Public meeting to be held over plans to reopen Methley railway station

Methley has been without a station since 1960 but hope is growing locally that the village could be re-connected.

'Significant improvement' promised as upgrade work begins on Castleford Railway StationRepresentatives from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s transport committee, which has the power to fund major initiatives, will be at Methley Community Centre this evening, Thursday, February 27, to discuss ideas.

James Lewis, Kippax and Methley ward councillor for Leeds City Council, who has helped organise the meeting, said: “We’ve been regularly lobbied by some Methley residents to see a new station opened in the village on the existing railway line through the village to improve transport connectivity for the village and stop people having to drive to Woodlesford to catch the train.

“There’s been lots of money promised for transport in the North of England and we have called this meeting so that people living in Methley can hear directly what options could be looked at.

“Any proposal will have pros and con needs to be carefully and fully thought through and worked up to make sure for example that an enough car parking is provided as railway stations inevitably attract ‘park and ride’ traffic.

“Councillors Mary Harland, Mirelle Midgley and I look forward to hearing from people on Thursday.”

The lines in the village are still in use, with services running between Leeds, Normanton and Castleford, but the village has been left without a station following major cuts to the rail network across Britain in the 1960s.

At one point the village had three stations.

The meeting will start at 6pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.