Bradford Interchange bus station will re-open on January 5

And Councillors have been assured that measures will be put in place to avoid confusion when the bus station does re-open, as the facilities there will still not be back to normal once buses return.

At a meeting of West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) this morning, Councillors agreed that the station should re-open on January 5 – just over a year to the day since it was shut for safety reasons.

It comes after a structural report found that the 50-year-old station could be re-opened if safety measures are put in place.

These measures are expected to cost £500,000.

But even though buses will be returning to the station on that date, six out of the 20 bays will be unavailable. This is because resurfacing work to the bus concourse, which was paused when the station was closed, still needs to be completed.

This work could take until April.

And there will also be no Real Time Information boards operating once passengers return – they will be off “for at least the month of January.”

The bus station, a huge concrete slab over a basement car park and business units, was shut after concrete fell from the structure into the car park over the Christmas period of 2023. 

At the WYCA meeting, members were given reports by structural engineers and health and safety experts that said while the decision to close the station was the right one, it could be re-opened with measures such as protective netting on the basement ceiling and regular structural inspections.

Bradford Interchange (Image: T&A)

The report did say the Authority should look at building a new station for Bradford in the coming years, as the Interchange was already towards the end of its operational life.

A report to the meeting explained why the information boards would not be working when the station re-opens, saying: “This is due to the huge amount of additional data input required into the system at a time where large-scale service changes for Christmas results in the busiest period.”

Councillor Alan Lamb (Cons, Wetherby), feared passengers could find the return to the Interchange confusing, saying: “Not all buses will be using it straight away, and there will be no Real Time Information. There is the potential for a lot of confusion. Communication will be important.”

He said the closure “should not have come as a surprise” due to the age of the building, and asked if WYCA had any other assets that could end up in a similar position.

Dave Haskins, interim director of transport operations referred to the unusual construction of the station, saying: “There are no other structures built like this.”

When transport bosses were asked what would be done to make sure passengers know which buses are leaving and when, they were told there would be ample communications in the run-up to the station reopening, as well as staff on hand to direct passengers until the station is operating as normal.

The inner concourse of the station, which includes the public toilets, re-opened earlier this month, and work is currently underway to refurbish sections of the building, including the ramp leading to the train platforms.

A new public plaza in front of the station, which will include seating areas and “wayfinding” boards, is due to be completed by late December.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “The communication has to be really good for passengers and residents when the Interchange re-opens so everyone knows where to get their bus.

“While it is great to have it open again for visitors to the city, it is predominantly important to the people who live and work here who have been hugely patient over the last year.”

Tracy Brabin, West Yorkshire Mayor, acknowledged that the service provided on January 5 will not be the same as what was offered before the station shut, adding: “There will be some bumps in the road as we reopen. We’re committed to making sure all the information gets out to passengers.”

She said staff would be out to make sure people get to the right stops.

When asked how many, Ms Brabin said: “We will have the staff we need. There might be a slow return – people might have found other ways of getting around. We’ll see what is needed when it opens.

“I’ve thanked the people of Bradford and West Yorkshire for their patience, they have been incredible. It’s great we’ve been able to make the decision to reopen it.”

Asked what she would say to any bus users who have been put off by the past 10 months of the closure, Ms Brabin said: “It has been a difficult year, but please come back. We’re now planning for the future, and to ensure that Bradford is a city people speak about in a good way, rather than as the city with the closed bus station.”