White Rose Station Moves Closer to Opening After Long Delay

After a two-year delay, the long-awaited White Rose railway station could open early next year, although a firm completion date has yet to be confirmed.

Located on the Leeds to Huddersfield line next to White Rose Business Park, the station was designed with the aim of improving public transport accessibility in south Leeds. Construction began in March 2022. 

However, the project was halted after March 2024 due to costs rising above the original £26 million budget and the failure of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and landowner Munroe K to reach an agreement.

More recently, some welcome news emerged. Construction finally resumed this summer after WYCA reached a new agreement with Network Rail and formally approved funding for the project in January and March 2026. Stakeholders are also understood to have remained committed to resolving the issues.

Yet several key tasks remain, including external cladding, the internal fit-out and operational railway works. A WYCA spokesperson said “an update report with more detail on timescales and costs for completing the project will be brought to a Combined Authority meeting at a later date”.

Upon completion, the station is expected to contribute to local economic growth through job creation, as well as reduce local residents’ reliance on cars.

Words by Jooyeon Lee