Calderdale Council issue update amid frustration over Elland Rail Station delays
Senior councillors say they're taking their time to make sure they get the £25m scheme right
Last updated 7th Aug 2025
Frustration at the time it is taking to see the new £25 million Elland Rail Station built was voiced in a questions to Cabinet councillors session.
Senior councillors responded that taking time to do the correct due diligence would allow it a smoother journey once work started.
In the public question time at a meeting of the full Calderdale Council, Mark Ashton said the station was initially projected to open in 2024, then 2025, then 2026 and now services were only envisaged to begin in 2028.
“After years of promises, missed milestones and shifting dates, can the Cabinet clarify what specific role Calderdale Council is playing to hold West Yorkshire Combined Authority to account on this delivery timeline?
“Will the council commit to publishing a transport local progress tracker, with clear milestones so residents can see what is actually happening, rather than being left to decipher a trail of historic press statements and hopeful projections?” he asked.
Responding, Cabinet member for Regeneration and Transport, Coun Sarah Courtney, said that a formal governance structure and senior staff attending Combined Authority senior officer forums, as well as Cabinet members receiving regular updates and able to attend its committees, allowed Calderdale to monitor progress and support development of the scheme.
It was a complex project involving multiple stakeholders and technical challenges requiring co-ordination across multiple organisations, she said.
“We do recognise the high level of interest in this vital project and the importance of clear and regular communication.
“We will continue to challenge and review to ensure this is the best it can be, accepting that this is a complex and dynamic scheme.
“However, I would like to say, given the issues that we’ve seen with major infrastructure projects, such as HS2, we would rather see that due diligence is carried out and the scheme is planned, created and costed correctly so it can proceed smoothly once work does start,” said Coun Courtney (Lab, Calder).
Coun Courtney said information including key milestones and progress could be viewed on the Calderdale Next Chapter website, which she said was regularly updated.