Leeds station improvement updates

[yoyothehobo]

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...

G line is next to F to allow services to arrive and depart from P17 without conflicting with services arriving/departing on P15/P16. Yes, it is for the route via Woodlesford.

 

[YorksLad12]

The Yorkshire Evening Post reports "Greggs set to open first branch at Leeds train station as plans submitted for signage and fitting" - https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/business/greggs-leeds-train-station-branch-5220555

The popular high street chain has filed a planning application for a unit located on the southwest side of the station concourse, next to Leon. This marks the first time in recent history that the Newcastle-based bakery will operate within the station.

[…]

Leeds City Council’s planning committee is expected to approve or refuse the bakery’s plans by Monday, August 25. You can have your say on the proposal on the authority’s planning portal found here.

 

[Cach17]

The Yorkshire Evening Post reports "Greggs set to open first branch at Leeds train station as plans submitted for signage and fitting" - https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/business/greggs-leeds-train-station-branch-5220555

About bloody time!

 

[Cowley]

We’ve just set up a new thread to discuss possible future plans for Leeds, which you’ll find here:

Future Leeds plans?

For what it's worth, here is an extract from a TfN report from August 2024 proposing a "Leeds Area Task Force": mods note - split from this thread Converging Programmes The West Yorkshire area features at the heart of several programmes, including: - Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) -...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[yorksrob]

The Yorkshire Evening Post reports "Greggs set to open first branch at Leeds train station as plans submitted for signage and fitting" - https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/business/greggs-leeds-train-station-branch-5220555

Aaah, I can see that being popular !

I've gone off them in recent years, but sometimes you just want a cheese and onion pasty.

I wonder whether they'll have "station prices" or go for the McDonalds approach and have nationwide prices !

 

[Llandudno]

Aaah, I can see that being popular !

I've gone off them in recent years, but sometimes you just want a cheese and onion pasty.

I wonder whether they'll have "station prices" or go for the McDonalds approach and have nationwide prices !

Bound to be station prices like the one in Derby!

 

[johntea]

I often wonder why the Subway (of the food variety) randomly just seemed to call it a day a few years back, always seemed popular enough

 

[Ben427]

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.

These plans have been going for a while - new entrance points are needed into the station particularly from the south to meet the growth in the city

 

[YorksLad12]

Interestingly (or not), the "Don't park here or else" notices have all be removed. Only noticed this morning, so not sure when they came down.

Edited to add that the two clipped to the fencing on the first surface car park might be turned through 90 degrees to face people driving in, but I can't see the ones that were stuck to the pillars of the multi-storey. Not that people read them anyway...

 

[Tractor37]

Interestingly (or not), the "Don't park here or else" notices have all be removed. Only noticed this morning, so not sure when they came down.

Edited to add that the two clipped to the fencing on the first surface car park might be turned through 90 degrees to face people driving in, but I can't see the ones that were stuck to the pillars of the multi-storey. Not that people read them anyway...

They’ve been moved and are now attached to lampposts instead of the wall and turned through 90 degrees so they face drivers on the road

 

[jmh59]

The car park yesterday was a mess. We got an Uber via the app while standing at the doors, but by the time we found the car right at the end of the circle and parked nose with no way to see the registration we were then charged for being late. Only 5p, but not our fault. We are of course not going to challenge 5p but people are going to be caught out by this.

 

[xotGD]

The car park yesterday was a mess. We got an Uber via the app while standing at the doors, but by the time we found the car right at the end of the circle and parked nose with no way to see the registration we were then charged for being late. Only 5p, but not our fault. We are of course not going to challenge 5p but people are going to be caught out by this.

Top tip: Use the southern exit and get your Uber to pick you up at the Doubletree.

 

[jmh59]

Top tip: Use the southern exit and get your Uber to pick you up at the Doubletree.

Quite, but how do people know? Usually I'll catch a bus but this trip is paid for by work (not mine) so it's Uber. I had not yet seen the car park so busy and such a mess though, is it always that bad?

 

[YorksLad12]

The car park yesterday was a mess. We got an Uber via the app while standing at the doors, but by the time we found the car right at the end of the circle and parked nose with no way to see the registration we were then charged for being late. Only 5p, but not our fault. We are of course not going to challenge 5p but people are going to be caught out by this.

If he was parked so close to the car in front that you couldn't see his plate, ask for your 5p back. How would he have exited?

I had not yet seen the car park so busy and such a mess though, is it always that bad?

You must have been there on a good day.

More notices have gone up about not parking, and there's a huge sign on the wall as you enter the station... people still park up wherever they feel like it. In the meantime there's a huge surface car park still going spare, and very little happening in the Princes Square car park. Ho hum.

 

[Halifaxlad]

These plans have been going for a while - new entrance points are needed into the station particularly from the south to meet the growth in the city

Surely that's what the South entrance was about ?

 

[Ben427]

If he was parked so close to the car in front that you couldn't see his plate, ask for your 5p back. How would he have exited?

You must have been there on a good day.

More notices have gone up about not parking, and there's a huge sign on the wall as you enter the station... people still park up wherever they feel like it. In the meantime there's a huge surface car park still going spare, and very little happening in the Princes Square car park. Ho hum.

The pick up and drop off is particularly challenging around the times of London trains coming in/out.

However alot of the rest.of the time it is not too bad

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2025 ==

Surely that's what the South entrance was about ?

It was a start. The existing southern entrance was opened back in 2016 and plans for it date back to the early 2010s.

It's a partial solution, and with rail patronage higher than it was in 2010 and particularly the growth of the city to the south east of the station far more is needed.

 

[xotGD]

It was a start. The existing southern entrance was opened back in 2016 and plans for it date back to the early 2010s.

It's a partial solution, and with rail patronage higher than it was in 2010 and particularly the growth of the city to the south east of the station far more is needed.

In my experience the southern entrance is lightly used. I cannot see a justification for another entrance on that side of the station.

 

[Allwinter_Kit]

A few thoughts:

- I can see the value in future-proofing for one. As, if the Southbank really is going to be where a whole load of light industrial is replaced with apartments, shops and offices over the next 30 years then demand is definitely going to go up.
- demand is low currently on the southern entrance but unless you're going to Granary Wharf it isn't really very convenient for anywhere.
- if they are sorting out the east-end footbridge then on the end of that would make sense as a place to plan for an entrance to go
- if the works are extensive enough to mean that it's easy to put the entrance in now I guess you might as well?

As you can tell, I started off somewhat non-plussed by it but I guess I can see the rationale. Although one hell of a trek from any entrance on the southern side of the eastern footbridge over to the Aire/Wharfe/Harrogate services which I mainly use! And if they do widen that footbridge and enable/encourage more footfall down the side of Platform 8 as a result, the dispatchers of the London trains are going to need to cool their heels about shouting at people walking down the platform within 5 minutes of a KGX departure.

 

[YorksLad12]

It was a start. The existing southern entrance was opened back in 2016 and plans for it date back to the early 2010s.

It's a partial solution, and with rail patronage higher than it was in 2010 and particularly the growth of the city to the south east of the station far more is needed.

Earlier than that! It was part of the original Leeds 1st scheme in 1999-2001, but was dropped for cost reasons. I worked on the stakeholder engagement sessions in 2009, which would have been GRIP 4 in the old way of doing things, so I'd say plans would have been started to be drawn up in 2006/7. The delay was because of the election in 2010, and the new government pausing lots of infrastructure plans.

 

[Spartacus]

It was a start. The existing southern entrance was opened back in 2016 and plans for it date back to the early 2010s.

It's a partial solution, and with rail patronage higher than it was in 2010 and particularly the growth of the city to the south east of the station far more is needed.

Leeds was meant to be getting a hugely expanded southern side until it was dropped and quietly forgetten. That was called HS2....

 

[Ben427]

Leeds was meant to be getting a hugely expanded southern side until it was dropped and quietly forgetten. That was called HS2....

Yep, and that's why alot of schemes and plans at Leeds have had to be redone massively!

In my experience the southern entrance is lightly used. I cannot see a justification for another entrance on that side of the station.

The existing entrance is niche and frankly not in a great place. The south of the city is where growth is, and there's no real way to expand capacity on the northern side of the station beyond what is being done at present beyond some relatively minor interventions.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Sep 2025 ==

Earlier than that! It was part of the original Leeds 1st scheme in 1999-2001, but was dropped for cost reasons. I worked on the stakeholder engagement sessions in 2009, which would have been GRIP 4 in the old way of doing things, so I'd say plans would have been started to be drawn up in 2006/7. The delay was because of the election in 2010, and the new government pausing lots of infrastructure plans.

Typo on my part - meant to the say the 2000s but didn't realise it went as far back as being part of the original Leeds 1st scheme

 

[Halifaxlad]

Yep, and that's why alot of schemes and plans at Leeds have had to be redone massively!

So how many schemes have has to be changed because a half hourly LNER service is to remain in the train shed rather when they don't run to Bradford or Leeds, because of a project that if it went ahead was years away at best!

 

[ASharpe]

The southern entrance was closed this afternoon. Didn't get chance to find out why but loads of people running to the other open entrances. Missed my train and i'm sure many others have or will do too.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

The southern entrance was closed this afternoon. Didn't get chance to find out why but loads of people running to the other open entrances. Missed my train and i'm sure many others have or will do too.

All of it or just the sliding door that leads out down some steps to the river? The latter has been closed for a couple of weeks now, even though the sign says it only closes in the event of high winds.

 

[skyhigh]

The southern entrance was closed this afternoon. Didn't get chance to find out why but loads of people running to the other open entrances. Missed my train and i'm sure many others have or will do too.

Network Rail closed it due to planned protests, apparently.

 

[YorksLad12]

The southern entrance was closed this afternoon. Didn't get chance to find out why but loads of people running to the other open entrances. Missed my train and i'm sure many others have or will do too.

That might explain the person I met wandering around Thirsk Row/Whitehall Road trying to find the Hilton - ordinarily you'd use the Southern Entrance if coming in by train.

 

[yorksrob]

The kitchens in the Weatherspoons at Leeds station certainly need including in the refurbishment. Every Friday they seem to fail. I wouldn't mind but they're the only place you can get a fry-up before 8.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Oct 2025 ==

And another thing (slightly more rail related).

The main up escalator from the concourse to the footbridge is out of action for several weeks. Surely they ought to reverse the other escalator during this time, as its easier to descend stairs than ascend them.

 

[takno]

The kitchens in the Weatherspoons at Leeds station certainly need including in the refurbishment. Every Friday they seem to fail. I wouldn't mind but they're the only place you can get a fry-up before 8.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Oct 2025 ==

And another thing (slightly more rail related).

The main up escalator from the concourse to the footbridge is out of action for several weeks. Surely they ought to reverse the other escalator during this time, as its easier to descend stairs than ascend them.

Riveresque is reasonable for a fryup if you can get 5 minutes from the south entrance.

 

[Freemo]

At the moment if arriving at a southerly platform it's probably quicker to reach stuff on Bishopsgate/Mill Hill by going out the south entrance and ducking under the station than to go around the works out the front via City Square or New Station Street.

 

[yorksrob]

Riveresque is reasonable for a fryup if you can get 5 minutes from the south entrance.

Cheers, not heard of that one !