Leeds station improvement updates

[JD2168]

I was at Leeds Station on Friday & noticed this sign for bus services outside the station where the works have been occurring. It’s the first bit of Weaver Network branding I have seen at or near the station.

Also the escalators that I saw were all working normally

 

[YorksLad12]

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...

 

[speedy1]

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

 

[Freemo]

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

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]

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.

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'...

 

[Freemo]

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.

 

[yorksrob]

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: 22 Aug 2026 ==

I've just noticed the new seating area outside the front for the first time. Looks rather good.

 

[YorksLad12]

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

“The redevelopment of Princes Exchange will breathe new life into what is already an iconic building in a prime city location,” said Andrew Banks, Network Rail’s finance director.

It will bring Network Rail’s track and train colleagues in Leeds together in one location - with energy efficiency, sustainability and digital connectivity all at the heart of the development.
The project, which follows Network Rail’s purchase of the empty building in 2024, is expected to be completed in June 2027...

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!