Doubts have been raised about the funding for a major scheme to refurbish and upgrade the district’s busiest rail station.

As reported in the Telegraph & Argus on Thursday, train operator Northern Rail is leading the development work on an improvement scheme for Bradford Interchange.

But, during a meeting at Bradford City Hall yesterday, members of Bradford Passenger Consultative Committee questioned the availability of funding.

Councillor David Robinson said: “I do welcome the plan, but what concerns me is when I read the bit in the agenda about it going ahead in the next 12 months ‘subject to funding’.

“What does that mean? Where are we up to with the funding?”

Neil Holt, from transport authority Metro, said: “It means that if the money comes through, we will be able to do the work. It is a bid to the National Station Improvement Programme and we will have to wait to see if we are successful.”

Drew Haley, of train operator Northern Rail, said: “It’s very likely we will (be successful), but we live in uncertain times and things may change post May or June.”

Money is being sought for the refurbishment of platform canopies and glazing, a glazed platform waiting room, anti-slip flooring in the booking hall and CCTV and lighting to the access ramp at the side of the station.

John Prestage, a public representative on the committee, said: “We all welcome the improvements at the Interchange because for years it hasn’t been a good advertisement for Bradford – but can I make a plea that, now we’ve got the automatic ticket barriers, there are some bins for passengers to dispose of their tickets when they have gone through the gates to stop them just being thrown on the floor?”

Mr Haley said the barriers would be put into “capture mode” at a point in the future, meaning the machine would swallow tickets that were not needed, reducing litter.

Graham Peacock, another public representative, asked if there was any chance of automatic ticket barriers being introduced at Bradford Forster Square station to ensure people arriving from the north of the district were not fare-dodging.

Mr Haley said Northern Rail had examined that possibility before it decided to install them at the Interchange. He said the Interchange was seen as “easier” as the logistics of installing the system at Forster Square, which has several exists, were complicated.