Hundreds of railway workers give up Christmas with their families to carry out major track upgrade at Leeds station

Tuesday 21 Dec 2021

Hundreds of railway workers give up Christmas with their families to carry out major track upgrade at Leeds station

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

More than 200 railway workers are giving up Christmas with their families to remodel the track layout between platforms 4 and 6 as part of a project to boost reliability
Major work will take place over 10 days, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day when there are no timetabled train services
Changes to services from Monday 27 December 2021 to Monday 3 January 2022
Very limited services to or from Leeds station on Sunday 2 January – passengers urged to check before travelling

More than 200 railway workers are giving up their Christmases to carry out major work to upgrade the track layout at Leeds station, bringing more reliable journeys for passengers.

Over 10 days (Saturday 25 December to Monday 3 January), Network Rail teams will lift, replace and completely remodel the track between platforms 4 and 6. This will improve the way trains move in and out of Leeds station, reducing disruption.

Work will also take place to install new overhead wires – which power some trains – and upgrade the signalling equipment to make sure trains can continue running safely and on time.

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

Alexandra Bergerman, Assistant Construction Manager for Network Rail, who joined the company in July 2020, said: “I’ll be on site on Christmas day helping to keep this project on track, keep our teams safe, and improve the experience for passengers at Leeds station. Although I’ll miss spending the festive season with my family, I’m excited to see all of our months of planning come together.

“Christmas is a time when we typically see fewer people travelling by train, so it’s a good opportunity for us to carry out major work without too many changes for passengers. For those who do need to travel, please plan ahead and check before travelling.”

Due to the complexity of the project, there will be changes for passengers from Monday 27 December to Monday 3 January.

Saturday 25 December – Sunday 26 December 2021: Major progress will be made when no trains are timetabled to run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Monday 27 December 2021 - Saturday 01 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 run in and out of Leeds station. Some bus replacements will be in place.

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 future disruption across the region.”

Minor follow-up work will take place on Sunday 30 January 2022, which will mean some changes to services to and from Leeds station.

There will also be limited spaces available in the multi-storey car park from Friday 17 December 2021 until Saturday 8 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.

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.

Contact information

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Latest travel advice
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louise.leighton2@networkrail.co.uk

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