Trains to Bradford Forster Square

Bradford Forster Square Train Station is one of the two major stations in Bradford. It primarily serves Leeds, Skipton, and Ilkley in West Yorkshire, as well as London Kings Cross operated by LNER.

Bradford Interchange is the other main railway station in Bradford, serving destinations like London Kings Cross, Manchester Piccadilly, and Blackpool North.

The station was almost closed in 1965 due to the Beeching Report, which recommended that the station be closed. However, Bradford Council intervened and managed to keep the railway station open, which continues to this day.

Bradford Forster Square offers a host of amenities and services to its customers, including:

- A ticket office at the main concourse (opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday: 6.10am – 7.00pm; Friday: 8.45am – 8pm; Sunday: 8.45am – 6.00pm). You can book train tickets as well as monthly and annual season tickets at the ticket office.

- Self-service ticket machines and accessible ticket machines. Plus, you can collect tickets you have bought online from the self-service machines.

- Step-free access to all platforms.

- Boards to check the real-time train timetable.

- ATMs.

- 13 bicycle storage stands and lockers.

Bradford Forster Square is located in the city centre, making it a really simple station to reach. There is a taxi rank at the station’s entrance, and local bus services also run past the station.

If you need to get to Leeds-Bradford Airport, the Airlink 747 shuttle bus runs from Bradford Bus Station and goes directly to the airport.

This station primarily runs services in West Yorkshire to places like Leeds on the Leeds-Bradford Line, Skipton on the Airedale Line, and Ilkley on the Wharfedale Line, as well as to London Kings Cross Station on the East Coast Main Line.

London Kings Cross to Bradford Forster Square Train Station

From the 19th of May 2025, LNER will be running direct trains from Bradford Forster Square to London Kings Cross. The journey will take just under three hours with LNER.

Skipton to Bradford Forster Square Train Station

It takes approximately thirty-seven to thirty-eight minutes to get from Skipton to Bradford Forster Square with Northern.

Leeds to Bradford Forster Square Train Station

It takes between twenty-four and twenty-five minutes to get from Leeds to Bradford Forster Square with Northern.

Ilkley to Bradford Forster Square Train Station

On average, it takes thirty-two minutes to get to Ilkley from Bradford Forster Square with Northern. Trains leave hourly.

Northern is the main train operator from this railway station. It runs on the Airedale line to Skipton, the Leeds-Bradford Line to Leeds, and the Wharfedale Line to Ilkley.

From the 19th of May 2025, LNER will also run more direct services to London Kings Cross on the East Coast Mainline.

Bradford is the UK City of Culture 2025 and it’s no wonder. The city is rich in diverse and exciting things to do. From Roman remains to the Industrial Revolution, from modern science and technology to the arts and culture, there’s something for everyone.

There are many fascinating museums to visit, from the National Science and Media Museum to Bradford Industrial Museum, exploring the city’s history at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. If you’re interested in a spot of railway history, Bradford has you covered. There’s Rail Story in nearby Keighley, bringing two museums together all about vintage trains, some of which have even been used in film and TV productions like The Railway Children.

There are tons of art galleries, too. Including the Impressions Gallery, a charity that helps people understand the world around them through photography, and Salts Mill & 1853 Gallery in nearby Saltaire, four wide-ranging art galleries that have over four hundred works by world-famous local-born artist David Hockney, all stored in a Grade II listed building! What’s not to love?

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What’s the postcode for Bradford Forster Square?

The full address for the station is Forster Square, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 4HY.

Where do trains go from Bradford Forster Square?

Trains go to Leeds, Skipton, Ilkley, and London Kings Cross.

How many platforms are at Bradford Forster Square?

There are three platforms at Bradford Forster Square.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.