A battle plan is to be drawn up in the fight for a new rail station in Elland.

Campaigners will meet later this week to demand clear plan from transport chiefs over the proposals.

The call will be made when HADRAG, the Halifax & District Rail Action Group, enters its 30th year of campaigning at group’s annual general meeting in Halifax on Saturday, May 10.

Stephen Waring, who chairs HADRAG, said: “In 29 years of campaigning HADRAG has seen massive progress in the development of rail services across our area, with Brighouse station which opened in 2000 and big increases in services.

“There’s no doubt a lot of this is due to Metro which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. But with demand for rail travel continuing to increase much more is needed. We need to be told just what is planned for our line in terms of line speed and capacity improvements.

“And following our successful meeting in the town a year ago we need to see progress on getting a station for Elland.

“We hear that the prospects are good but we need clear and immediate action from Metro and Network Rail on this.

“Getting a new station opened should not take the best part of a decade.

“I was really encouraged last winter by the response of the leaders of Calderdale Council, by local MPs, and by James Lewis as Metro chair, to HADRAG’s call for a campaign to get the Calder Valley line electrified as part of a programme of network electrification across the North.

“There’s no doubt this is going to be a big talking point at our AGM this year. We hope people interested in the development of our local rail network will come along and join us.”

A new station for Elland, one of the biggest communities in Yorkshire without its own rail station, is now thought to be high up the list of potential new train stations in West Yorkshire.

Calderdale Council have already given £50,000 to help fund a feasibility study.

HADRAG is calling for action from Metro as well as Calderdale Council and the rail authorities (principally Network Rail).

Elland station could be served by trains on the Manchester-Brighouse-Leeds and Bradford-Halifax-Huddersfield routes.

Guest speaker at the meeting will be Clr James Lewis, who is the chair of West Yorkshire’s public transport agency Metro.

The meeting starts at 10.30 a.m. in the Orange Box young people’s centre, Thomas Street Halifax HX1 1AF.

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