Hopes are dashed as costs rule out new rail station

HOPES FOR a new railway station at Cross Hills, near Keighley, look set to be dashed as a feasibility study finds costs of £23m would outweigh any benefit it may bring.

Discussions around the potential development on the Leeds to Skipton line have been ongoing since 2002, with West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) highlighting it as one of four areas in the county worth investigating further. Now, despite estimates it would be used by up to 570,000 people a year, a feasibility study to be presented to Craven Area Committee today has concluded that it would be “low value for money”.

“It is recommended that no further work is carried out on a new station at Cross Hills due to the expected funding required and the low benefit cost ratio which is deemed to be low value for money,” said a report commissioned by David Bowe, corporate director of business and environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC).

“Further funding would need to be allocated to develop the scheme further including a more detailed assessment of improvements to the highways network and this cannot be justified at this time.”

The site was highlighted by WYCA in 2014 as having potential for redevelopment, with further studies then commissioned by NYCC.

To create a two-platform unstaffed station with footbridge, car park and access road, and to undergo electrification works would cost an estimated £6.5m to £9m, the WYCA had found.

But the NYCC study found actual costs may be closer to £14.4m, rising to £23m under guidance from the Department for Transport, even without including any changes to the highways network.

Councillors are to be asked today to accept that no further work on this will be undertaken.