Leeds station improvement updates

[GoneSouth]

Apologies if this has been covered already but what exactly are they doing?

 

[Allwinter_Kit]

Sounds like they're doing a study to determine what to do. Although I imagine they will be drawing on a list of already developed options / issues - the ticket office bottleneck being one for sure.

I imagine they're updating things as the new entrance / stairs out the front will presumably have some level of impact on people's choice of exit?

 

[skyhigh]

Apologies if this has been covered already but what exactly are they doing?

There is quite a big wishlist. Alterations to the footbridge are hoped for - apparently extending over to platform 1 and adding escalators on the side which currently has no access to the platforms. The previously mentioned reconfiguration around platform 16/17.

The admin block with the mess/office facilities is supposed to be being demolished (was originally due to close Dec 25 but lack of funding and other issues delayed that). It's rumoured that they are wanting to build further retail upstairs of the current concourse. The existing Boots/Upper Crust/Nero would close to ease the bottleneck past the ticket office and they would move into the new retail area.

 

[YorksLad12]

There is quite a big wishlist. Alterations to the footbridge are hoped for - apparently extending over to platform 1 and adding escalators on the side which currently has no access to the platforms. The previously mentioned reconfiguration around platform 16/17.

Extending the footbridge is only helpful for passengers on P0/P1 (and there might not be room for stairs). What does "adding escalators on the side which currently has no access to the platforms" mean, you lost me?

The admin block with the mess/office facilities is supposed to be being demolished (was originally due to close Dec 25 but lack of funding and other issues delayed that). It's rumoured that they are wanting to build further retail upstairs of the current concourse. The existing Boots/Upper Crust/Nero would close to ease the bottleneck past the ticket office and they would move into the new retail area.

The bottleneck-easing idea was from about 15 years ago! I sat in in some of those meetings. Might even have a drawing somewhere in a box...

I walked past Princes Exchange on Aire Street and it was looking a bit worse for wear inside. Have they moved out of the old block yet?

 

[skyhigh]

What does "adding escalators on the side which currently has no access to the platforms" mean, you lost me?

Clumsy wording but I meant adding escalators that are on the West facing side of the bridge - the current ones are all on the East side.

Have they moved out of the old block yet?

Short answer - no.

Longer answer - I believe some LNER staff have moved out from the top floor, which had to happen due to issues with the structure of the roof.

The block as a whole was going to close in December but Network Rail couldn't fund the necessary refurbishment of Princes Exchange so the scheme was put on hold.

It was then realised that diagrammed walking times would have to be extended due to the fact that the new facilities are further away which meant that a lot of crew diagrams would have to be reworked and more staff employed to cover the higher working hours required (which again nobody wants to pay for). So the latest position seems to be that a Northern mess facility needs to be provided on the station itself. I suspect the old Travel Centre may become a temporary mess room to allow the admin block to be demolished but that's just a guess.

 

[thejuggler]

The main escalator/lift area was so busy on the day I was there between Christmas and New Year a significant redesign is required.

I appreciate Christmas is not typical, but there were high numbers of passengers waiting for the lift - they had large cases, wheelchairs, pushchairs etc - to an extent the bridge was very congested causing issues at the escalators.

 

[Minnietheminx]

The main escalator/lift area was so busy on the day I was there between Christmas and New Year a significant redesign is required.

I appreciate Christmas is not typical, but there were high numbers of passengers waiting for the lift - they had large cases, wheelchairs, pushchairs etc - to an extent the bridge was very congested causing issues at the escalators.

Much of that could be sorted by having reliable escalators and lifts that can't be beaten by a slow walk up or down stairs

 

[taketheatrain]

Philip Haigh shared this LSEP works package last year showing improvements presumably on the options list too - including new overbridge midstation and southern access at
Neville Street / Sovereign Square (it's not clear which).

Minimal context to it as an image - but it would improve access to the south of station and trains using western platforms substantially.

Philip Haigh @philatrail 4 Jul 2025
It’s 25 years since Leeds 1st brought the city its revamped station. Now Network Rail has another programme of improvements that are set to increase passenger capacity and better connect the station to its surrounding areas. NR says this ‘future-proofing’ will take it to 2043.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Philip Haigh shared this LSEP works package last year showing improvements presumably on the options list too - including new overbridge midstation and southern access at
Neville Street / Sovereign Square (it's not clear which).

Minimal context to it as an image - but it would improve access to the south of station and trains using western platforms substantially.

I mean if they get all that funded, it's an excellent package of works. And would massively improve the pedestrian elements of the station. Won't include extra train capacity mind.....

 

[Allwinter_Kit]

Also that image appears to suggest a new, third footbridge in the "middle" of the station by the gateline? Which would be lovely but a) rather expensive and v) would probably take away a solid 50% of the patronage from the kiosks on the current western one, killing their value, so I can imagine it being an option that is considered rather.... delicately. Unless they make that one the "big one" with the units and the western and eastern ones just free-flowing movement of passengers, which would be no bad thing either.

 

[yorksrob]

I'm not convinced that Leeds needs another footbridge.

Turning the service exit on platform 8 into an exit gateline for passengers off the Eastern footbridge would be a cheaper option to improve flows out of the station (this used to be done in peak hours before the barriers went in).

 

[Spartacus]

I'm not convinced that Leeds needs another footbridge.

Turning the service exit on platform 8 into an exit gateline for passengers off the Eastern footbridge would be a cheaper option to improve flows out of the station (this used to be done in peak hours before the barriers went in).

Short term cheap, long term expensive, due to the need to staff & maintain it. It used to be used as an exit at peak times though, which could possibly be worth considering again.

 

[yorksrob]

Short term cheap, long term expensive, due to the need to staff & maintain it. It used to be used as an exit at peak times though, which could possibly be worth considering again.

It would be less of a nuisance to close out of use at quieter times than the South entrance I think.

 

[DarloRich]

I'm not convinced that Leeds needs another footbridge.

it needs another accessible bridge imo. The York end bridge is not accessible. I would also like to see another entrance.

 

[YorksLad12]

Also that image appears to suggest a new, third footbridge in the "middle" of the station by the gateline? Which would be lovely but a) rather expensive and v) would probably take away a solid 50% of the patronage from the kiosks on the current western one, killing their value, so I can imagine it being an option that is considered rather.... delicately. Unless they make that one the "big one" with the units and the western and eastern ones just free-flowing movement of passengers, which would be no bad thing either.

I'm not convinced there's space for a centre footbridge that reaches everywhere without reducing platform widths significantly, especially on the 9-11 island.

But let's think big. The new, accessible (I'd say lifts and steps rather than escalators, for space reasons) footbridge replaces the existing eastern footbridge. It extends through part of WH Smith's, with a new gate line so that people can 'cut the corner' which also eases pressure on the existing gate line. It's wide enough for the usual outlets, meaning a couple can move from the western footbridge (plus the shop on the existing 12-15 island).

 

[yoyothehobo]

I'm not convinced that Leeds needs another footbridge.

Turning the service exit on platform 8 into an exit gateline for passengers off the Eastern footbridge would be a cheaper option to improve flows out of the station (this used to be done in peak hours before the barriers went in).

I agree, i use the station daily at rush hour and have never had any issues with the footbridge, other than escalators not escalating and sometimes the narrow set of stairs to the 9-11 island getting very congested.

 

[Killingworth]

I agree, i use the station daily at rush hour and have never had any issues with the footbridge, other than escalators not escalating and sometimes the narrow set of stairs to the 9-11 island getting very congested.

Possibly not the footbridge itself but getting to and from Platform 17 is an absolute nightmare and certainly does need massive improvement

 

[Llandudno]

Possibly not the footbridge itself but getting to and from Platform 17 is an absolute nightmare and certainly does need massive improvement

Indeed, need to allow a good 10 minutes from the Leeds Brewery Tap to get to the west end of platform 17 including one minute if the guard decides to close the doors early…!

 

[yoyothehobo]

Possibly not the footbridge itself but getting to and from Platform 17 is an absolute nightmare and certainly does need massive improvement

Yes, thats an area that needs improvement certainly, though thankfully i never have to use platform 17 so cannot suppose what improvements are a good idea.

 

[Ben427]

I'm not convinced that Leeds needs another footbridge.

Turning the service exit on platform 8 into an exit gateline for passengers off the Eastern footbridge would be a cheaper option to improve flows out of the station (this used to be done in peak hours before the barriers went in).

There's points throughout the day at peak times even a couple of years ago that were very overcrowded and footfall in the station is much higher than it was then

Alot of the issues are the ability to get to and from trains and the station entrances, plus the future increases in footfall from TRU and future new platforms

 

[yoyothehobo]

I would say the main problem, other than of course the platform 17 issue, is the large number of people who stop and wait at the information boards immediately after the gateline, especially if a London service gets cancelled.

I think once the main entrance is fully up and running as well it will remove a lot of the blind corner crashes as well.

 

[yorksrob]

it needs another accessible bridge imo. The York end bridge is not accessible. I would also like to see another entrance.

The main priority we need is a longer platform 17 so we can get long enough trains on the Hallam line.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jan 2026 ==

Possibly not the footbridge itself but getting to and from Platform 17 is an absolute nightmare and certainly does need massive improvement

Yes, platform 17 is certainly a pain (and not something a central footbridge would solve).

A lift that worked on human, rather than geological time might help though.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Indeed, need to allow a good 10 minutes from the Leeds Brewery Tap to get to the west end of platform 17 including one minute if the guard decides to close the doors early…!

But if you drink in The Hop, the Ossett brewery pub in the canal basin you can make platform 17 in 3 minutes!

 

[YorkshireBear]

But if you drink in The Hop, the Ossett brewery pub in the canal basin you can make platform 17 in 3 minutes!

100% it's a great pub and often quieter than the other city centre ones.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jan 2026 ==

The main priority we need is a longer platform 17 so we can get long enough trains on the Hallam line.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jan 2026 ==



Yes, platform 17 is certainly a pain (and not something a central footbridge would solve).

A lift that worked on human, rather than geological time might help though.

Being a regular hallam line loser for years. 2 years ago moved to Wooflesford and became a daily user. Since had a child, platform 17 in a pram is a massive pain.... The lift is more direct but as you say, geological time not human that it seems to run on!

 

[Grumpy]

I'm not convinced that Leeds needs another footbridge.

Turning the service exit on platform 8 into an exit gateline for passengers off the Eastern footbridge would be a cheaper option to improve flows out of the station (this used to be done in peak hours before the barriers went in).

Spot on. Unfortunately this would be a too quick and too cheap solution so wouldn't get much consideration. Careers aren't maintained/built with this sort of thing on the railway or Leeds Council. Need to come up with something costing £30-£50m plus with plenty of disruption and negligible real benefits

 

[quantinghome]

I'm not convinced that Leeds needs another footbridge.

Between Christmas and New Year we were waiting to get on the London train, due in on Platform 6, got rerouted into Platform 9 at the last minute. Waiting for all the passengers to get over the bridge delayed the train another 20 minutes. The escalator was working and while there was an unusually large amount of luggage, still it showed up the inadequacy of the current bridge capacity.

 

[Ianigsy]

Another footbridge and duplicate escalators could make a big difference if used to remove conflicting passenger flows - one of the problems I experience is that arriving passengers reach the top of the escalator and you’re straight into the flow of departing passengers heading to their platform.

I‘d also be interested to know whether the lift situation does cause people to miss trains- a few years ago I made my train at Kings Cross with about 90 seconds to spare because I was travelling with a suitcase and couldn’t work out where the lift was to save my life.

 

[Llandudno]

But if you drink in The Hop, the Ossett brewery pub in the canal basin you can make platform 17 in 3 minutes!

Is the entrance next to Platform 17 guaranteed to be open every evening, if so I could leave The Hop at 2100 and make the last Nottingham train at 2104!

 

[YorkshireBear]

Is the entrance next to Platform 17 guaranteed to be open every evening, if so I could leave The Hop at 2100 and make the last Nottingham train at 2104!

Believe it shuts at 22:00 so yes. Wouldn't be chancing the last train at 4 minutes mind. Maybe stop drinking at 20:55 instead!

 

[Iskra]

Believe it shuts at 22:00 so yes. Wouldn't be chancing the last train at 4 minutes mind. Maybe stop drinking at 20:55 instead!

It’s 2345 now.

You can also make P17 from Scarborough Taps and Head of Steam fairly quickly.