Future Leeds plans?

[quantinghome]

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)

- Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) including Leeds – Bradford electrification

- Network North (incl. Leeds – Sheffield, Leeds - Hull)

It is also significantly impacted upon by other programmes, including:

- East Coast Mainline upgrades

- Manchester and North West Transformation Programme (MNTP)

There are significant local schemes in development and delivery which must be considered, including:

- West Yorkshire Mass Transit

- Leeds station approach

There are studies in development which will identify enhancement requirements which are expected to place further demand upon Leeds, including:

- Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East (MYNE) study

- 5 Towns Strategic Advice

Train operators are investing, introducing new rolling stock to boost capacity and decarbonise their fleets

- Northern Class 15X rolling stock replacement

- TransPennine Express new trains

- LNER tri-mode trains

The Leeds Area Improvement Plan (LAIP) is delivering schemes which support these major programmes, and is in and of itself a significant undertaking. It seeks to address the gaps between the various infrastructure schemes, and act as an enabler for benefits realisation. Scope includes:

- LAIP 1, delivering the extension of Platform 17 to support capacity improvements to Sheffield, Lincoln and Nottingham.

- LAIP 2, delivering platform extension works at Bradford Forster Square along with power supply upgrades in the area to enable longer Northern trains to operate, and facilitate the introduction of additional LNER services to London.

- LAIP 3 and 4, addressing performance and capacity challenges in the Leeds area, with the scope of intervention under review.

- Line G, providing additional capacity in the station throat for services accessing Platform 17.

- Leeds North West Platform Extensions, facilitating the operation of 6-car Northern services on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines.

Additionally, the Leeds Existing Station Programme (LESP) is working to increase capacity within the station to cater for an uplift in demand as a result of the service improvements facilitated by the above investment programmes. This in itself is a complex multimillion-pound project.

In other words, there are a whole heap of programmes and schemes to fulfil those programmes, and it could become a massively convoluted mess between TfN / DfT / NR if they're not careful. Make of it what you will!

 

[JKF]

Has the proposal for a station at Marsh Lane (near bus station/Quarry Hill) completely vanished now? It was being talked about a lot a decade or two ago, and I think they had a site earmarked.

 

[quantinghome]

Has the proposal for a station at Marsh Lane (near bus station/Quarry Hill) completely vanished now? It was being talked about a lot a decade or two ago, and I think they had a site earmarked.

I don't think it was ever more than an idea. WYCA (and Metro before it) have a list of stations which they are developing. I've never seen it appear on any of them.

 

[Rikki Lamb]

Is it still an eventual plan to reopen platforms 1 - 4 on the Wellington Street or is this froth and flim flam?

 

[YorksLad12]

Is it still an eventual plan to reopen platforms 1 - 4 on the Wellington Street or is this froth and flim flam?

You'd have to lose all of the car parking. You couldn't use just the surface car parks as platforms as you'd need a separate gateline, there being no way to the current gateline because the track for P0 is in the way.

On the subject of platforms...

The other week I caught a train from P5C, and the front of the train (a 333) was beyond the sign for P5B. Last month I caught a 5-car TPE unit from P12A, the rear end of which was almost under the display for P12B. Should the platforms be re-divided, now that average train lengths are longer? You'd never have a unit on the A, B, C & D sections at the same time, unless there were two sets of doubled-up units and they split.

In the P12A example, if the train was six cars long, people would have walked all the way down P12 to reach 12A when they could have spread out and had a chance of a seat closer to 12B.

 

[xotGD]

A couple of times I have caught the 17:42 Skipton from 11C, and there have been passengers on the train who thought it was the train to Newcastle that was next off 11D. The 17:42 was occupying 11D as well as 11C. The 17:42 now departs from 11A, so you would think this should no longer be a problem. However, there is now an 17:42 Scarborough off 11D, and from the announcement I heard on Friday, it looks like some folk are still having an unplanned trip to Airedale.

 

[yorksrob]

I hope this train that I'm sat on is planning to actually go somewhere.

 

[Ben427]

Has the proposal for a station at Marsh Lane (near bus station/Quarry Hill) completely vanished now? It was being talked about a lot a decade or two ago, and I think they had a site earmarked.

Yes that hasn't been around for a while

 

[trainophile]

I’m heading for Leeds now to catch the 12:29 to York, which according to RTT goes from platform 4a. However the NRE map only shows a P4, and Google tells me there’s no 4a at Leeds.

I’ve asked the guard on my current train, who tells me to just go to 4, but as that looks to be quite a walk from my arrival on 9, and I won‘t have all that much time, I thought I’d better just check on here.

I don’t like those away from the main concourse platforms, they aren’t very easy to find the right one!

 

[PrincesWinsdor]

Just as I have posted in another thread:

Restarting HS2a

Politically, Reform will want to kill it sadly. The way to insulate against this is to devolve the project, and ensure contracts are made in such a way that any future government won't save any money by cancelling it.

www.railforums.co.uk

And also:

 

[quantinghome]

I’m heading for Leeds now to catch the 12:29 to York, which according to RTT goes from platform 4a. However the NRE map only shows a P4, and Google tells me there’s no 4a at Leeds.

I’ve asked the guard on my current train, who tells me to just go to 4, but as that looks to be quite a walk from my arrival on 9, and I won‘t have all that much time, I thought I’d better just check on here.

I don’t like those away from the main concourse platforms, they aren’t very easy to find the right one!

Platforms at Leeds are split into sections (denoted by a, b etc). So the guard is right, go to platform 4.

 

[yorksrob]

----

 

[YorksLad12]

I’m heading for Leeds now to catch the 12:29 to York, which according to RTT goes from platform 4a. However the NRE map only shows a P4, and Google tells me there’s no 4a at Leeds.

I’ve asked the guard on my current train, who tells me to just go to 4, but as that looks to be quite a walk from my arrival on 9, and I won‘t have all that much time, I thought I’d better just check on here.

I don’t like those away from the main concourse platforms, they aren’t very easy to find the right one!

Platforms at Leeds are split into sections (denoted by a, b etc). So the guard is right, go to platform 4.

On the western side, A platforms are at the western end, B and C closest to the buffer stops. On the through platforms, A is also at the western end; 15 and 16 have A and B, the others have A, B, C and D. Can't remember what 7 and 14 are like, I'm rarely out that way.

Thing to remember is to look at the displays; the platform splits are usually for three-car units, not four, so trains will often span A and B.

 

[trainophile]

Thanks all, I made it okay (was actually getting off at Knaresborough). It didn’t help that the announcements for my train for some reason kept saying it was for Poppleton. Can’t understand the reason for that at all.

 

[bluenoxid]

Thanks all, I made it okay (was actually getting off at Knaresborough). It didn’t help that the announcements for my train for some reason kept saying it was for Poppleton. Can’t understand the reason for that at all.

The train via Harrogate is a very long way to get to York, so they put the penultimate stop on the destination board. They do the same in the other direction.

 

[trainophile]

The train via Harrogate is a very long way to get to York, so they put the penultimate stop on the destination board. They do the same in the other direction.

Oh I see… I think . Seems a bit weird though if you want an intermediate station but naturally check the final destination on the route.

 

[quantinghome]

An interesting tidbit picked up by the SSC Leeds forum:

https://greenstreetnews.com/article/180m-leeds-resi-scheme-scrapped-as-site-sold/

This is the Globe Road site, located here, just by the western approach to Leeds station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BShXPjZeSeYQcRG1A

 

[YorksLad12]

I’m sure I’ve read this here, ages ago, that Network Rail bought it. Rumours about it being a TRU compound or to add a new viaduct to separate out the Harrogate and Shipley routes.

 

[Halifaxlad]

I’m sure I’ve read this here, ages ago, that Network Rail bought it. Rumours about it being a TRU compound or to add a new viaduct to separate out the Harrogate and Shipley routes.

Perhaps a compound in readiness for a new segregated junction at Whitehall Lane ?

Or maybe just car parking for Leeds station so that the existing car park can be redeveloped.

 

[sefyllian]

I’m sure I’ve read this here, ages ago, that Network Rail bought it. Rumours about it being a TRU compound or to add a new viaduct to separate out the Harrogate and Shipley routes.

There’s been some discussion about it before here:

Two additional tracks to be built into Leeds station from the West?

 

[quantinghome]

Yes, it sounds like it's been on the cards for a while. But I believe this is the first confirmation that NR have actually purchased the site.

I don't think it's a coincidence that it's happened shortly after the HS2 alignment safeguarding has been lifted. Even if it's not part of any immediate plan, it's safeguarding the long term expansion of the station now that the T-option is out of the picture. Now for the eastern approach...

 

[YorksLad12]

There’s been some discussion about it before here:

Two additional tracks to be built into Leeds station from the West?

Ta. I lose track with all of the threads...

Yes, it sounds like it's been on the cards for a while. But I believe this is the first confirmation that NR have actually purchased the site.

I don't think it's a coincidence that it's happened shortly after the HS2 alignment safeguarding has been lifted. Even if it's not part of any immediate plan, it's safeguarding the long term expansion of the station now that the T-option is out of the picture. Now for the eastern approach...

Has the council given up though? They had a regeneration plan based on a T station, demolition, road access, etc. They can't afford it, of course, but have they stopped safeguarding the route internally?

 

[Ben427]

Yes, it sounds like it's been on the cards for a while. But I believe this is the first confirmation that NR have actually purchased the site.

I don't think it's a coincidence that it's happened shortly after the HS2 alignment safeguarding has been lifted. Even if it's not part of any immediate plan, it's safeguarding the long term expansion of the station now that the T-option is out of the picture. Now for the eastern approach...

I think it's a coincidence tbh

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Oct 2025 ==

Ta. I lose track with all of the threads...


Has the council given up though? They had a regeneration plan based on a T station, demolition, road access, etc. They can't afford it, of course, but have they stopped safeguarding the route internally?

The safeguarding has been lifted except a small area south of the station

The council can't safeguard land itself

 

[YorksLad12]

Drop off by the Doubletree.

Several reason why this is unlikely to happen. Access to the Doubletree is via Wharf Approach, a narrow road and bridge shared with foot traffic. The gap between the buildings is roadway built on top of the old canal branch, and is in need of repair. The approaches to and exits from Wharf Approach are limited to Water Lane. And the Doubletree probably won't be happy.

Now: if the T-station idea had prevailed, and the Hilton had been demolished, that would have been a good place for a pick-up/drop-off area, with waiting spaces and step-free access to the Southern Entrance. Ultimately, where it is north of the river is the best place in terms of onward road connections. The weird mini roundabout and approaches from Aire Street could do with fixing, but that's for the council to sort.

 

[yorksrob]

Yes, the road to the Doubletree is very lumpy and not fit for much traffic.

 

[xotGD]

I'm not suggesting that the Doubletree becomes the official drop-off point.

Just that if I had to drop someone off, that's where I would go. Indeed, I have done so in the past.

Of course, if lots of people did it, there would be chaos!

 

[YorksLad12]

I'm not suggesting that the Doubletree becomes the official drop-off point.

Just that if I had to drop someone off, that's where I would go. Indeed, I have done so in the past.

Of course, if lots of people did it, there would be chaos!

I hope you're not one of those 'influencers' I keep reading about, everyone else might start doing the same

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jun 2026 ==

Thinking about the closed part of the ticket office as mentioned in the Actual Happenings thread: how about this as a suggestion?

Create a false floor and extend the current ticket office over it. Turn the windows round, so that the queue is out of the way of general foot traffic. Also means people have a chance of hearing what's being asked or told. The self-service machines in the corner could also be relocated there (if the false floor is strong enough). The downstairs bit becomes (or remains) the storeroom holding blank ticket supplies, leaflets and other stuff. Possibly also a break room for staff. The bit facing onto New Station Street becomes just one large window (and advertising/signpost hoarding).

That assumes nothing else is happening, of course. The tickets offices combined are around the same floor space as Boots, and moving the ticket office there, with a separate gate for people who need to buy a ticket and pass through, and a separate window for anyone who needs a ticket to interchange, makes sense to me as well.