Gateline staff - Leeds station.

[Tetchytyke]

There are only two structural problems with Leeds: the positioning of the ticket office, and the useless ticket barriers.

I don't have any issues at all with the general ambience of the station. It is cold and windy, but it always was and always will be. The old station, with the narrow subway and the underground gents toilets that stunk the place out, was awful. This place is generally tidy and well-lit, which is what you want.

That said, the cleanliness of the toilets is a disgrace- even in the concourse facilities you have to pay for. I had a discussion with Northern Rail not so long ago about that; they suggested I use the toilets in Wetherspoon. Network Rail need to sort that out, and fast; when I've paid 30p to use the bathroom, I don't expect to see broken toilets and dirty underpants on the floor.

 

[HowardGWR]

There are only two structural problems with Leeds: the positioning of the ticket office, and the useless ticket barriers.

I don't have any issues at all with the general ambience of the station. It is cold and windy, but it always was and always will be. The old station, with the narrow subway and the underground gents toilets that stunk the place out, was awful. This place is generally tidy and well-lit, which is what you want.

That said, the cleanliness of the toilets is a disgrace- even in the concourse facilities you have to pay for. I had a discussion with Northern Rail not so long ago about that; they suggested I use the toilets in Wetherspoon. Network Rail need to sort that out, and fast; when I've paid 30p to use the bathroom, I don't expect to see broken toilets and dirty underpants on the floor.

For someone who wrote 'I don't have any problems with the general ambience' that is then counteracted by the rest of the post content, AT!!!

All those items are what OPs have been complaining about. You don't have to pay to use the toilets in an airport and they are kept spotlessly clean by an army of probable immigrants (speak to one, as I do, (thanks cost nothing) and you will soon discover that).

On the draught, is there no possible solution for that? Not all stations are draughty

 

[Tetchytyke]

For someone who wrote 'I don't have any problems with the general ambience' that is then counteracted by the rest of the post content, AT!!!

Not really, the waiting areas and the concourses are absolutely fine. It's just the toilets that are vile. And even they are better than the old provision; the gents toilets in the subway really were a joy to behold.

Leeds station has always been cold and windy, I'm assuming it is the east-west layout. However cold some people think it is now, nothing is as cold as waiting for a TransPennine train on the old platform 12 (now platform 15).

 

[yorksrob]

Platform 17 is too exposed and awkward to get to in my opinion.

As for the toilets, if I'm paying 40p (yes, that's 40p folks) I expect to be greeted by rows and rows of welcoming toilet cubicles and shiny bowls waiting for my evacuation. Three extremely grotty cubicles just isn't enough, particularly when they're all occupied and you end up having to wait shiftily next to the urinals.

You're better off chancing the free ones on the platform.

 

[Grumpy]

Not really, the waiting areas and the concourses are absolutely fine. It's just the toilets that are vile. And even they are better than the old provision; the gents toilets in the subway really were a joy to behold.

Leeds station has always been cold and windy, I'm assuming it is the east-west layout. However cold some people think it is now, nothing is as cold as waiting for a TransPennine train on the old platform 12 (now platform 15).

The station is a great improvement on its predecessor and a credit to Railtrack.
Unfortunately whilst grey might be a good colour for coping with ultraviolet it's not very practical in a dirty environment such as a railway station and it now looks grubby. It needs a good wash down. I don't know what the cladding material is but I recall reading the maintenance requirements for some coated cladding made by British Steel a few years back and that insisted on the cladding being washed every couple of years to remove pollutants and prolong the cladding life.

I agree with the comments re cold and windy and wonder why we have such big open ends to the trainsheds in this country. I noticed in Amsterdam the other week that the end wall of the roof comes down nearly to the ohle.

My wife uses the train more than I do but we went into Leeds together today. I asked her why she was making for the manned barrier and her response was to the effect that the gates never work. I told her this was rubbish and she should try the gates-she did and inevitably they wouldn't accept her ticket we had just bought from the Northern guard. Nor would mine.

 

[bewildered]

Lots of changes for the station in the near and distant future that came out of a recent even in Leeds (nabbed from sky scraper city)

Short Term

Burger King has been given notice on its lease. It will be removed and the door areas will be refurbished and the canopy outside will be refurbished and reclad. This is to be done this year.
Southern concourse ceiling to be brightened and refurbished, to be on site this year.
The entrance near to Weatherspoons (pick up and drop off) to be refurbished.
A new MSCP to be built on the surface car park next to existing MSCP
Retail units adjacent to ticket barriers to be removed elevating the bottleneck located there.
Millie's Cookies has been served notice. This will be removed opening up space and the bottle neck around the ticket office.
Southern entrance soon to begin construction.

Long term

The whole southern concourse to be demolished and rebuilt with a mezzanine level.
Network Rail office to be demolished and staff moved into city house. City house to be reclad and glazed
Boots to be demolished to open up more room onto the northern Art Deco concourse
The Dark Arches to be developed and encorporated into the station (possible new pick up and drop off or taxi rank?)
Number of platforms to be increased