Leeds station improvement updates

[Iskra]

Oh Lordy. That’s only the second place it says “City”, though the other one is quite large.

Escalator Watch: platform 8 upwards was out earlier this week, platform 12 was out on Monday.

I assume this was for maintenance stops as some of the South entrance ones were also out Sunday/Monday.

 

[YorksLad12]

To be fair, that is its full title !

It's not though, and hasn't been for decades. It doesn't appear on any official documentation (timetables, ORR data, etc). Just that expensive sign above the entrance, and now this vinyl. The other vinyl entrance signs all say Leeds Station.

Relatedly (and tangentially): City is close to where Central was. At the other end of the city centre was Leeds Central Bus Station, now sometimes referred to as Leeds City Bus Station. In both cases it wasn't near to the rail station with the similar name...

 

[takno]

It's not though, and hasn't been for decades. It doesn't appear on any official documentation (timetables, ORR data, etc). Just that expensive sign above the entrance, and now this vinyl. The other vinyl entrance signs all say Leeds Station.

Relatedly (and tangentially): City is close to where Central was. At the other end of the city centre was Leeds Central Bus Station, now sometimes referred to as Leeds City Bus Station. In both cases it wasn't near to the rail station with the similar name...

Waverley hardly appears on any timetables or signs, and I'm not sure you see a lot of references to Hull Paragon. In none of these cases does it mean that the name of the station has changed.

In any case, Network Rail still seem to refer to Leeds City as Leeds City, and have done all along, for example in everything other than the filename of this guide https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Leeds-Station-Guide.pdf

 

[JD2168]

Is Leeps-gate resolved now?

This is how the sign looked across from the entrance to the station on Friday

All escalators were working as well

 

[thomalex]

This is how the sign looked across from the entrance to the station on Friday

All escalators were working as well

The second 'e' is sitting too high and needs to be dropped down slightly. Not sure where this upside down 'p' thing came from as it's clearly a 'b'

More frustrating is the clock (with odd mix of classic looking hands mixed with a modern sans serif font) when we've now got a national Rail clock at great expense, and seem to not be using it. A clock tower at a major UK station should have been a major opportunity to showcase it you would have thought.

 

[Backroom_boy]

Any more on the rumour there was to be some land purchased to increase the approach tracks at the north west side of the station? Was it just wishful thinking?

 

[Geeves]

Any more on the rumour there was to be some land purchased to increase the approach tracks at the north west side of the station? Was it just wishful thinking?

Nothing about the approach tracks how ever a quick Google states they (NR) did spend 47 grand buying back the missing bit of the Wortley Triangle recently.

 

[class 9]

Any more on the rumour there was to be some land purchased to increase the approach tracks at the north west side of the station? Was it just wishful thinking?

I believe they bought the land bordering the railway, Whitehall Road and Globe Road, they haven't published any plans for it though.

 

[Spartacus]

I believe they bought the land bordering the railway, Whitehall Road and Globe Road, they haven't published any plans for it though.

Once upon a time there were plans for a flyover there, for the GN lives to come over the top of the Midlands. I'd have thought it'd be less of a priority than a few years ago with less freight traffic over Whitehall Jn now.

 

[yorksrob]

Platform 8 escalator out of use again.

One for the scrap yard I think.

 

[YorksLad12]

Waverley hardly appears on any timetables or signs, and I'm not sure you see a lot of references to Hull Paragon. In none of these cases does it mean that the name of the station has changed.

In any case, Network Rail still seem to refer to Leeds City as Leeds City, and have done all along, for example in everything other than the filename of this guide https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Leeds-Station-Guide.pdf

Given the other errors in that guide (it needs some updating), I'd say the filename is the most correct part of it!

Platform 8 escalator out of use again.

One for the scrap yard I think.

It's that or the one next to P12. I did wonder if it was heat related.

Has anyone been near P16b lately? Lots of spray-painted lines in different colours and the occasional word I can't make out, just beyond the steps. Is something happening? I haven't seen anything announced or suggested, and it is a bit out of the way.

One other quite irritating thing I've noticed now I'm back to regular commuting is that the new, modern white platform signs don't (seem to always) show how the train is formed, which end is First, etc. The ones over the gate line do, as they're the old orange ones (which are still in use at York). I haven't looked at every train on every platform, of course!

 

[Trainman40083]

Given the other errors in that guide (it needs some updating), I'd say the filename is the most correct part of it!


It's that or the one next to P12. I did wonder if it was heat related.

Has anyone been near P16b lately? Lots of spray-painted lines in different colours and the occasional word I can't make out, just beyond the steps. Is something happening? I haven't seen anything announced or suggested, and it is a bit out of the way.

One other quite irritating thing I've noticed now I'm back to regular commuting is that the new, modern white platform signs don't (seem to always) show how the train is formed, which end is First, etc. The ones over the gate line do, as they're the old orange ones (which are still in use at York). I haven't looked at every train on every platform, of course!

Are the platform 16b markings to do with the proposed extension to platform 17?

 

[YorksLad12]

Are the platform 16b markings to do with the proposed extension to platform 17?

No, 16b is at the east end, it’s 16a that’s adjacent to 17.

 

[speedy1]

The front entrance escalators seem to be taking a break from being broken and it's now the turn of the rear entrance ones. And the lift is blocked off/broken too. Stairs only!

Anyone know what's going on?

The new area outside is looking very smart. Posh looking benches. I do wonder about the timing, what with that area of Leeds becoming very rough lately with lots of druggies and homeless people and beggars. Seems like more areas for them to beg/camp/shoot up/sleep

 

[Iskra]

The front entrance escalators seem to be taking a break from being broken and it's now the turn of the rear entrance ones. And the lift is blocked off/broken too. Stairs only!

Anyone know what's going on?

The new area outside is looking very smart. Posh looking benches. I do wonder about the timing, what with that area of Leeds becoming very rough lately with lots of druggies and homeless people and beggars. Seems like more areas for them to beg/camp/shoot up/sleep

It will probably improve when it’s busy with people, and I’m sure BTP will be all over it to start with, it’s very close to their offices.

 

[speedy1]

It will probably improve when it’s busy with people, and I’m sure BTP will be all over it to start with, it’s very close to their offices.

Hmm..not sure about that. There's a group of 5/6 camped next to Pret under an old entrance to something, whom you can't miss.

And round the corner in City Square the improvements and extra people there don't seem to dissuade them. One's got a tent there now. And I think the pigeons are worse now because people sit there with food and they've cottoned on

 

[yorksrob]

Homelessness in the City centre seems to have increased considerably since the pandemic.

 

[GoneSouth]

Homelessness in the City centre seems to have increased considerably since the pandemic.

King Andy will soon have that problem licked

 

[YorksLad12]

Hmm..not sure about that. There's a group of 5/6 camped next to Pret under an old entrance to something, whom you can't miss.

And round the corner in City Square the improvements and extra people there don't seem to dissuade them. One's got a tent there now. And I think the pigeons are worse now because people sit there with food and they've cottoned on

Homelessness in the City centre seems to have increased considerably since the pandemic.

We've had a few outside Whitehall Quay now that the path to station is closed off during the Princes Exchange work. Local Neighbourhood Policing Team will come round and have a word, if they're made aware. The station is Network rail land though, so it'll be up to NR to make the request. Are you sure the tent in City Square isn't Thor's Tipi?

Meanwhile: the new front entrance is now expected to be open in September: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg0pj840jxo

A new main entrance for Leeds railway station will be completed in September, a year after it was originally scheduled to open, it has been confirmed.
The £46.1m Leeds Station Gateway project includes more pedestrian-friendly streets, a new taxi rank and better facilities for storing bikes.
Work on the revamp started in 2022 and was initially due to be completed in autumn 2025, before being pushed back to "summer 2026".
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: "The Leeds Station Gateway is expected to fully open in September once the remaining works, including the lifts, have been installed and commissioned. We thank people for their patience as we move towards completion."
Once finished, there will also be new outdoor seating, charging for electric bikes and two lifts to take people between the entrance and the new taxi rank on Bishopgate Street.
The work has included the demolition of the previous cycle hub and rotunda steps outside the station, as well the removal of 13 iron beams, each weighing as much as 40 tonnes.
The taxi rank will be moved to Bishopgate Street when the work is complete
But completion of the project has been delayed due to complex engineering challenges, including maintenance work required on the underground Mill Goit - a man-made channel off the River Aire.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

The new area outside is looking very smart. Posh looking benches. I do wonder about the timing, what with that area of Leeds becoming very rough lately with lots of druggies and homeless people and beggars. Seems like more areas for them to beg/camp/shoot up/sleep

I've noticed it myself and it irritates me, hate to think how the usual Friday/Saturday night revellers deal with this as there's one beggar/druggie who'll stands there and effs and blinds when someone doesn't give him any spare change - what's spare change these days?

King Andy will soon have that problem licked

Get them suited, booted and sent to the Eastern Front! It'll solve one social problem whilst cleaning up City Square.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

This is how the sign looked across from the entrance to the station on Friday

All escalators were working as well

What's this obsession nowadays with every single sign saying "Welcome to....."?

This sign just says "Welcome to Leeds". But you are already in Leeds. This is outside the station and surely those going to the station will be catching a train out of Leeds? So why are you being welcomed to Leeds when you are already in Leeds? Welcome to Leeds what? Leeds Bus Station? Leeds City Hall? Surely this should just be a Double Arrow logo on it's own with nothing else?

 

[speedy1]

King Andy will soon have that problem licked

Tracy Brabin may have to get out a map for him and highlight where Leeds is, reminding him there is more than one city in the North (and it's more north than Manchester!)

I've noticed it myself and it irritates me, hate to think how the usual Friday/Saturday night revellers deal with this as there's one beggar/druggie who'll stands there and effs and blinds when someone doesn't give him any spare change - what's spare change these days?

Yeh they are weirdly aggressive. In contrast, I find the beggars in Manchester around Piccadilly extremely polite. Maybe they're on different drugs? Don't know.

 

[GoneSouth]

Tracy Brabin may have to get out a map for him and highlight where Leeds is, reminding him there is more than one city in the North (and it's more north than Manchester!)

Ooh, a new thing, a North North-South devide. This could get interesting. Cheshire, Derbyshire and Manchester are South North and get all the investment, everything else is now even poorer because they’re North North. This could get bitter!

Yeh they are weirdly aggressive. In contrast, I find the beggars in Manchester around Piccadilly extremely polite. Maybe they're on different drugs? Don't know.

It’s just a Leeds thing, generally a more aggressive approach to life.

 

[vic-rijrode]

Ooh, a new thing, a North North-South devide. This could get interesting. Cheshire, Derbyshire and Manchester are South North and get all the investment, everything else is now even poorer because they’re North North. This could get bitter!

It’s just a Leeds thing, generally a more aggressive approach to life.

Does this make Sunderland & Newcastle the North-North. We look down on those folks in Lancashire & Yorkshire that think they live in the North...

 

[speedy1]

We look down on those folks in Lancashire & Yorkshire that think they live in the North...

And they don't even think about you at all

Let's get back on topic though (especially as the original tongue-in-cheek point of my comment was totally missed (that he's so obsessed with Manchester itself to the somewhat exclusion of everywhere else!))

 

[GoneSouth]

And they don't even think about you at all

Let's get back on topic though (especially as the original tongue-in-cheek point of my comment was totally missed (that he's so obsessed with Manchester itself to the somewhat exclusion of everywhere else!))

He discovered Bath and Bristol exist last week so he’s probably getting the message. I think he actually made a rash promise that Bristol would receive funding for a mass transit system of some kind (I guess this will end up being more buses painted in a fancy ‘Bristol Mass Transit’ type livery ).

Manchester is his comfort zone though so might take a while to be weaned off of of it.

 

[IanXC]

Tracy Brabin may have to get out a map for him and highlight where Leeds is, reminding him there is more than one city in the North (and it's more north than Manchester!)

Of course everyone knows that the real alternative capital, in the North, is York, as was elequantly pointed out in the second city's press recently:

Why York is the real capital of the North – not Manchester

MR Burnham would do well to remember that Manchester was founded eight years after York (AD79 vs AD 71) and has NEVER been capital of the North.

On the other hand York served as capital of the north during several distinct historical eras, beginning as the Roman provincial capital of Britannia Inferior from AD 211.

Several times a monarch brought the court to York from where the country was ruled and the treasury was sometimes also here (Clifford's Tower).

The Council of The North was also based in York from 1484 to 1651, although it did only cover the North of England.

Therefore, with these precedents I suggest that the PM looks no further than York for his Northern Capital. On the other hand does York actually want it?

R Shenton,

Connaught Way,

York

'Why York is the real capital of the North – not Manchester'

Where is the real capital of the North asks our letter writer?

www.yorkpress.co.uk

 

[Mag_seven]

Just a gentle reminder that this thread is for the discussion of Leeds station improvement updates.

If anyone wants to discuss anything else then they are welcome to start a new thread elsewhere.

thanks

 

[CaptainHaddock]

One really big improvement that would be appreciated is escalators that actually work! The up ones at the southern entrance have been out of order for nearly a fortnight now with no sign of anyone actually working on them. Instead they've just been cordened off, forcing passengers to use either the lifts or two flights of stairs.

 

[D6130]

One really big improvement that would be appreciated is escalators that actually work! The up ones at the southern entrance have been out of order for nearly a fortnight now with no sign of anyone actually working on them. Instead they've just been cordened off, forcing passengers to use either the lifts or two flights of stairs.

Perhaps you should have a word with your employers? It is they who own, operate and maintain the station!