The target date for opening the new station at Kirkstall Forge is now mid-April 2016, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee is due to be told on February 26.

While it had been hoped the new facility (between Leeds and Shipley) would have been ready in late 2015, and construction was substantially completed in mid-December, the meeting heard that the final supply of permanent power and telecommunications was yet to be completed.

A new access road, being delivered by a separate contractor, is due for practical completion on April 1. Network Rail “is progressing the required technical sign-off process and the opening is dependent on the sign-off of both the Common Safety Method and Railway Interoperability Regulations by the Office of Rail and Road”, the meeting was told.

During construction of Low Moor station (south of Bradford Interchange) a previously unrecorded mine shaft was discovered - situated where the new passenger lift and footbridge foundations go, and directly affecting the critical path of the construction programme.