Shipley MP secures school train service commitment

Newly elected Shipley MP Anna Dixon has secured a commitment from Northern to reinstate the afternoon school service to Baildon train station.

The news comes after representatives of the train operators confirmed in a meeting with the MP that the 14:51 service from Ilkley to Bradford Forster Square will begin running again next May.

Ms Dixon has been a strong campaigner for reinstating rail services to Baildon since a landslip in February halted all services to the station until late June, writing to Northern bosses to demand action and attended several meetings with the community group, The Friends of Baildon Station.

Following today's announcement, the Labour MP said: “I am delighted that Northern have committed to reinstating the return school service.

“I and many others have been pushing for this for months, and I am relieved for the numerous constituents who have spoken to me about their frustrations since this service was removed.

“More children will now be able to use the train to get to and from school safely, and congestion will be eased on the roads as fewer parents will have to use their cars to complete the school run.

“Reliable and regular public transport is crucial for our communities, and the new government is committed to improving our transport infrastructure in the north.

“Residents across Shipley constituency have long been let down by unreliable buses and trains, I will continue fighting to improve our public transport.”