A new study found that Bradford is the UK’s worst city for rail connectivity. The rest are all located in the North and Midlands.
Researchers analysed over 3,000 actual train journeys connecting Britain’s major urban centers. London was found to be the most connected. Four of the top six best-connected cities are in Scotland and the south.
In descending order of the capital, these were Edinburgh, Newcastle Birmingham, Glasgow, and Brighton. Six of the bottom six cities were Liverpool, Leicester, Hull and Coventry.
People, Places, Policy and Data Unit created the rankings. They were calculated based upon the availability of services to other cities and how fast the links are. These are vital statistics to determine the difficulty of commute.
Researchers analysed over 3,000 train journeys between Britain’s largest cities.
Today, MPs stated that the results showed the need for rail service improvements in the region if the government wants to realize its ambitions.
The announcement is made ahead of publication of the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan. This will detail how HS2 along with two other projects, dubbed Northern Powerhouse Rail & Midlands Engine, will enhance services outside of London.
To calculate inter-city train service speeds on trips between major cities, the study relied upon route plans created by Google Maps.
Bradford, despite its seventh largest and centrally located position in Britain, was last at the bottom of the heap due to the lack of direct routes as well as slow connections via the underinvested lines.
There are only four trains per day that take you to London.
If you are driving from Leeds to Stoke or Liverpool to Stoke then your speed is less than 40 mph.
Northern leaders lobby for Northern Powerhouse Rail Route to Run through Bradford. This will reduce travel times to Manchester from two-thirds of an hour to just 20 minutes. It also cuts journey time to Leeds from more than half an hour up to ten minutes.
Analysis by global infrastructure consultants Arup found that the station would bring 6.7 million people and an area of over £167bn of annual economic output within a 35-minute journey of central Bradford, boost the city’s economy by almost £30bn over a decade and create 27,000 new jobs.
Worst connected: BRADFORD. Although Bradford was the seventh largest city in Britain and a prominent spot on the UK map of Britain, it came out last.
It also examines north-south connectivity, including Liverpool and Hull being among the most connected.
London emerged unsurprisingly as the city with the greatest connectivity. A motorist in most other cities would need to travel at least 80 mph, often much faster than that to catch up to a train bound for London.
Philip Davies (Tory MP for Shipley) stated that the ‘Northern Powerhouse Rail’ is vital to the North’s economy and the government’s goal of levelling up.
“An NPR station in Bradford is crucial to the Bradford area’s economy.
‘A city the size of Bradford needs much better rail connections and this is the perfect opportunity to address this – and ensure the Bradford district can thrive economically in the future.’
Judith Cummins (Labour MP for Bradford South) said: ‘This study proves that Bradford is the most isolated major US city with poor rail connectivity. The government needs to realize that the North cannot be levelled without linking Bradford.
Source: Be the Best Communications using Trainline data and Google Maps
“It is now that it is time for government to act and invest in our transport infrastructure across the North. It must include Northern Powerhouse Rail, with a stop at Bradford’s city centre.
Henri Murison is the director of Northern Powerhouse Partnership. He said that Bradford, although it’s located in between two large cities to the north, has been cut off from potential growth opportunities due to poor transportation connectivity.
“Bradford is a vibrant city with a diverse and young population. It also has world-class universities nearby. And it boasts ambitious leadership. However, its productivity remains below the national average at 70%. Manchester is dependent on their talents to create a strong labour market.
‘The Integrated Rail Plan gives the government a chance at transforming that situation and is able to fulfill its promises of leveling up the north.
“We require a stop at Bradford to connect the Northern Powerhouse Rail Line between Manchester and Leeds and full delivery of the HS2 including the Eastern Leg to provide jobs, investment, and opportunity for people in this area.