Plans have been unveiled for a new rail link connecting the Bradford district with northern France via the Channel Tunnel.

The £3 billion Central Railway Project sets out the creation of a 400-mile network which would have Bradford as its furthest link in the North and a European terminus in Lille.

The proposals will be the subject of an eight-month consultation involving rail users, major businesses and local councils before going to the Department of Transport, Environment and the Regions next year.

It is still in its infancy and exact details such as journey times are sketchy, but Central Railway has confirmed the main freight and passenger link would probably run from Liverpool to Lille and that a semi-fast service running every hour from Bradford would join the network at Penistone.

Robert Rafferty, director of the Central Railway plc, said: "Bradford is one of those important places which perhaps doesn't have the rail links it deserves. This is primarily a freight route, but we are also very much aware of an opportunity to run a passenger service from Bradford." No alterations would be made to the existing line connecting Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield and Penistone and the full network would be built using private money. If the project is given the go-ahead, the London-based company expects to have services up and running by 2006.

James Towler, president of the Yorkshire Regional Railway Development Society, said: "Anything which puts Bradford in a better position on the railway map is to be welcomed. But, like so many projects in the past, it seems people are going to have to be very patient."

Councillor Latif Darr, chairman of the Council transport committee, said: "I am sure the Council will do whatever it can to make sure Bradford gets such a service."

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