With Network Rail submitted a planning application for a multi-million-pound makeover of Keighley station, the popular Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has shared details of plans for both the heritage platforms and commuter platforms.

For those that havent visited the KWVR before, the heritage railway shares the station with Northern, with Platforms 3 and 4 being used for heritage trains to Oxenhope, and platforms 1 and 2 being used for trains to Leeds and Skipton / Carlisle / Morecambe.

The station is now 130 years old and has begun to show its age, with the entry ramp to Platform 4 being blocked off.

Network Rail is about to start work on the station (once planning permission is approved) and the scope of work has been released, and includes

• Refurbishment of station forecourt canopies, frontage and drainage
• Repairs to the timber on the acces ramp (including above Platform 4)
• Repairs to the entire roof
• Structural repairs to the western elevation link bridge
• Masonry repairs to the western corner of the station building
• Repairs to the eastern face of the station building
• Refurbishment to the station footbridge across both tracks
• Strengthening work to the support structures
• Repairs to the gable end of the cage to make the building stable again.

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has been working with Network Rail on this project, including allowing access for surveys and design work.

To allow the work to take place, the Worth Valley side of Keighley station (Platform 3 and 4) will be closed from Tuesday 2nd January until Friday 1st March 2024, with no passenger trains into either platform. This will allow the teams to progress the work as quickly as possible.

Trains will still be running with both diesel and steam power, but will run to Ingrow West and a bus connection to connect to Keighley.

Whilst the work is completed, the KWVR will also be carrying out their own work, including ramp access to platform 4 being renewed, the old Shipley Junction Signal Box will be refurbished both cosmetically and structurally and The Water Tower project will begin.

Finally, the KWVR will be carrying out work to the points at the Oxenhope end of Keighley station.

You can see an artists impression video below of the work being carried out.