We got the final sign-off to open Apperley Bridge Station last Friday, which meant trains could call from today. Hurrah!
I mean, it was supposed to open in September… then Network Rail said “January”… then just as we were about to tell people this news, DfT got involved and it got brought forward a month right into the middle of rail franchising and the new Leeds Station Southern Entrance event planning… but apart from that, hurrah!
It was a bit cold this morning, and the heavy rain meant speed restrictions between Leeds and Shipley (Kirkstall tends to flood easily) but I duly got on the 0831 from Leeds to call, 10 minutes later than planned, at Apperley Bridge, where the platform was full of people waiting to catch the first train from the station. Sadly, the BBC crew there failed to capture who was the first passenger to alight – I still think it was me but there’s no proof (boo).
Hopefully it’ll be a bit warmer on Friday when we have the official opening – two MPs, lots of councillors, rail industry types and about a dozen pupils from Woodhouse Grove School. What could possibly go wrong?