Airedale Line
Encyclopedia
The Airedale Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the Metro area of northern England. The service is operated by Northern Rail
, on the route connecting Leeds
and Bradford
with Skipton
in the North of England
. Some services along the line continue to Morecambe
or Carlisle
. The route covered by the service was part of the Midland Railway
(Midland) system.
(Forster Square station), was opened by the Leeds and Bradford Railway
on 1 July 1846. During the Beeching Axe
in the 1960s, a number of stations were closed, however the line and its major stations remained open. Some of the closed stations, such as , were re-opened during the 1980s.
In 1991, the line was electrified
at 25kV AC Overhead between Leeds and Skipton, and new British Rail Class 333
trains were introduced in the early 2000s. Investment in the line has seen passenger numbers grow, and now overcrowding on trains is a problem.
The route is described below: it originally included stations serving the following places, many of which are now closed:
Trains of the Leeds to Morecambe Line and Settle-Carlisle Line also run over the Airedale Line from Leeds.
operating company.
The fare structure is as follows (these show the Metro rail zones):
reports have looked at ways of increasing capacity on the line. Because of the difficulty of lengthening platforms at Shipley
, it will be hard to introduce longer trains (i.e. 5 or 6 carriages) as is being proposed on the neighbouring Wharfedale Line
. It is therefore proposed to run more trains per hour between Leeds and Keighley, with a new platform at Keighley to accommodate this. New stations at Kirkstall Forge
and Apperley Bridge
between Leeds and Skipton via Shipley are due to open in 2012.
East Coast
currently operate a small number of daily services on the line, between Skipton/Bradford and Leeds before heading to London King's Cross. These are mostly diesel services, because the overhead electric cables on the line between Shipley and Skipton cannot support both local trains and high-speed electric services (due to the extra power needed by the locomotives). National Express East Coast
, East Coast's predecessor, wanted to run more frequent services from December 2009 but to do so would require the use of electric locomotives, which cannot happen unless the electric supply is upgraded.
A recent report by Modern Railways
claimed that a solid hourly service would operate on the line as far as Long Preston
, but would serve Carlisle
and Lancaster
alternately. It may also become a freight artery to improve capacity on the West Coast Main Line
. Network Rail's own latest plans involve new signalling and other improvements for the sections of the line beyond Skipton. Carlisle services will be increased to a basic two hour pattern with extra services to 'fill in the gaps' at peak times during the day to give a 1 train/h frequency. Lancaster services will also be made more frequent, however it has been suggested they will be terminated at Skipton in future, rather than continuing through to Leeds as at present. All of these plans are still dependent on getting enough government funding.
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
, on the route connecting Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
and Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
with Skipton
Skipton
Skipton is a market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is located along the course of both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, on the south side of the Yorkshire Dales, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
in the North of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Some services along the line continue to Morecambe
Morecambe
Morecambe is a resort town and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. As of 2001 it has a resident population of 38,917. It faces into Morecambe Bay...
or Carlisle
Carlisle railway station
Carlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
. The route covered by the service was part of the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
(Midland) system.
The route and its history
The first section, between Leeds and BradfordBradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
(Forster Square station), was opened by the Leeds and Bradford Railway
Leeds and Bradford Railway
The Leeds and Bradford Railway was formed in 1843 to bring the railway to Bradford: the line opened on 1 July 1846. The company was always closely allied with the Midland Railway, and within ten years the L&BR had been absorbed into the Midland, and disappeared.-History:The line and the two...
on 1 July 1846. During the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
in the 1960s, a number of stations were closed, however the line and its major stations remained open. Some of the closed stations, such as , were re-opened during the 1980s.
In 1991, the line was electrified
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
at 25kV AC Overhead between Leeds and Skipton, and new British Rail Class 333
British Rail Class 333
The British Rail Class 333 electric multiple units were built by Siemens and CAF are based on the Class 332 trains operated by Heathrow Express.-Description:...
trains were introduced in the early 2000s. Investment in the line has seen passenger numbers grow, and now overcrowding on trains is a problem.
The route is described below: it originally included stations serving the following places, many of which are now closed:
- Leeds - the station was named Leeds (Wellington) to differentiate it from the other main line stations in the city, belonging to the North Eastern RailwayNorth Eastern Railway (UK)The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
(NER) - Kirkstall ForgeKirkstall Forge railway stationKirkstall Forge is a proposed station between Leeds and Shipley, West Yorkshire, England. Metro, the Passenger Transport Executive for West Yorkshire, intends to open the station along with Apperley Bridge....
- closed but planned to be reopened in 2012- here is Apperley Junction for the Wharfedale lineWharfedale LineThe Wharfedale Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. The service connects Ilkley with Leeds and Bradford, and is operated by Northern Rail. West Yorkshire Metrocards are available for use on the line, covering Zones 3 - 5...
- here is Apperley Junction for the Wharfedale line
- Apperley BridgeApperley Bridge railway stationApperley Bridge was a station on the line between Leeds and Shipley, West Yorkshire, England, between 1846 and 1965...
& Rawdon - closed but planned to be reopened in 2012- here is Thackley TunnelThackley TunnelThackley tunnel is a railway tunnel on the Airedale Line from Leeds to Shipley then on to Bradford or Skipton.Built in 1844/5, the tunnel is approximately long and cut through the prominent Thackley Hill to reduce travel time...
- here is Thackley Tunnel
- here is the triangular junction for the branch line serving ShipleyShipley railway stationShipley railway station serves the town of Shipley in West Yorkshire, England.Train services are mostly commuter services between Leeds and Bradford, the Airedale Line , and the Wharfedale Line...
and . The main line, which was opened from here to SkiptonSkipton railway stationSkipton railway station serves the town of Skipton in North Yorkshire, England on the Airedale Line. It is operated by Northern Rail and is situated north-west of Leeds....
by the Leeds and Bradford Extension RailwayLeeds and Bradford Extension RailwayThe Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway was an early British railway company in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It built a line from near Bradford through and to...
in 1847, continues: - SaltaireSaltaire railway stationSaltaire railway station serves the village of Saltaire near Shipley in West Yorkshire, England.-History:The original station was opened in May 1856 by the Midland Railway, which had absorbed the Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway between Shipley and Colne in 1851...
- here is Bingley tunnel
- CrossflattsCrossflatts railway stationCrossflatts railway station serves the Crossflatts area of Bingley, north of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The station is on the Airedale Line, north west of Leeds and north west of Bradford Forster Square. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Rail.The...
- KeighleyKeighley railway stationKeighley railway station serves the town of Keighley in West Yorkshire, England.First opened in March 1847 by the Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway , the station is located on the Airedale Line north west of Leeds. It is managed by Northern Rail, who operate most of the passenger trains...
- Here is the Worth Valley Branch junction to OxenhopeOxenhopeOxenhope is a village and civil parish with a population of 2,476 in the metropolitan borough of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, near Keighley. Oxenhope railway station is the terminus for the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway...
. The branch is now the Keighley and Worth Valley RailwayKeighley and Worth Valley RailwayThe Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is a long branch line that served mills and villages in the Worth Valley and is now a heritage railway line in West Yorkshire, England. It runs from Keighley to Oxenhope. It connects to the national rail network line at Keighley railway station...
heritage line.
- Here is the Worth Valley Branch junction to Oxenhope
- Steeton & SilsdenSteeton and Silsden railway stationSteeton and Silsden railway station serves the village of Steeton and the town of Silsden in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated closer to Steeton than to Silsden, and is on the Airedale Line. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by Northern Rail. Steeton & Silsden closed on...
- SkiptonSkipton railway stationSkipton railway station serves the town of Skipton in North Yorkshire, England on the Airedale Line. It is operated by Northern Rail and is situated north-west of Leeds....
.
Trains of the Leeds to Morecambe Line and Settle-Carlisle Line also run over the Airedale Line from Leeds.
The line today
The line is operated by the Northern RailNorthern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
operating company.
The fare structure is as follows (these show the Metro rail zones):
- Zone 1
- Leeds railway station
- Zone 3
- Shipley to Crossflatts. Shipley is also served by the Leeds-Bradford line and the Wharfedale LineWharfedale LineThe Wharfedale Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. The service connects Ilkley with Leeds and Bradford, and is operated by Northern Rail. West Yorkshire Metrocards are available for use on the line, covering Zones 3 - 5...
- Shipley to Crossflatts. Shipley is also served by the Leeds-Bradford line and the Wharfedale Line
- Zone 4
- Keighley
- Zone 5
- Steeton & Silsden
- Zone 7 (from 17 May 2009)
- Cononley to Skipton
The future
Recent Network RailNetwork Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
reports have looked at ways of increasing capacity on the line. Because of the difficulty of lengthening platforms at Shipley
Shipley railway station
Shipley railway station serves the town of Shipley in West Yorkshire, England.Train services are mostly commuter services between Leeds and Bradford, the Airedale Line , and the Wharfedale Line...
, it will be hard to introduce longer trains (i.e. 5 or 6 carriages) as is being proposed on the neighbouring Wharfedale Line
Wharfedale Line
The Wharfedale Line is the name given to one of the rail services in the West Yorkshire Metro area of northern England. The service connects Ilkley with Leeds and Bradford, and is operated by Northern Rail. West Yorkshire Metrocards are available for use on the line, covering Zones 3 - 5...
. It is therefore proposed to run more trains per hour between Leeds and Keighley, with a new platform at Keighley to accommodate this. New stations at Kirkstall Forge
Kirkstall Forge railway station
Kirkstall Forge is a proposed station between Leeds and Shipley, West Yorkshire, England. Metro, the Passenger Transport Executive for West Yorkshire, intends to open the station along with Apperley Bridge....
and Apperley Bridge
Apperley Bridge railway station
Apperley Bridge was a station on the line between Leeds and Shipley, West Yorkshire, England, between 1846 and 1965...
between Leeds and Skipton via Shipley are due to open in 2012.
East Coast
East Coast (train operating company)
East Coast is a British train operating company running high-speed passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between London, Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland...
currently operate a small number of daily services on the line, between Skipton/Bradford and Leeds before heading to London King's Cross. These are mostly diesel services, because the overhead electric cables on the line between Shipley and Skipton cannot support both local trains and high-speed electric services (due to the extra power needed by the locomotives). National Express East Coast
National Express East Coast
National Express East Coast was a train operating company in the United Kingdom, running high speed passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between London and Scotland, as part of the East Coast passenger franchise...
, East Coast's predecessor, wanted to run more frequent services from December 2009 but to do so would require the use of electric locomotives, which cannot happen unless the electric supply is upgraded.
A recent report by Modern Railways
Modern Railways
Modern Railways is a British monthly magazine covering the rail transport industry published by Ian Allan. It has been published since 1962....
claimed that a solid hourly service would operate on the line as far as Long Preston
Long Preston railway station
Long Preston railway station serves the village of Long Preston in North Yorkshire, England. The station is north west of Leeds on the Leeds to Morecambe Line and is managed by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train services....
, but would serve Carlisle
Carlisle railway station
Carlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
and Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
alternately. It may also become a freight artery to improve capacity on the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
. Network Rail's own latest plans involve new signalling and other improvements for the sections of the line beyond Skipton. Carlisle services will be increased to a basic two hour pattern with extra services to 'fill in the gaps' at peak times during the day to give a 1 train/h frequency. Lancaster services will also be made more frequent, however it has been suggested they will be terminated at Skipton in future, rather than continuing through to Leeds as at present. All of these plans are still dependent on getting enough government funding.