the midland railway's leeds and bradford line opened on 2 july 1846 and was extended to keighley by march 1847. the guiseley branch opened on 4 december 1876 and in the same year completion of the settle-carlisle line put shipley on the london to scotland route. in 1885, the old midland railway station was replaced, and by 1900, 400 trains were passing through shipley each month, carrying 50,000 passengers.