Halifax Station Upgrade Planned

[ASharpe]

There are apparently plans for an extra platform at Halifax station.

At first I wasn't sure it needed one but thinking about it there are two routes to the west out of Halifax and the GC trains do take up a platform for a fair length of time. So maybe there is a need.

The report also mentions better bus links. That would be very welcome, it's a fair walk up to the bus station or Market Street. At the moment only the 600 bus serves the station every twenty minutes, which isn't much use to most people. I think the tight turning circle means larger buses can't go down there.

Tempted to have my girlfirend buy me a copy of the Courier today to see what other details they have.

http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/calderdale/ambitions-for-multi-million-pound-revamp-of-halifax-railway-station-1-6901310#.VEDXDqAgyO0.twitter

Halifax train station could be on track for a £10 million revamp including the opening of a third railway platform.

The plans were outlined at a meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority at Halifax Town Hall this week.

The proposals could see the reopening of the old train station as a new platform, upgraded signalling and improvements made to the road and pavement layout outside the station.

Neil Wallis of West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said the plans will make it easier for passengers wanting to continue their journey by bus without having to walk up to the bus station.

He said: “It’s early days yet, but it is going on. We’ve had meetings with Calderdale Council and my understanding is that this is going ahead.”

See our video with Conservative leader of Calderdale Council Stephen Baines talking about the council’s ambitions.

Read the full story in today’s Courier - let us know what you think.

 

[Deerfold]

I'll believe it when I see it. There's been talk of a third platform for a long time, but the one they had they sold off to what is now Halifax's biggest tourist attraction.

In the late 90s there was a link bus every 5-6 minutes (frequently full, uphill at least) - most users were using Metrocards or Dayrovers on it and apparently other bus companies complained that the operator got as much per journey as a company would for (e.g) Halifax - Leeds. There was a change in the payments the company got and they withdrew the service.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Didn't Halifax have a 'Free Town Bus' when Metro first introduced them in the other urban centres? The Topography of Halifax would suggest that it needs one more than Huddersfield does. (especially seeing as the Huddersfield one seems to operate to the convenience of K-Line rather than the travelling public. :roll:

 

[Deerfold]

Didn't Halifax have a 'Free Town Bus' when Metro first introduced them in the other urban centres? The Topography of Halifax would suggest that it needs one more than Huddersfield does. (especially seeing as the Huddersfield one seems to operate to the convenience of K-Line rather than the travelling public. :roll:

No it didn't.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

No it didn't.

That is a shock, considering Dewsbury got one! Are there known reasons for this?

 

[Deerfold]

That is a shock, considering Dewsbury got one! Are there known reasons for this?

I think it was because Calderdale Council would not meet half the costs whereas Kirklees, Bradford and (initially) Leeds did.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I think it was because Calderdale Council would not meet half the costs whereas Kirklees, Bradford and (initially) Leeds did.

Glad I'm not a Calderdale Council tax payer then, I very nearly was!

Getting back on topic, if the former platform that's currently occupied by Eureka is going to be brought back into rail use, how much of Eureka's recently (ish) extended building will need to be altered? I suppose if only the section of platform north of the footbridge was used, that would be easier... Though it might mean the new platform wouldn't be suitable for GC services due to being too short.

 

[Welshman]

Didn't Halifax have a 'Free Town Bus' when Metro first introduced them in the other urban centres? The Topography of Halifax would suggest that it needs one more than Huddersfield does. (especially seeing as the Huddersfield one seems to operate to the convenience of K-Line rather than the travelling public. :roll:

I remember it had one a few years ago as a temporary experiment during the Christmas period, but it was not made permanent.

 

[HowardGWR]

Why don't the TOCs run these shuttles? In London, at Waterloo, one could just throw a pound coin in the box at the front of the bendy bus and it took you over to Victoria. That was in Ken's days mind, may be different now.

50p coin for Halifax would surely be very popular?

 

[Welshman]

I suspect another problem at Halifax might be getting a bus along the bridge right up to the station entrance.

The Halifax Bus Company runs a minibus service 600 from the station to Ovenden Way Top every 20 minutes or so during the day, but even that sometimes has difficulty turning with cars parked both sides of the bridge, taxis, and cars parked for dropping-off/picking up.

Rail replacement buses usually start from the bottom of Horton St.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I suspect another problem at Halifax might be getting a bus along the bridge right up to the station entrance. The Halifax Bus Company runs a minibus service 600 from the station to Ovenden Way Top every 20 minutes or so during the day, but even that sometimes has difficulty turning with cars parked both sides of the bridge, taxis, and cars parked for dropping-off/picking up.

Rail replacement buses usually start from the bottom of Horton St.

A very good point noted here about the cars parked on both sides of the bridge.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

So if they can't re-open the old platform that is now the museum/attraction, I presume they are going to open one on the other side...

 

[Welshman]

In which case, it would have to be designed by the same person designing platforms 14 & 15 at Manchester Piccadilly, as that side is on a viaduct with a drop down to Nestle.

The best solution to the problem at Halifax would have been to restore the former island platform 3 & 4 to passenger use, then demolish the problematic approach bridge and build a small bus-station where the old station yard used to be. You could then have a bus/rail interchange just outside the magnificent station buildings at ground level.

But, to pardon a mixed metaphor, that boat has sailed. Eureka and the new station booking hall is now built.

 

[itsjustmyjob]

This was discussed as far back as November 2009 by the local council.

There's a Calderdale council 'development of new policy' policy document about it:
http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/nweb/COUNCIL.minutes_pkg.view_doc?p_Type=AR&p_ID=5100

Apparently it is for turning back to Leeds, so Eureka could keep the fenced off part of the platform because it isn't envisaged to be a through one.

The proposed small bus station will be at the side of 'platform 3', level with it, taking up some (all?) of the car park.

 

[ASharpe]

This was discussed as far back as November 2009 by the local council.

There's a Calderdale council 'development of new policy' policy document about it:
http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/nweb/COUNCIL.minutes_pkg.view_doc?p_Type=AR&p_ID=5100

Apparently it is for turning back to Leeds, so Eureka could keep the fenced off part of the platform because it isn't envisaged to be a through one.

The proposed small bus station will be at the side of 'platform 3', level with it, taking up some (all?) of the car park.

Would a 4 car train fit in half of the platform?

I also see it mentioned the use would be for trains from HFX to Leeds. Surely 5 trains a day can be fit in for turnaround. Presumably for this plan to be resurrected 5 years on the plan must be for a few more services than that.

Is HFX station busy during the weekday peaks, I am only ever there at weekends so don't know.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Apparently it is for turning back to Leeds, so Eureka could keep the fenced off part of the platform because it isn't envisaged to be a through one.

Do I see any connection here to the new terminal platform at Manchester Airport where the platform face that faces the Metrolink link will be fenced off to ensure passenger safety for those using the heavy-rail platform face of the new platform?

 

[ASharpe]

Do I see any connection here to the new terminal platform at Manchester Airport where the platform face that faces the Metrolink link will be fenced off to ensure passenger safety for those using the heavy-rail platform face of the new platform?

At Halifax there is a creche/nursery in the old station building, this has been extended onto the platform somewhat.

There is a fence in the cess about 4 ft high, I would guess its only purpose is to keep the window cleaners off the track. If anyone did fall from the platform they could well fall over the fence it's that low.

Edit: Picture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Platform_at_Halifax_railway_station.jpg

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Given that trains from Leeds can access Halifax either from Bradford or Brighouse, if the new platform is to be a bay which direction will it be accessed from? My gut feeling would be Bradford, as the route via Dewsbury and Brighouse will presumably not have any spare capacity for these extra Halifax services.