Bradford Interchange will reopen on January 5, a year after the station was closed for safety reasons.
However, the 11 services that used the city center station before the closure will continue to operate at the tram stop due to resurfacing work at the station, which was temporarily suspended due to the station's emergency closure.
Work is nearing completion to create a new plaza at the entrance to the station, and new signs will be installed in the former taxi drop-off area to direct passengers to locations in the city centre.
Also currently underway is a long-awaited refurbishment of the access ramp connecting the interchange facade to the rail platform, which will include new anti-slip surfaces and colorful artwork.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which owns and operates the station, today revealed that 47 buses will return to the bus station when it reopens on Sunday 5 January.
This represents more than 80% of all services that used the station prior to closure.
11 services will remain on the road, while resurfacing work is expected to continue at the site until April.
Buses to destinations including hospitals in Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford will also return to the interchange.
This covers services from operators First Bus, TLC Travel Ltd, Arriva and Transdev (Keighley Bus Company and Yorkshire Coastliner).
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “The return of bus services to the interchange is really welcome news for Bradford passengers.”
“We know this has been a difficult year for bus users in the city and I would like to once again thank them for their patience.
“Public safety remains our top priority as we work to return all services to the interchange in the coming months.”
Once restarted, real-time information screens for return trips will be displayed at bus stops and on the road.
Printed timetables will be available from mid-January, by which time additional staff will be in place at bus stations and in the city center for the first few days after reopening.
Printed information will also be available at affected bus stops.
Passengers are advised to check their itinerary before traveling on Metro's website, which has a complete list of services and timetables.
Curbside services will continue to depart from Hall Ings Street and Nelson Street until April.
The Bridge Street bus stop will be out of service and no longer in service from Monday 6th January.
All bus services will continue to use the Nelson Street temporary bus stop. Once the resurfacing work is complete and all bus services return to the interchange, buses will transition to using a permanent bus shelter on the same road.
Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council and chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority's transport committee, said: 'West Yorkshire Combined Authority has reopened the bus station and the majority of services will resume from there from January. “I'm glad that this is the case.” This will make life much easier for residents and businesses who have had to do without it for a long time.
“Once reopened, buses will operate on a bus loop connecting key areas of the city center, terminating at the interchange, as originally planned before the bus station was suddenly closed.”
In the interest of public protection, a decision has been made to close the interchange bus stop in January 2024 after concrete fell underground.
Following the initial results of the structural survey, the Combined Authority is reassured that the bus interchange can safely reopen with mitigation measures in place.
