Leeds Rail Station - Sustainable Travel Gateway

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This engagement is now closed.

To view the consultation outcomes from Leeds City Council, please click here.

Below is the information presented during the public consultation:


We would like your views on our proposed improvements to Leeds Station’s entrance and the surrounding area.

The Scheme

Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority have submitted a bid to the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund for £39.5 million to support the ‘Sustainable Travel Gateway’ project.

If the bid is successful the Council and the Combined Authority will work with Network Rail to deliver the proposed works, which would significantly improve accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.

Improvements would include:

  • Pedestrianisation of New Station Street and relocation of the existing taxi rank to Bishopgate Street.
  • Improving accessibility through the installation of two passenger lifts from Bishopgate Street to the station entrance on New Station Street
  • Environmental improvements to Neville Street and Dark Neville Street including enhanced lighting, road surface and pavement treatments and urban art installations
  • Installing high quality cycle infrastructure on Neville Street, and improvements to cycling infrastructure in surrounding communities
  • A high quality 700-space cycle hub with electric charging points at the station
  • New commercial space to be built within the cycle hub land

Removing heavy traffic from outside the station will allow pedestrians and cyclists to travel directly into the city centre with ease. The installation of two passenger lifts will provide further options for step-free access from Bishopgate to the station entrance, instead of having to use the rear and side entrance which are the only current level-access options. This will significantly improve access for people using wheelchairs or pushchairs, and for people with mobility issues.

If planning permission is granted and funding is secured, the works are likely to start later this year.


Have your say

To help you understand the proposals, a number of concept drawings and a map of the works can be found using the ‘documents’ and 'Images' sections of this page, or at one of our public drop-in events. Members of staff will be available at these events to answer any questions you may have.

You can find out more and give us your comments in a number of ways:

  • Online using the link below
  • Via email: keytothenorth@leeds.gov.uk
  • By post: Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA)
  • Ask us a question using the Q&A tool below
  • In person at one of our drop in events within Leeds Station on Monday 10, Wednesday 12 and Friday 14 February from 7am to 12pm.

Please contact us if you would like any information in large print or braille format.

This engagement is now closed.

You can also use the 'stay informed' tool to sign up to our mailing list for updates on the development of this project.

Additionally, you can register to be added to the Your Voice community where you will receive information on opportunities to have your say on a variety of projects.


Next steps

Feedback will be analysed following this consultation and used to amend the plans where possible.

This engagement is now closed.

To view the consultation outcomes from Leeds City Council, please click here.

Below is the information presented during the public consultation:


We would like your views on our proposed improvements to Leeds Station’s entrance and the surrounding area.

The Scheme

Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority have submitted a bid to the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund for £39.5 million to support the ‘Sustainable Travel Gateway’ project.

If the bid is successful the Council and the Combined Authority will work with Network Rail to deliver the proposed works, which would significantly improve accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.

Improvements would include:

  • Pedestrianisation of New Station Street and relocation of the existing taxi rank to Bishopgate Street.
  • Improving accessibility through the installation of two passenger lifts from Bishopgate Street to the station entrance on New Station Street
  • Environmental improvements to Neville Street and Dark Neville Street including enhanced lighting, road surface and pavement treatments and urban art installations
  • Installing high quality cycle infrastructure on Neville Street, and improvements to cycling infrastructure in surrounding communities
  • A high quality 700-space cycle hub with electric charging points at the station
  • New commercial space to be built within the cycle hub land

Removing heavy traffic from outside the station will allow pedestrians and cyclists to travel directly into the city centre with ease. The installation of two passenger lifts will provide further options for step-free access from Bishopgate to the station entrance, instead of having to use the rear and side entrance which are the only current level-access options. This will significantly improve access for people using wheelchairs or pushchairs, and for people with mobility issues.

If planning permission is granted and funding is secured, the works are likely to start later this year.


Have your say

To help you understand the proposals, a number of concept drawings and a map of the works can be found using the ‘documents’ and 'Images' sections of this page, or at one of our public drop-in events. Members of staff will be available at these events to answer any questions you may have.

You can find out more and give us your comments in a number of ways:

  • Online using the link below
  • Via email: keytothenorth@leeds.gov.uk
  • By post: Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA)
  • Ask us a question using the Q&A tool below
  • In person at one of our drop in events within Leeds Station on Monday 10, Wednesday 12 and Friday 14 February from 7am to 12pm.

Please contact us if you would like any information in large print or braille format.

This engagement is now closed.

You can also use the 'stay informed' tool to sign up to our mailing list for updates on the development of this project.

Additionally, you can register to be added to the Your Voice community where you will receive information on opportunities to have your say on a variety of projects.


Next steps

Feedback will be analysed following this consultation and used to amend the plans where possible.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

Do you have any questions? Ask them here....

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    If New Station Street is pedestrianised, what will happen to Leeds Police Station (British Transport Police), will it remain where it is or will it be relocated. Furthermore, there are designated emergency vehicle bays located on New Station Street outside the police station which can accommodate upto 6 police cars/vans. If New Station Street is pedestrianised, where will the police park their vehicles? The current parking arrangement allows police officers to access their vehicles very quickly during emergencies. I have often seen officers running out of the police station and almost immediately getting into the vehicles parked outside, and going on a blue light response. If the area is pedestrianised the police should get emergency vehicle bays on Bishopgate Street, in order to allow them to access their vehicles quickly. Any other location would hinder police response times. Leeds Police Station is responsible for policing all 68 rail stations in West Yorkshire, as well as tracks, depots, lines and other rail infrastructure. Officers often deploy to life and death situations such as people trespassing onto tracks, they should have priority and the right to have designated emergency bays in close proximity to the police station. The police parking bays should be prioritised over the taxi bays on Bishopgate Street.

    Barry Morgan asked over 2 years ago

    The British Transport Police (BTP) offices will remain in their current location both during construction and post project completion.

    There are currently two official parking bays on New Station Street for British Transport Police vehicles and these will be replicated in the new scheme.

    BTP officers will also get fobs to be able to access the hostile vehicle mitigation bollards on the New Station Street / Boar Lane junction.

    We are liaising with the Inspector at the station on all things relating to the project.

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    After 20 years of trying to be sustainable and using the bus to get to work in the employment area south of the station I have been forced by Leeds City Council, First and Metro to abandon that in favour of the car because the No 1 bus route (which used to be a good north-south service) now terminates at the Merrion centre and means a 20 minute walk to/from the bus/work in extreme wind (Bridgewater Place) and rain. First also used it as an excuse to reduce bus frequencies. What are you going to do to ensure that frequent transport routes through the city centre are re-established? There was no consultation about the termination of routes at the Merrion Centre and the response from Metro was that it "accepted that it would cause hardship" - unacceptable. It is absolutely vital that Leeds establishes some form of rapid transit system such as a tram or rapid bus transit to provide connections from the suburbs through the city centre. PS it now takes 25 minutes to drive instead of 1hour 15 minutes on the bus - which demonstrates that Leeds has got its priorities wrong - it should be ensuring good rapid public transport that beats private travel.

    Mike A asked about 4 years ago

    Thank you for your enquiry and please accept our apology for the delay in responding. We have contacted First buses, who have explained that they intend to restore routes including the No 1 to Beeston on completion of the works to The Headrow, while taking into account the phased service return post-COVID 19. As a city we are looking at a mass transit solution, which is at an early stage.

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    When will there be investment in public transport in West Yorkshire outside the greater Leeds area? I'm 55. Can I expect any in my lifetime? For every pound invested in public transport outside Leeds in the last five years, how many hundreds of pounds have been invested in greater Leeds? Then compare the population of the two areas and draw your own conclusions. Cheers.

    rih2010 asked about 4 years ago

    Thank you for your enquiry and please accept our apology for the delay in responding.  The West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Strategy outlines proposals for investment and improvements in the region’s transport network up to 2040. It can be found at www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/improving-transport/transport-strategy/

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    Why are there no USB phone charging points on Leeds Ciuu TY Station Concourse? Passengers are encourage to buy mo ole tickets but if your phone is low or out of charge you can’t progress through the barriers. Trackside there are only phone charging points on Platform 8.

    J3nn31 asked about 4 years ago
    Thank you for your feedback. This would be within Network Rail's remit and we will pass your feedback onto them.
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    how are you going to help people with dementia orientate to the new space please? a lady I am working with missed the chance to go to a drop in and I just got the dates which are all passed

    gwen oates asked about 4 years ago

    The design includes for new lighting and the removal of vehicular traffic on New Station Street. These changes contribute to creating a safer environment for all people, particularly people whose cognitive abilities mean they do not perceive risk easily. The paving surfaces will be selected to avoid any excessive contrasting patterns which could be a source of confusion for people with dementia. Similarly, New Station Street retains the familiar kerbed pathways which allow people to avoid the lower surface which will be shared with cyclists. 

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    Why don't they allow us to exit the station directly from Platform 9 any more? We used to be able to bypass the main barriers and hall during peak time as they allowed us to exit straight to New Station Street? This significantly cut congestion at peak times. In reality, there should be an additional exit from the station here designed as it doesn't make sense to come down the stairs, walk the full length of a platform to go through a barrier, only to double back on yourself!

    LK asked about 4 years ago

    Thank you for your feedback. This would be within Network Rail's remit and we will pass your feedback onto them.

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    Has there been any consideration given to making better use of the space underneath the train station that is currently used for car parking? I think there is a huge opportunity to convert this pace over to cycle parking and deliver something similar to what has been achieved at Utrecht station in the Netherlands. If a network of dedicated cycle paths were across the city that all led back to a giant cycle parking hub under the station, that would be a game changer for enabling sustainable commuting.

    Nathan M asked about 4 years ago

    The proposed cycle hub developed as part of the scheme uses an area under the station which is currently unused. As part of the future development of the station Network Rail are actively looking at how other areas below the station can be brought into use in the future to support the vision to develop the station within the operational constraints that the space poses.

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    What is needed around the train station are shared spaces that every type of vehicle can use. Taking away road space from motor vehicles is not the answer, but I suppose that depends on what your real aim is. These proposals are going to increase the traffic on the surrounding roads, especially Bishopgate Street. How many people cycle to catch a train ?

    starman asked about 4 years ago

    The works at Bishopgate Street are part of a series of interventions throughout the city aimed at reducing the need for traffic to pass through the city centre on route to other destinations and upgrading pedestrian and cycling access, providing people with more choice in how to access the city centre. These interventions will improve connectivity between local motorway networks and Leeds Inner and Outer Ring Roads, providing alternative routing for vehicles not needing to access Leeds city centre. In addition, upgraded highway infrastructure, park and ride facilities and investment in public transport to improve service efficiency and reliability are all aimed at making public transport and alternative travel (cycling, walking etc.) more desirable options for people accessing the city for work and leisure and reducing the reliance on private vehicles.

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    Why doesn't LCC bite the bullet and move the bus station to the rail station and create a true interchange? It would be far more effective in improving travel in and around Leeds. It would be better than these proposed vanity projects.

    Wetherbyrhino asked about 4 years ago

    Thanks for your feedback, and although we agree that relocating the bus station to immediately outside the station would be the ideal, unfortunately this is not possible due to a lack of sufficient land in the vicinity of the rail station.

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    These plans look interesting. Considering Neville street is a key cut through for much traffic, and Leeds city centre already being complicated to navigate, how will the flow of traffic be redistributed considering (if I understand correctly) bishopgate st will be mostly or entirely pedestrianised? I work in a business very close to this area and welcome any measures to cut down the volume of traffic in principle but depending on the wider impact to surrounding roads and businesses.

    Matt995 asked about 4 years ago

    The works at Bishopgate Street are part of a series of interventions throughout the city aimed at reducing the need for traffic to pass through the city centre on route to other destinations and upgrading pedestrian and cycling access, providing people with more choice in how to access the city centre. These interventions will improve connectivity between local motorway networks and Leeds Inner and Outer Ring Roads, providing alternative routing for vehicles not needing to access Leeds city centre. In addition, upgraded highway infrastructure, park and ride facilities and investment in public transport to improve service efficiency and reliability are all aimed at making public transport and alternative travel (cycling, walking etc.) more desirable options for people accessing the city for work and leisure and reducing the reliance on private vehicles.

Page last updated: 30 May 2022, 03:25 PM