[3] The proposal uses both the existing dedicated airport car park bus services (extended to link the station and the airport terminal at very frequent intervals) and the existing main line railway infrastructure with the new station thus enabling frequent direct access to Leeds, Harrogate, Knaresborough and York along with many other rail journeys using interchange at Leeds or York stations.
[4] The scheme is intended to optimise the use and future development of existing infrastructure and services and is thus efficient of taxpayer funds.
The distance of 1-mile (2 km) between the new station and the airport terminal is not uncommon for airport-main line rail connections around the world.
Earlier plans, now discounted on grounds of technical feasibility, capital and operating costs, have previously been suggested by various organisations including the Campaign for Better Transport as an alternative to a major new road scheme in the area.
[6] Even though the gradients involved appeared to be too steep for conventional trains, it was included in a strategic development plan[7] published by the airport for public consultation, where a service by tram-trains had been suggested.