First look as Leeds station set for £200m 'biggest transformation in a generation' funding boost
The upgrades are due to be delivered by 2030
Leeds station is set to undergo its “biggest transformation in a generation” after receiving a further £200m funding pledge from the UK Government.
Passengers travelling through Leeds station are set to see major improvements, from shorter queues to reduced crowding and improved accessibility as part of the Government’s total £303 million investment into one of the North's busiest stations.
With £200m in additional funding announced in today’s Budget, the upgrades are due to be delivered by 2030 and will include the construction of a new central overbridge, three new entrances, more space on the concourses and a longer Platform 14 to transform the UK’s third busiest station outside of London.
Commuters are set to benefit from more direct routes through the station and less crowding thanks to nearly 40% more ticket barriers and boosted lift capacity to make journeys quicker and easier.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “Leeds station is the gateway to West Yorkshire, and this extra £200 million investment will turn it into a station this city can be proud of: modern, welcoming and built for the people who rely on it every single day.
“The great cities of the north deserve better transport, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.
“We're paving the way for Northern Powerhouse Rail, forging stronger connections across the region, and backing the infrastructure that creates jobs, builds homes and puts passengers first as we work to set up Great British Railways.”
Three new entrances will strengthen links between the station and the city centre, improving access to the South Bank, the Dark Arches and Princes Square, supporting regeneration, jobs and commercial opportunities across Leeds.
These renovations also pave the way for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, an £11 billion investment which will boost passenger capacity by 30% and electrify key routes across the North, supporting economic growth, new jobs and homes in West Yorkshire.
Currently, Leeds station handles more than 27 million passengers a year, with 8 in 10 services in West Yorkshire starting or ending there.
The announcement comes just one week after the Transport Secretary confirmed a brand-new station at Bradford Interchange, which in tandem with the proposed West Yorkshire Mass Transit would support thousands of new homes, jobs, and up to £1 billion in economic benefits.
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “Leeds Station is the beating heart of our region's transport network, connecting millions of people to jobs, education and opportunity every year – and it’s only going to get busier.
“This investment will benefit passengers and businesses, help to unlock the capacity we need for future growth and create a gateway to West Yorkshire that reflects our ambition.
“Together with our wider plans for West Yorkshire’s Weaver Network, we're building a better-connected region which works for all.”
Annual passenger numbers in Leeds are forecast to grow by almost 12 million by 2043, and it is hoped that this £300 million investment will future-proof the station, ensuring Leeds has the right infrastructure in place to seize opportunities for economic growth.
The work is aimed to compliment the redesigned New Station Street, which has been beset with delays and is forecasted to begin opening this month.
Plans for a station to serve Leeds Bradford Airport, which were first floated a decade ago, and the 70% built White Rose station are also waiting to be finished.