All bus services return to city's Interchange

Martin Coldrick
BBC News, Yorkshire
Adam Laver/BBC Bradford Interchange signAdam Laver/BBC
The bus station at Bradford Interchange reopened to about 80% of services earlier this year

All bus services have finally returned to Bradford Interchange well over a year after having been forced to leave the site.

The bus station reopened in January, exactly a year after it was shut due to safety concerns, with 47 services returning at the time - but a number of services remained on street stops.

However, those final 11 services have now also returned to the site, according to West Yorkshire Metro.

It means buses to destinations including Huddersfield, Halifax, Thornton, Buttershaw and Bingley have been restored more than 15 months after being moved.

Coach services were also eventually expected to return to their original base in Nelson Street, at bus shelter N2, but a date for that move had still not been confirmed, Metro said.

People getting off a bus near to a bus stop.
Many bus services had previously been moved to stops elsewhere in Bradford city centre, including some in Nelson Street

The Interchange was closed at the start of January 2024 after a chunk of concrete fell from the roof of an underground car park.

It was feared at one point the bus station at the site would have to close permanently.

Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe also publicly criticised the length of time the repairs were taking ahead of the City of Culture year.

A recent report to West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which owns and operates the site, recommended plans were put in place as soon as possible to eventually replace the ageing facility.

A new bus station for Bradford city centre would take around five years to plan and build, the Local Democracy Reporting Service previously said.

Some work was still taking place at the Interchange, with resurfacing due to continue there until July, according to West Yorkshire Metro.

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