Why are there no regular London to Bradford trains?

[30907]

Although Keighley, Bingley, and Shipley may be in Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council since 1974 and are allocated a BD postcode, they are distinct and individual post towns in their own right.

Of course they are, and Shipley still mourns the loss of its Urban District Council in 1974.

If I lived near Bradford Royal Infirmary I would probably use Bingley. Avoid the gridlock in Bradford and Shipley.

You just have to know the rat-runs for Shipley
But we are getting a bit OT.

 

[Marton]

Of course they are, and Shipley still mourns the loss of its Urban District Council in 1974.

Not forgetting the other lost autonomous UDCs including Baildon, Silsden, Denholme Queensbury & Shelf and a part of Aireborough.

 

[Journeyman]

Not sure about Bradford. It always looks run down and not exactly bustling with top level, well paid jobs! Those people jamming on the trains are going where the work is: Leeds.

That's it - Leeds clearly has demand for a lot of business travel to and from London, because it's full of major employers with multiple office locations. Bradford, on the other hand, is populated with a lot of small businesses with only a local reach, so there's far less demand for travel to and from London.

 

[Islandexpress]

That's it - Leeds clearly has demand for a lot of business travel to and from London, because it's full of major employers with multiple office locations. Bradford, on the other hand, is populated with a lot of small businesses with only a local reach, so there's far less demand for travel to and from London.

Whilst true to a certain extent, I think there’s more to it. Anyone south of Bradford will likely drive to Wakefield Westgate, as do the populations of Halifax and Huddersfield and towns / villages inbetween. Anyone north of Bradford would use Aire/Wharfe to get into Leeds or park at Shipley (free parking) neither Forster Square or Interchange have the parking available. The KGX trains all have a 15 minute reversal at Leeds, add in a 15-20 minute journey time from Bradford, and you may as well drive to Wakefield for a 1h50+ journey to London.

 

[Bantamzen]

That's it - Leeds clearly has demand for a lot of business travel to and from London, because it's full of major employers with multiple office locations. Bradford, on the other hand, is populated with a lot of small businesses with only a local reach, so there's far less demand for travel to and from London.

Not all people from Bradford work in Bradford. So there is demand, not as much as Leeds but then Bradford will be getting 5 car LNER services every two hours so a fraction on what Leeds gets.