Festive track upgrades at Leeds station to boost reliability

Thursday 2 Dec 2021

Festive track upgrades at Leeds station to boost reliability – passengers reminded to plan ahead

Region & Route:: Eastern; | Eastern: North & East

Engineers will remodel the track layout between platforms 4 and 6 over Christmas as part of a project to boost reliability and reduce the impact of future unplanned disruption
Major work will take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day when there are no timetabled train services
Changes to services from Monday 27 December to Monday 3 January 2022
Very limited services to or from Leeds station on Sunday 2 January – passengers urged to check before travelling

Network Rail teams in Leeds are carrying out essential work to upgrade the track layout this Christmas to bring more reliable services for passengers.

From the early hours of Saturday 25 December as most people are opening their presents, engineers will be onsite continuing with a major project to lift, replace and completely remodel the track between platforms 4 and 6.

The improvements will bring more reliable services for passengers, allow more trains to run and reduce the impact of future unplanned disruption across the North.

In the latest stage of the upgrade, work will also take place to install new overhead wires - which power some trains - and make sure the equipment and platforms align with the new track. New signalling equipment will be installed and tested to make sure trains can continue running safely and reliably.

Network Rail has carefully planned the project, with major work taking place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day when there are no timetabled train services on this part of the railway.

There will be changes for passengers until Monday 3 January as work continues on this complex project. Very limited services will run on Sunday 2 January, when buses will replace trains and journeys will take longer.

Monday 27 December 2021 – Saturday 1 January 2022: A reduced train service will run in and out of Leeds station. Some bus replacements will be in place.
Sunday 2 January 2022: Very limited train services will run to and from Leeds. Bus replacements will be in place for passengers.
Monday 3 January 2022: A reduced train service will then run with some bus replacements in place.

Passengers are advised to check their journey via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator and allow plenty of time.

The multi-storey car park will be closed to the public from Monday 20 December 2021 until Friday 7 January 2022. During this time, accessible parking spaces will still be available. People are advised to use alternative car parks in the area whilst this work is carried out.

Matt Rice, North and East Route Director for Network Rail, said: “Last Christmas was a non-event for many, and because of that I know lots of people will be eagerly looking forward to getting out and meeting friends and family this year.

“Our teams are looking forward to greeting those who are out and about this festive season, and while most of the railway will be open most of the time, it’s really important to check your journey times before setting off, particularly on 2 January, as the track upgrades at Leeds mean some routes will be by coach, or may take longer by train depending which days you’re travelling.”

Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris, said: “Leeds is a major hub that draws in passengers for work, shopping and its vibrant night life, and every journey through this station should be punctual and reliable.

“The works taking place over the Christmas period are important in ensuring excellent services run in and out of Leeds, building on the work already taking place to boost transport across the North through the Integrated Rail Plan.”

A spokesperson for train operators at Leeds station, said: “We advise passengers who plan to travel over the Christmas period to check their journey in advance - with their train operator or via National Rail Enquiries - and allow plenty of time.

“These vital improvements at Leeds station will bring more reliable journeys for our passengers and help to reduce the impact of any disruption across the region.”

Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Experience Director for TransPennine Express, said: “It’s fantastic to see the investment going into Leeds station over the Christmas period to help deliver vital upgrades for a more reliable railway. Our services will be affected by these works, especially on Sunday 2 January, when rail replacement buses will be run between Huddersfield and Leeds and other services will be diverted. Customers are advised to check before they travel, with all information on changes to services available on our website.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Changes to services at Leeds station:

Monday 27 – Friday 31 December 2021

Buses will replace Northern trains between Leeds and Kirkstall Forge/Horsforth/Bradford Interchange/Halifax/ Wakefield Westgate/Knottingley via Wakefield.
Northern trains between Leeds and Morecambe/Carlisle will start/end at Skipton. A reduced service will run between Skipton and Kirkstall Forge, where passengers can use bus replacements to Leeds.
Trains between Leeds and Lincoln via Sheffield will run between Sheffield and Lincoln only.
LNER services to and from Harrogate, Skipton and Bradford will start/end at Leeds.
CrossCountry services to/from Leeds will be retimed by a few minutes.
TransPennine Express (TPE) services between Leeds and Manchester will run via Guide Bridge into Manchester Piccadilly, instead of Manchester Victoria.

Saturday 1 January 2022

Buses will replace Northern trains between Leeds and Horsforth/Kirkstall Forge/Wakefield Westgate/Knottingley via Wakefield/Bradford Interchange/Halifax. Buses will also run between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale.
Northern trains between Leeds and Morecambe/Carlisle will start/end at Skipton. A reduced service will also run between Leeds and Skipton.
Trains between Leeds and Bradford Forster Square/Ilkley will start/end at Kirkstall Forge.
Northern trains to/from Doncaster/Sheffield via Moorthorpe will start/end at Wakefield Westgate instead of Leeds.
A slightly amended service will run between Leeds and Knottingley via Castleford.
Trains between Leeds and Sheffield/Nottingham via Barnsley will be slightly retimed.
Services between Leeds and Lincoln will run between Sheffield and Lincoln.
Trains between Halifax and Hull will run between Leeds and Hull.
Northern trains between Leeds and Manchester Victoria via Bradford Interchange will run between Bradford Interchange and Moston.
Trains between Leeds and Chester will not run.
Trains between Leeds and Manchester Victoria/Wigan via Brighouse will run between Leeds and Rochdale.
Trains between Leeds/York and Blackpool North will call additionally at Bramley.
Trains between Blackburn and Manchester Victoria via Todmorden will run between Blackburn and Rochdale.
LNER services to/from Harrogate/Skipton/Bradford Forster Square will be amended to run to/from Leeds.
CrossCountry trains to/from Leeds will be retimed by a few minutes.
TransPennine Express services between Leeds and Manchester will run via Guide Bridge into Manchester Piccadilly, instead of Manchester Victoria.

Sunday 2 January 2022: A very limited service will run to/from Leeds station

Buses will replace Northern trains between Leeds and Horsforth/Kirkstall Forge/Wakefield Westgate/Knottingley via Wakefield/Bradford Interchange/Halifax. Buses will also run between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale.
Northern trains between Leeds and Morecambe/Carlisle will start/end at Skipton. A reduced service will also run between Leeds and Skipton.
Trains between Leeds and Bradford Forster Square/Ilkley will start/end at Kirkstall Forge.
Northern trains to/from Doncaster/Sheffield via Moorthorpe will start/end at Wakefield Westgate instead of Leeds.
A slightly amended service will run between Leeds and Knottingley via Castleford.
Trains between Leeds and Sheffield/Nottingham via Barnsley will be slightly retimed.
Services between Leeds and Lincoln will run between Sheffield and Lincoln.
Trains between Halifax and Hull will run between Leeds and Hull.
Northern trains between Leeds and Manchester Victoria via Bradford Interchange will run between Bradford Interchange and Moston.
Trains between Leeds and Chester will not run.
Trains between Leeds and Manchester Victoria/Wigan via Brighouse will run between Leeds and Rochdale.
Trains between Leeds/York and Blackpool North will call additionally at Bramley.
Trains between Blackburn and Manchester Victoria via Todmorden will run between Blackburn and Rochdale.
Buses will replace TPE services between Huddersfield and Leeds. There will be a direct service, one which calls at Dewsbury and one which calls at all stations.
TPE services between Hull and Manchester Piccadilly will start/end at Leeds.
Trains from Redcar Central to Manchester Airport will start/end at Leeds.
Trains between Scarborough and Manchester Victoria will divert into Manchester Piccadilly. Services will also run via Castleford between York and Huddersfield.
Trains from Newcastle to Liverpool will start/end at York. An additional service between Liverpool Lime St and Manchester Airport will provide connections between Leeds and York.
No LNER services will run to/ from Leeds or Wakefield Westgate.
Buses will replace CrossCountry services between Sheffield and Leeds, and between Leeds and York.

Monday 3 January 2022

Buses will replace Northern trains between Leeds and Horsforth / Kirkstall Forge / Wakefield Westgate/Knottingley via Wakefield/Bradford Interchange/Halifax. Buses will also run between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale.
Northern trains between Leeds and Morecambe/Carlisle will start/end at Skipton. A reduced service will also run between Leeds and Skipton.
Trains between Leeds and Bradford Forster Square/Ilkley will start/end at Kirkstall Forge.
Northern trains to/from Doncaster/Sheffield via Moorthorpe will start/end at Wakefield Westgate instead of Leeds
A slightly amended service will run between Leeds and Knottingley via Castleford.
Trains between Leeds and Sheffield/Nottingham via Barnsley will be slightly retimed.
Services between Leeds and Lincoln will run between Sheffield and Lincoln.
Trains between Halifax and Hull will run between Leeds and Hull.
Northern trains between Leeds and Manchester Victoria via Bradford Interchange will run between Bradford Interchange and Moston.
Trains between Leeds and Chester will not run.
Trains between Leeds and Manchester Victoria/Wigan via Brighouse will run between Leeds and Rochdale.
Trains between Leeds/York and Blackpool North will call additionally at Bramley.
Trains between Blackburn and Manchester Victoria via Todmorden will run between Blackburn and Rochdale.
TransPennine Express services between Leeds and Manchester will run via Guide Bridge into Manchester Piccadilly, instead of Manchester Victoria.
No LNER services will run to/ from Leeds or Wakefield Westgate before 12:00.
LNER services to/from Harrogate/Skipton/Bradford Forster Square will be amended to run to/from Leeds after 12:00.
CrossCountry trains to/from Leeds will be retimed by a few minutes.

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