Partners welcome Haxby Station announcement

Work to build a new station at Haxby has taken a major step forward after funding was confirmed by the Department for Transport.

Working in partnership with Network Rail and the Department for Transport (DfT), City of York Council have been striving to fulfil a decades-long ambition to bring a railway station back to Haxby.

The original Haxby Station closed in 1930 and project partners are progressing plans to bring a station back to the area, reconnecting neighbourhoods in the north of York to the rail network, increasing sustainable travel options and improving connections to towns and cities across the country.

The scheme was included in Yorkshire’s Plan for Rail – submitted to the Government in May – after the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, identified it as a key priority for the region’s rail network in order to improve journeys and drive growth.

A planning application was submitted in 2024, with images showing what the station could look like in the future, with a fully accessible footbridge with lifts and steps connecting the two platforms, bike shelters, a 154-space car park (including EV charging), taxi rank and a bus stop. Shared-use paths will connect the station to residential areas of Haxby for those travelling to the station as pedestrians or by cycle.

Partners on the project have welcomed the news:

Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council said: “We welcome today’s significant investment in York and our wider region.

“We’ve been working hard to secure the funding for Haxby Station that will allow this important project to get started. We’ve been working with Network Rail and a range of other partners, the council itself has committed £4m to the project to help make the ambition of the new station a reality.

“Haxby hasn’t had a station since the 1930’s and bringing one back has the potential to be an economic game changer for the north of our city and other places on this important line, like Scarborough. The new station will help people commute to work and school or have a day out in one of the many places on the TransPennine route and beyond. All while travelling sustainably.

“With more homes being built across the city, this station is needed more than ever. It will take some pressure off the Outer Ring Road and reduce car journeys from the area into the city centre, helping to ease congestion on our roads, making it easier for everyone to get around.

“The project still needs planning approval and we are following that process through, but this funding certainty is a welcome step forward for a project long in the making.”

Chris Wright, senior sponsor for Network Rail, said: "This is an important milestone for the Haxby station project, which will reconnect the local community to the rail network for the first time in almost a century.

"The new station will provide better connections across the region and beyond, supporting sustainable travel options for local residents and visitors alike. We look forward to continuing our close partnership with all stakeholders as we progress through the planning process and work towards making this long-awaited station a reality."

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, said: “Not only will residents benefit from a new station, faster journeys and better connections, Haxby Station will unlock opportunities for new homes and economic growth along the entire York to Scarborough corridor.

“The scheme was one of our key priorities in the Yorkshire Plan for Rail we submitted to Government in May. This investment is clear recognition of the potential of the new station to drive growth and ease congestion by offering a new option for travel.

“Once complete, 20,000 people will live within 3km of the station, benefiting from better access to jobs and opportunities.

“I’m looking forward to working with the Government, City of York Council and Network Rail to ensure Haxby Station becomes part of an accessible, connected transport network serving York and North Yorkshire.”

The planning application is in the planning process and is subject to a planning decision.

ENDS

In spring 2022 we carried out a consultation to allow residents to express their views on the initial plans, designs and use of the new station proposed at Towthorpe Road, ahead of the funding bid being submitted to government.

With 1,200 people responding, the consultation found:

• 81% of participants supported the proposal for a station in Haxby (67% strongly support), 14% were opposed, with 5% neutral
• 83% of respondents said that they would use Haxby station, to one extent or another
• 74% of participants lived in Haxby or the immediate surrounding villages (for example, Wigginton, Strensall, Towthorpe and Earswick)
• 96% of participants lived within the City of York boundary
• 78% said that they would use the station for Leisure travel (for example, shopping; visiting families), 66% would use it as part of longer distance journeys (such as for journeys to London and Manchester Airport), 33% would use the station as part of their daily commute
• 50% said that they would use a re-routed bus service to travel to and from the station whereas 33% said that they would not
• 57% said that they would likely walk to the new station, 47% said that they may use a bus service, 30% said that they would likely cycle and 29% said that they would use private motor vehicle
• 65% of respondents said that opening a station in Haxby meant that they would not need to use their car as much; 53% said that they would be able to access Manchester Airport via rail and 32% said that it would allow them to travel to work or study for their commute
• 70% said that they would be more likely to visit Leeds due to a new station in Haxby, 64% said York city centre and 63% said that they’d be more likely to visit Scarborough