-
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 improvement updates
- Thread starter Leedslad_
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
YorksLad12
Established Member
A few changes round the back of the station this last week. A new compound has appeared on the bridge over the weir, pushing the taxis back four or five car lengths. Overnight, a low steel frame appeared on the exposed piers. I'd be surprised if the building that was there, decades ago, will make an appearance; it's more likely that they're doing some work on the exposed pipework, or even boxing it in again (the boxing got hit by debris 10 years ago and has been slowly falling away).
The Princes Exchange building now has no windows. This being a railway project, I expect that the desks won't line up with the new windows...
The Princes Exchange building now has no windows. This being a railway project, I expect that the desks won't line up with the new windows...
The new seating out front as suspected has become a nice hangout for the beggars, drunks, Big Issue sellers, pigeons because people can't use bins, and of course vapers and smokers dominating the seating
Shame, Leeds used to be so nice
Shame, Leeds used to be so nice
I've just been and it was clean and pleasant with a wide variety of people relaxing or having lunch, including children, the elderly and yes, one smoker.
Meanwhile the surrounding area was vibrant and bustling with people going about their business and spending money.
It is a vast improvement on the busy road and shoddy prefab entranceway which preceded the current work.
YorksLad12
Established Member
It depends on the time of day. Just passed by there on a bus, and someone was power-washing the bottom of the longer set of steps, paving was happening in the rubber setts area, paths were being swept. A hive of activity.
The other week after work I walked through the area, and three ne'er-do-wells were smoking and drinking on the other side of the Harris fencing (so in the work compound, but away from people) outside the Ballroom entrance to The Queens.
It does amaze me that British Transport Police don't move these people on, or turf them off the station when begging. But then, railway stations aren't 'transport'...
I just know when I started commuting via New Station Street nine years ago, I hated it. Especially compared with its immediate peer in Sheffield, which had a good entrance despite being an undersize station on the wrong side of the ring road of a city with an inferior job market.
If there were fewer 'characters' about then, it was only because it was inimical to all human life.
If there were fewer 'characters' about then, it was only because it was inimical to all human life.
The North concourse is still one of the finest public spaces in Leeds. I tend to go through there and across City square where possible.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
I've just noticed the new seating area outside the front for the first time. Looks rather good.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
I've just noticed the new seating area outside the front for the first time. Looks rather good.
Last edited:
YorksLad12
Established Member
I don't have a YEP account, and I refuse point-blank to fall for the "accept cookies or pay" scam all newspaper sites do these days. But for those of you with a subscription (or who don't care about the cookies thing), there's a story about the £40m refurbishment of the office block at https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co...inces-exchange-building-leeds-station-8944840
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
The Hoot reports that the "station could reopen" (meaning the front bit - lazy journalism there) in mid-October.
I did find the photo in the article elsewhere though. It seems to show a loading bay opposite the multi-storey, and the current surface car park entrance closed off (which will make it harder for the larger lorries to reverse in to the loading bay (unless there's a change there too)), so everything goes in and out via the current exit. New seating area will be interesting, if you like looking at cars. Not that there are any cars in this image!
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
The Hoot reports that the "station could reopen" (meaning the front bit - lazy journalism there) in mid-October.
Attachments
Last edited:
YorksLad12
Established Member
For those who haven't had the pleasure, the escalator up from P16 is out. Everyone from P16 and P17 has to exit via the stairs, which doesn't make the people coming down the stairs too happy. Especially when they run into [expletive deleted]s with pushbikes.
Rikki Lamb
Member
- Joined
- 24 Jan 2019
- Messages
- 114
Must be recent, it was working at 1610 this afternoon.
YorksLad12
Established Member
Interesting, it wasn’t working yesterday or today around 1745. Fenced off at the bottom, taped off at the top.
It wasn’t working last Friday at evening peak
Yes, this has been noticed !
Or on Monday morning. I found the notice on the barrier re the steps amusing but I'm sure it would have angered some
Attachments
YorksLad12
Established Member
Two weeks on, it's still out... unless people are liking the steps. I've been at the rear of the train, and took the eastern footbridge, but it looked as if the escalator wasn't escalating.
In other news... I was talking with a neighbour earlier, as we've been having issues with rough sleepers in the area. He's been told by our friendly, neighbourhood Policeman that the Council is applying for a Public Spaces Protection Order for the station area, which will allow for more proactive enforcement to take place. Coming home from London on Friday, someone was rough sleeping in one of the doorways on the hotel side of the North Concourse, so either BTP can't do anything or they won't unless there's obvious aggression being shown.
He was also told that Network Rail don't own the bit of the station from Wetherspoons to the City Square entrance, which sounds unlikely to me! Unless one of you knows better...?
In other news... I was talking with a neighbour earlier, as we've been having issues with rough sleepers in the area. He's been told by our friendly, neighbourhood Policeman that the Council is applying for a Public Spaces Protection Order for the station area, which will allow for more proactive enforcement to take place. Coming home from London on Friday, someone was rough sleeping in one of the doorways on the hotel side of the North Concourse, so either BTP can't do anything or they won't unless there's obvious aggression being shown.
He was also told that Network Rail don't own the bit of the station from Wetherspoons to the City Square entrance, which sounds unlikely to me! Unless one of you knows better...?
It was working last Friday, was blocked off at each end & had been partially removed so repairs appeared to be underway