New platform at Bradford Forster Square station brought into service
On Monday 19 May, the new Platform 0 at Bradford Foster Square station was officially brought into service, as the first LNER train left the station at 11:17am, taking passengers to London.
VolkerRail worked in partnership with principal contractor Bam Nuttall, Network Rail and CRSA to deliver the new platform as part of Leeds Area Improvement Project - package 2 (LAIP 2). This package included extension works at Bradford Forster Square along with power supply upgrades in the area to enable longer Northern trains to operate and facilitate the introduction of additional LNER services to London.
In just 12 months, the team undertook outline and detailed design, diverted utility services, and built the new platform; installing over 400m of new track and a new crossover and turnout, new OLE structures and associated signals and cabling, and testing works.
Due to time constraints, and to ensure the station remained opened throughout construction, works were completed in phases, with several stages undertaken on successive weekends and within reduced delivery periods, increasing the importance for successful delivery. This included manufacturing location cases at VolkerRail’s facilities in Doncaster, to reduce installation and testing requirements.
This £24m investment will boost Bradford during its City of Culture year, allowing LNER to expand the current timetable from two services a day to seven between Monday to Saturday, with six services operating on a Sunday, reduce delays, and futureproof the station for generations to come.
Network Rail’s senior portfolio manager, Mark Gibbons, shared: “Monday was a landmark milestone for the LAIP 2 project as Platform 0 at Bradford Forster Square was entered into service.
“It has been a challenging and fantastic project, which has only been successful due to everyone being involved acting as ‘one team’ with a shared goal, from the scheme's initial conception, funding, authority, development, design, and delivery, and now into operation.
“Thank you to all those involved, it demonstrates what can be achieved and that we should celebrate days like these.”
VolkerRail’s director of specialist businesses, Niall McCreanor, also commented: “We are immensely proud of the team for delivering this project. Working collaboratively with all delivery partners ensured the new platform was built ahead of the 2025 date for the City of Culture at Bradford, within budget, and to a high standard.”
Leeds Area Improvement Project
The Leeds Area Improvement Project (LAIP), forms part of Network Rail's focus on improving infrastructure and capacity in and around Leeds.
Broken down into packages, LAIP aims to extend platforms to accommodate longer trains, modernise signalling systems, and upgrade track and overhead line equipment.
Industry recognition
In March, the project team was presented with the ‘Acting as One Team ‘award at the Spotlight Rail Awards.
The team received the award after judges saw the complexity of the project, and how the team collaborated with a variety of contractors to complete the specialist works.
The judges also commended the team for the implementation of the ‘What is Best for the Project’ principle, allowing for agility, which led to better outcomes being delivered.
