporation to Metro, as the other ex-council bus stations did.

Roilshead said:
The Interchange was a bold idea . . . but too big and too bold for a declining wool town about to slide into mediocrity. But talk of using Exchange station as a basis for an alternative is nonsense: exchange was too big for BR's needs, clapped out, and required a road-crossing that could be avoided by a resited station.

The old Interchange was a truly horrible place to wait for a bus. Because it was on such a needlessly huge scale it always felt deserted, which in turn attracted people to hang around in dark corners being menacing. By the mid 90s even my dad refused to use the bus station after about 8pm- he’d prefer to walk to Market Street to get his bus even when he arrived on the train from Leeds.

The development really was a step change up in quality of facilities. The old photos don’t do the general grottiness of the place any sort of justice.

I’d agree about the old Exchange station too- the current station is about the right size and better situated for the city centre.

Theproinsider · 2 Feb 2024

Tetchytyke said:
The current Halifax bus station site only came into use in the late 1980s (1988?), previously the bus station was further up the hill past where the Premier Inn now is.

Are your sure the current site was owned by Yorkshire Rider? I’d have expected the old one to have passed from the corporation to Metro, as the other ex-council bus stations did.

The old Interchange was a truly horrible place to wait for a bus. Because it was on such a needlessly huge scale it always felt deserted, which in turn attracted people to hang around in dark corners being menacing. By the mid 90s even my dad refused to use the bus station after about 8pm- he’d prefer to walk to Market Street to get his bus even when he arrived on the train from Leeds.

The development really was a step change up in quality of facilities. The old photos don’t do the general grottiness of the place any sort of justice.

I’d agree about the old Exchange station too- the current station is about the right size and better situated for the city centre.

Quite sure about Halifax. Go on the local authority planning portal and type in YR in the search box. Up it pops as a YR application.

Man of Kent · 3 Feb 2024

Theproinsider said:
Quite sure about Halifax. Go on the local authority planning portal and type in YR in the search box. Up it pops as a YR application.

The 1992 application for Listed Building Consent to the "Yorkshire Rider office" was actually made by West Yorkshire PTE, as established by delving into the original documents. Unfortunately the 1986 full application for the bus station no longer has any documents associated with it, so ownership cannot be determined that way. However, it would have been unusual for an ex-PTE operating company to take on a bus station - almost every example I can think of remained with the residual PTE.

Deerfold · 3 Feb 2024

Man of Kent said:
The 1992 application for Listed Building Consent to the "Yorkshire Rider office" was actually made by West Yorkshire PTE, as established by delving into the original documents. Unfortunately the 1986 full application for the bus station no longer has any documents associated with it, so ownership cannot be determined that way. However, it would have been unusual for an ex-PTE operating company to take on a bus station - almost every example I can think of remained with the residual PTE.

Especially somwhere that wasn't actually the location of the bus station at the point Yorkshire Rider was created.

GusB · 3 Feb 2024

Before we get any further off-topic, please bear in mind that we're discussing Bradford here. If anyone wishes to discuss any other bus stations, please start a new thread.

yorksrob · 3 Feb 2024

Roilshead said:
But talk of using Exchange station as a basis for an alternative is nonsense: exchange was too big for BR's needs, clapped out, and required a road-crossing that could be avoided by a resited station. Interchange station was the correct solution (although the platforms are way too long now that London trains depart from Forster Square) to BR's problems, as was the sale of the goods yards to Bradford corporation . . .

Not at all. Infact BR at one time had plans to develop the Exchange station with the train shed (I've seen a picture of the architects model). The correct solution would have been to pursue this and repurpose one of the great arched roofs.

NorthernSpirit · 6 Feb 2024

Rikki Lamb said:
It would make sense to knock it down and rebuild but it would take considerable filling of the former bus depot to level it off as the depot now car park is at a lower level than the concourse. Also what about the Santander offices - would that part of the structure be left standing?

Considering that the nearby NCP car park is to be torn down too, the concrete from both that and the current Interchange could be broken up and used as backfill to level the land out before rebuilding. As for Santander, the underneath of that could be filled up with more broken concrete but in wire cages that are stacked on top of each other to aid support for the building before being filled in with fondue to prevent the place from collapsing.

This is probably the only way that the interchange will ever reopen; I just cannot see any other way.

61653 HTAFC · 23 Feb 2024

Link
article on the BBC Bradford News page (apparently that's a thing now, not bad for a glorified suburb!) stating that "vandals" have stolen signage from the Interchange bus station. There was me thinking that vandals defaced or damaged things rather than stealing them. My understanding of English would suggest that people who steal things are called "thieves". :rolleyes:

Anyway, here's the text from the article:

Signage at the closed Bradford Interchange has been stolen by vandals, officials have said.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) took the decision to close the bus station in January after structural damage was discovered.

In an update on Wednesday, WYCA said more signage would be installed following the thefts.

Local policing teams were being deployed to bus shelters and bus stops in the city, WYCA said.

As of Wednesday, the lower concourse of the interchange cannot be used by rail passengers, due to surveys taking place.

Rail services are not affected by the closure and the rail station is open as usual with access via the ramp footpath on Bridge Street.

However, passengers complained they were struggling to find temporary bus stops and the nearest facilities.

In an update shared on its website, WYCA said safety continued to be a "top priority" and thanked passengers for their patience during the disruption.

noddingdonkey · 23 Feb 2024

That article seems to just be a rehash of this statement from Metro/WYCA, which doesn't really say much that is new.

Latest Bradford Interchange update | Metro

wymetro.com

Bradford Interchange update

We took the precautionary measure to close Bradford Interchange bus station in January after some damage was discovered.

Safety continues to be our top priority, and as the bus station remains closed, please see our latest update on the situation below. We thank passengers for their patience while we work hard to resolve the issue and limit disruption.

Latest developments

The lower concourse of the interchange cannot be used by rail passengers, as this is where much of the surveying is taking place.

We are awaiting an update from the initial survey which has been carried out. We will provide an update on this in due course.

Bus Services

A full list of alternative bus stops can be found here wymetro.com/plan-a-journey/travel-news/bus-travel-alerts/bradfordinterchangeclosed/

We encourage all passengers to check before they travel by going to wymetro.com.

Temporary arrangements

Bus shelters are in place on Nelson Street and Bridge Street.

An MCard ticketing machine was recently installed in Bradford Interchange rail station to ensure passengers are able to purchase and top up cards.

Extra provisions made for passengers

Signage has been subject to removal by vandals, so more signage is being put in place to help passengers find their way. Our Safer Travel PCSOs are being deployed to bus shelters and bus stops in the city and are being supported by Bradford’s Neighbourhood Policing Team and other routine police patrols.

Bus station travel centre staff are working from the rail ticket office to assist customers with bus passes and to provide information.

Efforts to minimise city centre impact

The rail station is open as normal, with access via the ramp footpath on Bridge Street. Rail services are not affected by the closure.

We are working with Bradford Council and Network Rail to minimise disruption to transformation work that is happening in the city centre.

We continue to work closely with bus operators to minimise disruption for passengers.

Andyh82 · 23 Feb 2024

Yes I think that ‘signage stolen’ has been misinterpreted by various media

It sounds like it’s the temporary signage that has been tied to lampposts around the city that may have been stolen, not signage at the Interchange itself

28TH FEBRUARY

The combined authority have given another update on the situation at Bradford Interchange

Latest Bradford Interchange update

Our latest update on the closure of Bradford Interchange.

www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk

The update is that there is no update

syorksdeano · 2 Mar 2024

So the latest update is just basically rehashed stuff from last week.

Work on demolishing the multi story has started and I have expect the Interchange to join it.

Rikki Lamb · 3 Mar 2024

syorksdeano said:
So the latest update is just basically rehashed stuff from last week.

Work on demolishing the multi story has started and I have expect the Interchange to join it.

The interchange is not getting demolished. At least wait for the surveyors report to come back before starting the froth and wibble...

The car park is coming down to supposedly create a better entrance.

61653 HTAFC · 4 Mar 2024

Rikki Lamb said:
The interchange is not getting demolished. Atleast wait for the surveyors report to come back before starting the froth and wibble...

The car park is coming down to supposedly create a better entrance.

The post you quoted was (quite clearly) making a prediction, not trying to pose speculation as if it were a fact. Calling it "froth and wibble" is rather dismissive.

Some of the things posted on this thread, if true, do not paint a particularly promising picture for the future of the existing interchange bus station. I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the surveys suggest a choice between an expensive demolish-and-rebuild option, or very expensive remedial work. Though I suspect it'll be a case of throwing yet more good money after bad.

syorksdeano · 4 Mar 2024

61653 HTAFC said:
The post you quoted was (quite clearly) making a prediction, not trying to pose speculation as if it were a fact. Calling it "froth and wibble" is rather dismissive.

Some of the things posted on this thread, if true, do not paint a particularly promising picture for the future of the existing interchange bus station. I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the surveys suggest a choice between an expensive demolish-and-rebuild option, or very expensive remedial work. Though I suspect it'll be a case of throwing yet more good money after bad.

Like I've said before, the place has had problems since the new bus station was opened.

One of the reasons why the bus depot downstairs closed, apart from space is repairs that had been carried out due to flooding.

The lower part of the Interchange isn't designed for the new construction on top, and while at the time the new station was promoted as all signing all dancing and modern, they must have been aware of the problems that have now resulted in its 'temporary' closure.

The bingo place moved out after flooding issues that went on for a number of years. No matter what repairs were carried out, clearly didn't resolve anything.

Rikki Lamb · 4 Mar 2024

syorksdeano said:
Like I've said before, the place has had problems since the new bus station was opened.

One of the reasons why the bus depot downstairs closed, apart from space is repairs that had been carried out due to flooding.

The lower part of the Interchange isn't designed for the new construction on top, and while at the time the new station was promoted as all signing all dancing and modern, they must have been aware of the problems that have now resulted in its 'temporary' closure.

The bingo place moved out after flooding issues that went on for a number of years. No matter what repairs were carried out, clearly didn't resolve anything.

Totally agree with all your points, you make similar points to those I made earlier in the thread too. Glad someone else has said it too

The 'new' interchange is no more than a tin shed, makes you wonder why all the money from the sale of half the site to Abbey National was not dully reinvested in the Interchange.

They really didn't take into consideration that the lower half was designed to carry the original interchange and road layout. It wasn't designed to carry an office block and a new road layout/bus station neither.

Grumpy · 4 Mar 2024

Roilshead said:
When it became clear that local government reorganisation would lead to the loss of the transport department to the West Yorkshire PTA/PTE ambition and cost would have become irrelevant to Bradford corporation as they would have been aware that they could pass whatever they started, and its running costs, onto the new county council.

On the opening of the Interchange the PTE calculated that it had added over £1million pa to the costs of running the bus services in Bradford.

Apart from lumbering the new PTE with this vanity project, the council had made sure it spent the minimum necessary on its bus fleet, i.e. no new vehicles which might have been used else where in West Yorkshire. Of all the constituent authorities the Bradford fleet was the most decrepit.

With regard to all the design shortcomings discussed above it should perhaps be noted that the whole thing (i.e. not just the railway platforms) was designed by BR's architects at York. The original (and totally unnecessary) overall roof came about because one of BR's architects had seen something similar on TV whilst watching the 1974 soccer World Cup in Germany.

Rikki Lamb · 4 Mar 2024

Grumpy said:
On the opening of the Interchange the PTE calculated that it had added over £1million pa to the costs of running the bus services in Bradford.

Apart from lumbering the new PTE with this vanity project, the council had made sure it spent the minimum necessary on its bus fleet, i.e. no new vehicles which might have been used else where in West Yorkshire. Of all the constituent authorities the Bradford fleet was the most decrepit.

With regard to all the design shortcomings discussed above it should perhaps be noted that the whole thing (i.e. not just the railway platforms) was designed by BR's architects at York. The original (and totally unnecessary) overall roof came about because one of BR's architects had seen something similar on TV whilst watching the 1974 soccer World Cup in Germany.

I wouldn't call it unnecessary really, it protected the tarmac from the rain, a lesson now learnt and kept passengers dry.

The BR architects designed the bus stands to be too short using the wrong measurements so only 72 rather than 144 were able to be used. In hindsight, far too big.

syorksdeano · 4 Mar 2024

When the bus depot where the problems are at the moment closed, plans were in place to make it a private/public car park but was withdraw to to issues found. So these issues have been known for a long time.

Issues that they have chosen to ignore time and time again until it bit them on the arse.

Andyh82 · 4 Mar 2024

syorksdeano said:
When the bus depot where the problems are at the moment closed, plans were in place to make it a private/public car park but was withdraw to to issues found. So these issues have been known for a long time.

Issues that they have chosen to ignore time and time again until it bit them on the arse.

It was car park, that served the bingo hall, until the bingo hall closed with COVID

syorksdeano said:
One of the reasons why the bus depot downstairs closed, apart from space is repairs that had been carried out due to flooding.

The bus depot had to relocate because Metro wanted to sell half the site off due to it being too big (which they did, to Abbey National as it was) Once half the site was sold off the bus depot wouldn’t have been big enough so they had to move. The underground depot was also dark and dingy and not fit for modern bus operation which was moving more towards the era of outdoor parking with just a modern workshop building. Yorkshire Rider also opened the new Huddersfield depot and Cherry Row in Leeds at around the same time which were a similar layout.

Bradford Interchange Bus Station closed until further notice

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