anti-pacer
Established Member
And seemingly the advantage of having more switched on staff when it comes to keeping their city's major station clean and welcoming to visitors and commuters alike.
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Leeds station is an embarrassment
- Thread starter anti-pacer
- Start date
- Status
And seemingly the advantage of having more switched on staff when it comes to keeping their city's major station clean and welcoming to visitors and commuters alike.
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
MidnightFlyer
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 16 May 2010
- Messages
- 12,856
Man Picc's case is probably helped by the fact that the majority of the passengers, aside from p13/14, tend to loiter in quite a compacted area whilst waiting for trains: Leeds is much more spread out with regard to concourse alone, never mind the vast amount of passengers on the platform at any one time too.
anti-pacer
Established Member
I wouldn't say that the concourse at Leeds is bigger than Piccadilly.
Their retail space is much bigger than Leeds I'd say.
MidnightFlyer
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 16 May 2010
- Messages
- 12,856
The main concourse at Leeds isn't, however I was including the Wellington half for convenience purposes
anti-pacer
Established Member
Manchester Piccadilly actually feels warmer as well, temperature wise. Leeds is like a wind tunnel at times.
I have never understood why the concourse was never refurbished, when they did the rest of the station.
I have never understood why the concourse was never refurbished, when they did the rest of the station.
... I like the trainshed at Picadilly, for both it's practical utility and the sweeping views of the station it allows from the footbridges.
Good point, well made
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The South concourse does what it does practically and with no fuss. Since the space is surrounded by glass on one side and shops and entrance spaces on the others, there's not a lot you can do to beautify it, short of taking the roof off and starting again.
I recently mentioned on another thread how I thought it was a shame that they painted over the pine effect ceiling. Perhaps I'm alone in having a soft spot for some of the better examples of BR era architecture.
Last edited:
anti-pacer
Established Member
Good point, well made
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The South concourse does what it does practically and with no fuss. Since the space is surrounded by glass on one side and shops and entrance spaces on the others, there's not a lot you can do to beautify it, short of taking the roof off and starting again.
I recently mentioned on another thread how I thought it was a shame that they painted over the pine effect ceiling. Perhaps I'm alone in having a soft spot for some of the better examples of BR era architecture.
It doesn't befit a modern day gateway to what has in many ways become a city success story.
When you look at Manchester Piccadilly for example, Leeds looks in a much lower league.
badger1badger
Member
I agree AP - well said
And once you take away the Victorian trainshed, what is Man Pic, other than a fairly attractive shopping centre built to the current style. This isn't to denigrate it, but it is what it is.
Personally, I think that the North concourse at Leeds in particular, whilst not having as many shopping opportunities, is more than a match for Man Pic in gravitas.
Ash Bridge
Established Member
May I just mention whilst on the subject of Manchester Piccadilly, for me it's biggest letdown is Gateway House on the station approach, or at least the ground level part of this building. When visitors to the city first arrive they are greeted with an impressive clean and modern terminal, yet as soon as they walk through the sliding doors at the front of the concourse they are faced with this crumbling dirty late 60s monstrosity with its cheap& tacky outlets (Waitrose and one or two others excepted)that stands in complete contrast to the rest of the terminus. What do others think?
edwin_m
Veteran Member
I like the north concourse at Leeds. There are few if any other large stations of that era in the UK but it reminds me of some in the States.
However the north concourse is basically a shopping arcade you pass through if you happen to be entering/leaving to the north-west of the station. The essential parts of the station are in the south concourse, which appears very dated with low ceilings and various obstructions.
The exit into a cramped taxi-bus area isn't great either, to say nothing of that awful flight of steps and the long walk under the station to get anywhere on the south side. I'm never sure whether the weird noises under that bridge are trains above, traffic below or part of the "art installation", as they all sound pretty similar to me.
To me the trainshed is less bad - not very elegant but functional. Another gripe is I nearly always need to use platform 17 which appears to have been carefully designed to be as inaccessible as possible. I'll be glad when the southern entrance is finished and I can usually avoid most of the station!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Agree absolutely.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
It would help a bit to get rid of the shops on the entrance side and glaze this area to let in a bit more natural light. Since the office block isn't actually above the concourse, replacing the roof with something more transparent wouldn't be a bad idea either.
However the north concourse is basically a shopping arcade you pass through if you happen to be entering/leaving to the north-west of the station. The essential parts of the station are in the south concourse, which appears very dated with low ceilings and various obstructions.
The exit into a cramped taxi-bus area isn't great either, to say nothing of that awful flight of steps and the long walk under the station to get anywhere on the south side. I'm never sure whether the weird noises under that bridge are trains above, traffic below or part of the "art installation", as they all sound pretty similar to me.
To me the trainshed is less bad - not very elegant but functional. Another gripe is I nearly always need to use platform 17 which appears to have been carefully designed to be as inaccessible as possible. I'll be glad when the southern entrance is finished and I can usually avoid most of the station!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Agree absolutely.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
It would help a bit to get rid of the shops on the entrance side and glaze this area to let in a bit more natural light. Since the office block isn't actually above the concourse, replacing the roof with something more transparent wouldn't be a bad idea either.
I agree entirely about access to platform 17, which could do with being sorted out, along with the booking office arrangements so that AP tickets can be bought throughout opening hours rather than 9 - 6.
That said, in some ways, the North concourse is a hostage to its location, being in a relatively cramped location along side, rather than at the head of the main platforms.
Man Pic suffers from the opposite problem, in that there is lots of circulation and retail space to play with at the head of the platforms, but through services and passengers are crammed onto two crowded platforms a long way away.
That said, in some ways, the North concourse is a hostage to its location, being in a relatively cramped location along side, rather than at the head of the main platforms.
Man Pic suffers from the opposite problem, in that there is lots of circulation and retail space to play with at the head of the platforms, but through services and passengers are crammed onto two crowded platforms a long way away.
anti-pacer
Established Member
I do agree that upon leaving Piccadilly station the impression becomes less favourable.
Clearing out the retail units at the front would be a good way to improve circulation and let in natural light. Whether NR would be prepared to take the revenue hit would be another matter.
Another approach might be to reinstate direct access from the terminal platforms to the North concourse. This would help with the rush hour barrier crush.
anti-pacer
Established Member
The Leeds Tourist Information Centre is on the move, up to near the Town Hall.
Any ideas what is going in its place?
Last edited:
Iskra
Established Member
I suspect it's going to be a franchised Costa.
anti-pacer
Established Member
Is there already a Costa on the station?
I walk through this station daily and can't remember! How bad is my memory?
Personally I'd like to see something like Whistlestop. The one in Leeds has closed and it's a shame as it was a good place to buy alcohol, and they did samosas too. Other stations have them so why not Leeds?
EDIT: Totally forgot about Sainsbury's, as pointed out to me by my good lady, who uses the 110 bus every day rather than the train (how embarrassing).
She has also suggested Greggs. As much as I would NOT like to see them in Leeds station, they are popular, there's no similar competition there, and the retail space in what will soon be the "old tourist information centre" is perfect.
Last edited:
Iskra
Established Member
No, there's a Starbucks though. It would be nice to see something different!
Last edited:
anti-pacer
Established Member
Greggs?
Good god yes! The retail units outside the station are an embarassing mess. Run-down, vacant, and shabby.
Except a certain book shop that many on here would miss, were it not there, of course.
The subject was covered in some depth recently - http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=101925
To summarise from memory:
1 - There is a lot of work planned, both definitely for the nearish future, and aspirationally for the more distant future.
2 - Several of the retail units are going - Burger King have been served notice already - in order to open the space up a bit.
3 - No one other than thee and me, yorksrob, seems to care about all the already-extant perfectly adequate exists from the station which NR choose not to use.
4 - The barriers are a crush partly because they are broken. I go through them frequently and see large numbers of people whose tickets can't be read. There also seem to be barriers locked out of use having failed at all times. The industry seem able to install working barriers at London terminals; it is a mystery to me why NR Leeds cannot.
Indeed. Every time I try to go through, there seems to be someone in front staring in confusion at their ticket.
Ash Bridge
Established Member
MidnightFlyer
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 16 May 2010
- Messages
- 12,856
Greggs should not go anywhere near Leeds station. Imagine all of those pasty wrappers that would get left everywhere...
I heard something about creating a mezzanine in the North Concourse?
Gutted that BK are being evicted. Hope they take over the unit currently occupied by KFC (more grease than chicken)!
Last edited:
That was one of the two "others" that I was referring to, along with Waitrose Rob
Man Pic has a Waitrose ? Now Leeds is jealous
Ash Bridge
Established Member
- Status