Leeds station improvement updates

[Iskra]

Talking to a fellow Leeds driver yesterday. The Leeds-Westgate-Sheffield services staring in December will be operated with class 170’s.

Nice! Thanks for sharing that nugget!

 

[DarloRich]

It was 2x escalators in the South Entrances turn to fail for my last week of commuting before I went on holiday on the 6th. And these are presumably much newer so don’t have the excuse of old age. The ones on the main overbridge are at least being replaced currently so hopefully the new design is more reliable.

they were being worked on yesterday

 

[Iskra]

they were being worked on yesterday

At least one of them was a different one to last time.

 

[Harvey B]

Talking to a fellow Leeds driver yesterday. The Leeds-Westgate-Sheffield services staring in December will be operated with class 170’s.

Will any 170s will get pulled from either the Scarborough, or Harrogate services to allow for this?

 

[Tractor37]

Will any 170s will get pulled from either the Scarborough, or Harrogate services to allow for this?

2 sit spare most of the day and 2 are on exams each day Mon - Fri. So I’m guessing at the moment that the unit diagrams will be getting tweaked. One of the Harrogates can be covered by the 2x 150’s that sit spare all day in platform 0. I’ll post an update when it gets sorted but will require 3 units to operate the Sheffield’s

 

[bluenoxid]

2 sit spare most of the day and 2 are on exams each day Mon - Fri. So I’m guessing at the moment that the unit diagrams will be getting tweaked. One of the Harrogates can be covered by the 2x 150’s that sit spare all day in platform 0. I’ll post an update when it gets sorted but will require 3 units to operate the Sheffield’s

It will be interesting to see how they write the diagrams and adjustments needed to the timetable in the peak hour. The Harrogate line is also impacted by the East Coast timetable redraft.

 

[YorksLad12]

It’s not easy to tell from my garret, even with the 300mm lens on my camera, but I think a new CCTV camera has been bolted onto the multi-storey, close to the surface car park. I’m guessing it’s in connection with the new parking restrictions and will cover that end of the access road. Has anyone seen any cameras elsewhere? Or enforcement notices?

 

[Iskra]

Just on a more positive note, considering my recent criticisms; all escalators were back in working order last night and this morning as I passed through, including the one by P8 which was covered in scaffolding.

 

[Tractor37]

It’s not easy to tell from my garret, even with the 300mm lens on my camera, but I think a new CCTV camera has been bolted onto the multi-storey, close to the surface car park. I’m guessing it’s in connection with the new parking restrictions and will cover that end of the access road. Has anyone seen any cameras elsewhere? Or enforcement notices?

It comes into effect from 1st July. Drivers using the pick up area (the outer lane (by the wall) of the arc - between the multi storey and Wetherspoons) will get 10 minutes maximum free of charge. A stay over 10 minutes results in an automatic £100 fine. Reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Blue badge holders parking in the designated disabled spaces will be allowed 30 minutes. The access road to the staff car park, alongside the multi storey, will be no parking on either side whatsoever. Needing to stay longer will require parking in the multi storey. Notices warning drivers are still to be posted.

 

[YorksLad12]

It comes into effect from 1st July. Drivers using the pick up area (the outer lane (by the wall) of the arc - between the multi storey and Wetherspoons) will get 10 minutes maximum free of charge. A stay over 10 minutes results in an automatic £100 fine. Reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Blue badge holders parking in the designated disabled spaces will be allowed 30 minutes. The access road to the staff car park, alongside the multi storey, will be no parking on either side whatsoever. Needing to stay longer will require parking in the multi storey. Notices warning drivers are still to be posted.

Those notices will have to go up soon… I’m assuming the No Waiting restriction will exclude taxis, as their space on Bishopgate Street/Sovereign Street isn’t ready yet. Hopefully it will cover the area near Wetherspoons where cars pull up randomly.

 

[Tractor37]

Those notices will have to go up soon… I’m assuming the No Waiting restriction will exclude taxis, as their space on Bishopgate Street/Sovereign Street isn’t ready yet. Hopefully it will cover the area near Wetherspoons where cars pull up randomly.

Only the black n white taxi’s as they pay an annual fee to use the station. It doesn’t cover any other private hires or uber.

 

[YorksLad12]

Notices have now been fixed on the access road on the car parks side; just going in on the other side. Tomorrow will be… interesting. Even more “interesting” when the charges start to arrive.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2025 ==

If useful/of interest, this is the sign that's gone up. I didn't spot any around the old drop-off area, where cars are still dropping off. Last evening, two cars waiting in front of one of the notices, which is just daft. Another car parked up at the far end of the access road, then moved up towards the Princes Square car park entrance - technically, two fines!

 

[thomalex]

Notices have now been fixed on the access road on the car parks side; just going in on the other side. Tomorrow will be… interesting. Even more “interesting” when the charges start to arrive.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2025 ==

If useful/of interest, this is the sign that's gone up. I didn't spot any around the old drop-off area, where cars are still dropping off. Last evening, two cars waiting in front of one of the notices, which is just daft. Another car parked up at the far end of the access road, then moved up towards the Princes Square car park entrance - technically, two fines!

This car park is a complete horror show and they keep making it worse. Demand for rail is only increasing and with no parkway station (well you could technically call Wakefield one but it's a long way out for much of Leeds, especially to the north of the city) the pressure is only going to increase, it's simply not fit for purpose.

Space is tight so what I don't understand is why they're not making use of the ground floor of the multistorey and the side road to allow some space for traffic to circulate and wait. Instead we're getting fines and a lot more stress it seems.

 

[YorksLad12]

This car park is a complete horror show and they keep making it worse. Demand for rail is only increasing and with no parkway station (well you could technically call Wakefield one but it's a long way out for much of Leeds, especially to the north of the city) the pressure is only going to increase, it's simply not fit for purpose.

Space is tight so what I don't understand is why they're not making use of the ground floor of the multistorey and the side road to allow some space for traffic to circulate and wait. Instead we're getting fines and a lot more stress it seems.

The access road is narrow. At the station building end you end up making it difficult to enter and exit the car park, and block the goods area.

I'm no lawyer, but could anyone argue that they weren’t *parking* but *waiting*, when the fine comes through the post? I doubt Apcoa would err on a point of law where money is concerned, but I had the thought.

 

[thejuggler]

I'm no lawyer, but could anyone argue that they weren’t *parking* but *waiting*, when the fine comes through the post? I doubt Apcoa would err on a point of law where money is concerned, but I had the thought.

As the land will probably be governed by byelaws only the driver can be asked to pay any invoices, not the registered keeper.

Unfortunately this isn't an APCOA site (signs mention UKCPS). APCOA know the byelaw 'wrinkle' and generally don't put up a fight if you let them know in an appeal that you know the law.

 

[YorksLad12]

As the land will probably be governed by byelaws only the driver can be asked to pay any invoices, not the registered keeper.

Unfortunately this isn't an APCOA site (signs mention UKCPS). APCOA know the byelaw 'wrinkle' and generally don't put up a fight if you let them know in an appeal that you know the law.

My photo, and I still got it wrong

 

[Grumpy]

One improvement they could make would be to provide some rubbish bins. What do they expect passengers to do with the used coffee cups etc other than throw onto the tracks?

 

[yorksrob]

One improvement they could make would be to provide some rubbish bins. What do they expect passengers to do with the used coffee cups etc other than throw onto the tracks?

There are some litter bins on the footbridge for those who know where they are.

 

[BurtonM]

As the land will probably be governed by byelaws only the driver can be asked to pay any invoices, not the registered keeper.

If that's the case the fines are only enforceable if they're worded a certain way, as if they don't comply with certain laws you can just refuse to confirm you were the driver, and decline to further assist as it's not your responsibility.

 

[Tge1435]

Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline (RNEP) schemes – funding confirmed (08 July 2025)

 

[Killingworth]

Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline (RNEP) schemes – funding confirmed (08 July 2025)

View attachment 183330

Extended Platform 14? A typo for 17?

 

[YorksLad12]

Extended Platform 14? A typo for 17?

Not necessarily. But hopefully!

Looking forward to the new Southern Entrance though. Are we sure this document isn’t 10 years old?

 

[Allwinter_Kit]

Either that is a spectacular copy and paste failure from an ancient document or..erm...something onto Sovereign Place/Pit Row maybe at a guess?

 

[YorksLad12]

Either that is a spectacular copy and paste failure from an ancient document or..erm...something onto Sovereign Place/Pit Row maybe at a guess?

Possibly. I mean, if you were to build a new, accessible eastern footbridge then a separate entrance might be useful. Rather like LSSE it is now a constricted construction site (Google Streetview hasn't been updated but there is a new hotel there). It would mean you could park in the Q-Park on Swinegate and walk round (I always felt there should be a footpath from the Trinity Leeds car park to the station).

Thing is, LSSE was designed to take 25% of passengers away from the main concourse/entrances. Patronage at Leeds isn't close to pre-pandemic levels. Is a new/additional entrance a necessity, or is the assumption that by the time it's planned, consulted upon and built numbers will be up again?

 

[leedslad82]

Possibly. I mean, if you were to build a new, accessible eastern footbridge then a separate entrance might be useful. Rather like LSSE it is now a constricted construction site (Google Streetview hasn't been updated but there is a new hotel there). It would mean you could park in the Q-Park on Swinegate and walk round (I always felt there should be a footpath from the Trinity Leeds car park to the station).

Thing is, LSSE was designed to take 25% of passengers away from the main concourse/entrances. Patronage at Leeds isn't close to pre-pandemic levels. Is a new/additional entrance a necessity, or is the assumption that by the time it's planned, consulted upon and built numbers will be up again?

The trinity leeds car park has a main foot entrance on new station street. Can't get a more direct path really.

 

[YorkshireBear]

It is a new south eastern new entrance, with improved bridge at east end, not a copy and paste from previous years.

 

[Ben427]

Extended Platform 14? A typo for 17?

Not a typo

Platform 17 is a separate programme

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jul 2025 ==

Possibly. I mean, if you were to build a new, accessible eastern footbridge then a separate entrance might be useful. Rather like LSSE it is now a constricted construction site (Google Streetview hasn't been updated but there is a new hotel there). It would mean you could park in the Q-Park on Swinegate and walk round (I always felt there should be a footpath from the Trinity Leeds car park to the station).

Thing is, LSSE was designed to take 25% of passengers away from the main concourse/entrances. Patronage at Leeds isn't close to pre-pandemic levels. Is a new/additional entrance a necessity, or is the assumption that by the time it's planned, consulted upon and built numbers will be up again?

Patronage at Leeds is a lot higher than what is shown by the ORR figures. Footfall inside the station is much closer to pre pandemic levels

Even based on the ORR stats (which doesn't reflect what is being seen on the ground) Leeds station will be back above 2018/19 very quickly. These works need to cover the station growth for the next 20 years.

At peak times footfall inside the station both platform side and around the concourses is dangerously busy at times. Plus getting around the station is challenging enough especially to P16 etc



Ideally there also needs to be a solution to the pick up and drop off at Leeds station with a proper interchange but that's another story.

 

[YorksLad12]

What's confusing me is that even forumites haven't suggested extending P14 or building a new entrance. Where did those ideas come from? We're all agreed the footbridge needs replacing (preferably with public with lift access) but the others are a surprise.

 

[skyhigh]

Also of note from the same press release -

Improving services in the Leeds area

Works around Leeds to improve services will continue. These will support additional services to and through Leeds, ease congestion, and improve reliability for passengers in the area. Services into Leeds have been overstretched for too long and this scheme will address these issues, reducing delays for passengers. The programme has already delivered a new LNER service between London and Bradford and ongoing work will allow for longer trains and greater capacity at Leeds, meaning better connectivity for people in the region.

Green light for over 50 road and rail upgrades supporting over 39,000 new homes and 42,000 jobs

Commuters and businesses to benefit from quicker journeys as more than 50 road and rail upgrades are agreed.

www.gov.uk

Could this include the rumoured new 'G' line to increase capacity into Leeds?

 

[YorksLad12]

Also of note from the same press release -

Green light for over 50 road and rail upgrades supporting over 39,000 new homes and 42,000 jobs

Commuters and businesses to benefit from quicker journeys as more than 50 road and rail upgrades are agreed.

www.gov.uk

Could this include the rumoured new 'G' line to increase capacity into Leeds?

Is that "G" as in "next to F" - just for services via Woodlesford?

Or is it the route next to A that sometimes gets proposed, to segregate Harrogate services from Shipley/Guiseley ones? Someone somewhere did say that Network Rail had bought the land bounded by Globe Road, Whitehall Road and the railway. But we're drifting into speculative territory, I guess...