£46m Leeds City Rail Station transformation to create “attractive gateway” to city

Major improvements to Leeds City Rail Station’s main entrance and surrounding area begin next week, and visitors are being encouraged to consider how these changes will affect their journey to and from the station.

The changes come as works start on the Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme, which will create a much improved and more people-friendly environment that can accommodate growing rail passenger numbers and ensure people can enter and exit the station safely.

The £46.1m scheme is being delivered by Leeds City Council on behalf of Network Rail as the landowner, and in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Advance works and preparations have been underway since last May with the project now moving into the next phase, which is due to be completed in September 2025.

At the same time, the closure of New Station Street is necessary to allow Network Rail to carry out essential maintenance work to reinforce the Mill Goit underground structure beneath the street which supports much of the station above it.

Delivering the two schemes in tandem will lead to less disruption in the long-term and provide value for money, as there will be less need to revisit the Sustainable Travel Gateway Scheme later if further works are required as part of Network Rail’s scheme.

Following the changes to roads around City Square, private vehicles can no longer drive to Princes Square from Bishopgate Street and along Wellington Street in front of the Queens Hotel. Motorists travelling to the station should do so via the eastern end of Wellington Street before turning right onto Northern Street and left onto Whitehall Road which then becomes Aire Street.

Councillor Helen Hayden, executive member for infrastructure and climate, commented: “These works will transform the area into a more attractive gateway to our city which meets the current and future needs of Leeds and everyone that uses the station, and alongside City Square will provide a cleaner and safer pedestrian environment.

“We understand that changes of this scale will cause disruption and people may need time to adjust to them. We encourage people to consider how these changes may affect their journeys and to plan ahead to keep any disruption to a minimum.”

Maxine Joicey, station customer experience manager, added: “These two crucial projects to further enhance Leeds Station are great news for the city.

“We’re working closely with our partners, in particular Leeds City Council, to make sure the relocation of the taxis to Princes Square will be clearly communicated both in the station and online to passengers, businesses and the general public so that planning journeys to and from the station remain as simple and smooth as possible.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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