Leeds station is set to undergo a series of a major improvement works, which aim to both reduce queues and overcrowding as well as improve accessibility throughout the site.
The upgrades will be made possible via a 200 million GBP Government funding injection – which joins existing funding of 103 million GBP – and are scheduled for delivery by 2030.
Improvement works will include the construction of a new central overbridge, 3 new entrances, more concourse space and an extension of platform 14.
Passengers are set to benefit from additional routes through the station and less overall crowding as a result of an almost 40% increase of ticket barriers, as well as boosted lift capacity. Meanwhile, the three new entrances will seek to strengthen links between both the station and the city centre, improving access to the South Bank, the Dark Arches and Princes Square, supporting regeneration, jobs and commercial opportunities across Leeds.
These new renovations are also intended to aid in the delivery of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, an 11 billion GBP investment plan which aims to boost passenger by 30% whilst electrifying key routes across the North.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:Leeds station is the gateway to West Yorkshire, and this extra £200 million investment will turn it into a station this city can be proud of: modern, welcoming and built for the people who rely on it every single day.
The great cities of the North deserve better transport and that’s exactly what we’re delivering. We’re paving the way for Northern Powerhouse Rail, forging stronger connections across the region and backing the infrastructure that creates jobs, builds homes and puts passengers first as we work to set up Great British Railways.
The announcement comes one week after the Transport Secretary confirmed the construction of a brand-new station at Bradford Interchange, which is anticipated to support thousands of new homes, jobs and up to 1 billion GBP in economic benefits.
Leeds station currently handles over 27 million passengers a year, with 8 in 10 services in West Yorkshire either starting or ending at the station. Annual passenger numbers are forecast to grow by nearly 12 million in 2045, and this new 300 million GBP investment is expected to future-proof the station and ensure it is capable of seizing the opportunities associated with economic growth.
Upgrades at Leeds station and a new station at Bradford city centre are both expected to form a key element of the Government’s Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) programme, which aims to unlock economic potential across the North of England via the introduction of new services, infrastructure and more. The scheme is planned to deliver a turn-up-and-go railway for passengers, meaning multiple trains an hour will run frequently enough between major cities across the North that passengers won’t need to check a timetable before going to the station.
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said:Leeds Station is the beating heart of our region’s transport network, connecting millions of people to jobs, education and opportunity every year – and it’s only going to get busier.
This investment will benefit passengers and businesses, help to unlock the capacity we need for future growth and create a gateway to West Yorkshire that reflects our ambition.
Together with our wider plans for West Yorkshire’s Weaver Network, we’re building a better-connected region which works for all.
