Hull to halifax service to be split at leeds

[leedslad82]

Direct route between Hull and Bradford to be scrapped by Northern

The route between two ex-culture capitals in Yorkshire suffers "poor reliability", Northern says.

www.bbc.co.uk

Looks like it's going to be a leeds to hull northern service and a leeds to Huddersfield via Bradford northern service if this proposal is correct.


"
A rail service linking two former Yorkshire City of Culture winners is to be scrapped by a train operator in a bid to tackle what it said was "poor reliability".
Northern plans to axe the Hull to Halifax route, which stops at Leeds and Bradford, due to regular delays which it said often ended with the service being terminated at Bradford or Leeds.
To tackle the issue, the Hull train will now terminate at Leeds – no longer continuing on to Bradford and Halifax. Passengers wanting to travel to Hull from Bradford would instead have to change in Leeds, a spokesperson said.
But other local routes would be improved as part of the shake-up, according to Northern.
Hull was the UK City of Culture in 2017, with Bradford holding the honour in 2025.

'Strong case for change'​

The proposed changes were discussed by West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Weaver Network Board on Thursday, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
A report to the board said: "The Hull–Leeds–Bradford–Halifax service has experienced poor reliability for some time.
"Delays occurring on either side of Leeds often affect the wider route, meaning services are regularly terminated early at Leeds or Bradford and do not reach Halifax as planned.
"To improve performance, Northern has proposed that Hull services would terminate at Leeds and no longer continue to Bradford and Halifax.
"To maintain connectivity, the Bradford–Halifax–Huddersfield service would be extended to start and finish at Leeds."
The report said members of the combined authority believed there was a "strong case" for the changes.
Peter Carlill, Labour councillor for Calverley and Farsley, raised concerns about the impact on rail passengers using New Pudsey station.
He said the withdrawal of the service would leave a "gap" at peak times in the morning commute.
He said: "I regretfully accept the loss of this service if it does bring wider benefits."

 

[Nym]

It feels like we need the Clarkson, "Oh No!... Anyway." GIF for this.

Is it really so important that the direct service to Bradford exists for Hull?

 

[Russel]

Is it really so important that the direct service to Bradford exists for Hull?

Well, they are both former City of Culture winners!

 

[Whisky Papa]

Is it really so important that the direct service to Bradford exists for Hull?

From my experience of working at Bradford Interchange (pre Halifax-Hull days), Hull did seem a fairly frequent destination, and a through service to almost anywhere was perceived as a blessing .

More seriously, back then the Blackpool North - York services still stopped at the intermediate stations east of Leeds. These stations were also served from Bradford Interchange (and Halifax) by the asymmetrical Todmorden - Selby and Selby - Wakefield Westgate services, links now long gone. This gave a reasonable level of service cross-Leeds for the intermediate local stations, which I'm sure a decent number of passengers appreciated, and which the current Halifax - Hull service is the last vestige of.

 

[J.C.]

I thought the original point of turning back at Halifax was that there wasn't room to terminate another train in Leeds.
Is this cost cutting masquerading as improvement?

 

[Old Yard Dog]

I’d have loved Bradford- Hull through workings as my first job in the 1970s was in Hull

 

[Kite159]

I thought the original point of turning back at Halifax was that there wasn't room to terminate another train in Leeds.
Is this cost cutting masquerading as improvement?

Surely they can use platform 14?

Or even platform 7, assuming that isn't blocked with the Leeds - Garforth - York stopper

 

[leedslad82]

Surely they can use platform 14?

Or even platform 7, assuming that isn't blocked with the Leeds - Garforth - York stopper

I thought it was more lack of terminating platform availability from the east

 

[bluenoxid]

I assume that this will mean that the service will have to become a false/penultimate destination service at the originating stations (eg destination is Bramley at Huddersfield)

 

[MrBeanie]

There currently isn't a northern service through to Huddersfield, which previously would have been a stopper via Halifax and Bradford to Leeds. As that seems to have been suspended while they are doing the trans pennine upgrades. Perhaps this is their way of reintroducing that at some point earlier next year.

 

[Starmill]

There currently isn't a northern service through to Huddersfield, which previously would have been a stopper via Halifax and Bradford to Leeds.

Do you mean the pre-TRU Bradford Interchange - Huddersfield services?

These still run most of the time between Bradford Interchange and Brighouse. They are combined at Brighouse with the old Leeds - Huddersfield stopping service.

Perhaps this is their way of reintroducing that at some point earlier next year.

I would expect Halifax - Bradford to drop down by one per hour at some point, yes.

 

[Peter A]

Seems like once the Huddersfield to Bradford service is separated out from the Huddersfield to Leeds stopper again that the former will be extended through to Leeds to replace the Leeds to Bradford portion of the Hull to Halifax service, with a reduction in the overall Bradford to Halifax frequency as a result.

Almost makes you wonder whether the Leeds to Huddersfield via Dewsbury and Leeds to Huddersfield via Bradford stopping services could operate as a loop to maintain the direct links between the local stations which have been created as a result of the temporary TRU Leeds to Bradford via Brighouse service.

 

[MrBeanie]

If they return to the 2 stoppers I only recall those operating as separate services but I can't remember when they were put on hold. While the direct route to Leeds via Dewsbury has improved the Halifax to Brighouse route doesn't seem much different.

 

[trawler]

This service is due to go when TRU is completed to be replaced with 2 per hour TPE between Hull and Manchester Pic. It will revert to a Selby to Leeds stopper.

 

[northernchris]

Overall this is a good decision, the route does experience a lot of delays. Running a Huddersfield - Halifax - Leeds service will provide 2 trains per hour Leeds - Low Moor whilst retaining the 2 trains per hour between Leeds and Brighouse which has returned temporarily with the Huddersfield closure. It's a shame the Leeds - Brighouse - Bradford service can't be retained as it creates some useful links from Kirklees to Halifax/Bradford.

 

[Ballyheigue]

This service is due to go when TRU is completed to be replaced with 2 per hour TPE between Hull and Manchester Pic. It will revert to a Selby to Leeds stopper.

That's a shame if it does because you can get cheaper Northern only walk up fares to Hull unlike with Trans Pennine where they charge the full amount, the time difference between both isn't that much as well.

 

[CW2]

"From Hull, and Halifax, and Hell,
Good Lord deliver me."

A Dalesman's Litany, a Yorkshire dialect poem turned into a folk song in the 1960s.

Sorry, slightly off topic, but you might want to check it out.

 

[Iskra]

I thought it was more lack of terminating platform availability from the east

There’s an additional platform now. I think there’s ample space on the low numbered platforms, it’s the higher ones where there are problems as moves across the throat use more capacity on busier lines.

Seems like once the Huddersfield to Bradford service is separated out from the Huddersfield to Leeds stopper again that the former will be extended through to Leeds to replace the Leeds to Bradford portion of the Hull to Halifax service, with a reduction in the overall Bradford to Halifax frequency as a result.

Almost makes you wonder whether the Leeds to Huddersfield via Dewsbury and Leeds to Huddersfield via Bradford stopping services could operate as a loop to maintain the direct links between the local stations which have been created as a result of the temporary TRU Leeds to Bradford via Brighouse service.

The Leeds-Huddersfield via Dewsbury is going to go electric and become 2tph once TRU is completed.

- - - -

Overall, I think this is a sensible decision.

 

[Fisherman80]

Very disappointing news with the service being split at Leeds. Once again Bradford being let down by having direct services to major cities like Hull disappearing.

 

[quantinghome]

Very disappointing news with the service being split at Leeds. Once again Bradford being let down by having direct services to major cities like Hull disappearing.

According to this: https://www.railwaydata.co.uk/flows/gbr/, there are on average 8-9 passengers through Leeds on each Halifax-Hull service, and on average 30 passengers a day from Hull to Bradford.

 

[MichaelTrains]

Overall this is a good decision, the route does experience a lot of delays. Running a Huddersfield - Halifax - Leeds service will provide 2 trains per hour Leeds - Low Moor whilst retaining the 2 trains per hour between Leeds and Brighouse which has returned temporarily with the Huddersfield closure. It's a shame the Leeds - Brighouse - Bradford service can't be retained as it creates some useful links from Kirklees to Halifax/Bradford.

No it isn’t a good decision.

They’ll be less trains between Leeds to Bradford and Halifax.

Disgraceful.

 

[AWK]

No, there won't.

They will be one less train per hour between Halifax and Bradford. The proposal removes the Halifax - Bradford - Leeds leg of the Halifax - Hull service, but extends the (usual, not running during the current works) Huddersfield - Halifax - Bradford service on to Leeds. So same number of trains per hour between Bradford and Leeds, same number per hour Halifax - Leeds but removes the 2nd journey per hour Halifax - Bradford as this is the section which the Huddersfield - Halifax - Bradford and Halifax - Bradford - Leeds (and on to Hull) currently overlap on

 

[Fisherman80]

According to this: https://www.railwaydata.co.uk/flows/gbr/, there are on average 8-9 passengers through Leeds on each Halifax-Hull service, and on average 30 passengers a day from Hull to Bradford.

The data wont show split ticketing. Hull itself wont be the final destination for many passengers as many people will be travelling to Bridlington with a simple change at Brough.

 

[MichaelTrains]

The data wont show split ticketing. Hull itself wont be the final destination for many passengers as many people will be travelling to Bridlington with a simple change at Brough.

I use the 9.31am Bradford to Hull train most months and from what I’ve seen is that the loadings from Bradford to Leeds are around 50/60 passengers on average with many staying on past Leeds.

Obviously on arrival at Leeds (usually platform 9D or 12D) the loadings are quite considerable and it is not unusual by Selby for people to be standing.

Coming back the loadings are a bit more sparse.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Jul 2026 ==

No, there won't.

They will be one less train per hour between Halifax and Bradford. The proposal removes the Halifax - Bradford - Leeds leg of the Halifax - Hull service, but extends the (usual, not running during the current works) Huddersfield - Halifax - Bradford service on to Leeds. So same number of trains per hour between Bradford and Leeds, same number per hour Halifax - Leeds but removes the 2nd journey per hour Halifax - Bradford as this is the section which the Huddersfield - Halifax - Bradford and Halifax - Bradford - Leeds (and on to Hull) currently overlap on

Appreciate the reply.

There will still be one less train an hour between Halifax and Bradford which makes this decision by Northern a retrograde step.

If I want to have a day trip to Bridlington or Filey, it is no longer one change at Hull but now two changes and a considerably longer journey.

Once again Leeds benefits whilst Bradford suffers.

 

[quantinghome]

The data wont show split ticketing. Hull itself wont be the final destination for many passengers as many people will be travelling to Bridlington with a simple change at Brough.

I doubt there is much split ticketing going on for those journeys.

Looking at all the station pairs for journeys west of Leeds to east of Leeds towards Hull and Bridlington, there are around 60,000 journeys from Halifax...Bramley through to Cross Gates...Hull (18,000 to Hull itself). There are only 4,000 from Halifax...Bramley through to Cottingham...Bridlington.

 

[Iskra]

Once again Leeds benefits whilst Bradford suffers.

Everyone benefits from more reliable journeys

 

[Manutd1999]

A useful step towards untangling the mess of "1ph to everywhere" type Northern services around West Yorkshire IMO.

Post TRU this could either be scrapped altogether or run as a (peak-only?) semi-fast to Selby, alongside 2ph Leeds-York stoppers and 2ph Manc-Leeds-Hull.

Ideally, the next step is to make Leeds-Bradford-Huddersfield half-hourly, timed to give a clockface 4ph between Leeds and Halifax when combined with the existing Manchester services.

 

[Farigiraf]

There will still be one less train an hour between Halifax and Bradford which makes this decision by Northern a retrograde step.

If I want to have a day trip to Bridlington or Filey, it is no longer one change at Hull but now two changes and a considerably longer journey.

Once again Leeds benefits whilst Bradford suffers.

Lowering Bradford-Halifax frequency from 5tph to 4tph is certainly a downgrade. However, reducing an already frequent connection by just 1 train, between just those two places, is in my view a fair tradeoff for greatly improved reliability.

While direct trains to Selby and Hull (with easy transfer options to the Yorkshire Coast line) are a nice to have, if changing trains at the fully accessible Leeds station is enough to put you off travelling then I'm not sure the railway is ever going to be able to optimally serve your needs.

Also, while only every 2 hours, there's a decent 10min connection at Church Fenton between Northern services, allowing for straightforward and low-cost Bradford/Halifax to Bridlington journeys.

 

[MrBeanie]

A lot depends on where you are starting from. With the previous northern services currently suspended out of Huddersfield if you want to try and use a northern only ticket it's a long detour to and from either Halifax or Bradford on the bus, to then travel on a northern route. Whether that is towards Leeds or Manchester. Which might be slightly cheaper but involves a much longer journey at the start and end of the day.

 

[MichaelTrains]

Everyone benefits from more reliable journeys

In what way does making passengers have to change trains more often and have a longer journey make it more reliable?

This is just cost cutting by Northern. Plain and simple.

There is nothing wrong with the current Hull to Leeds to Bradford service.

It’s strange how they suddenly find platform space for it now terminate at Leeds when at the start they said platform seven was for the York terminators and 14 for the Shelby’s/TPEs needing to terminate.