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Monday 3 Feb 2014

Secretary of State inspects new station project in Leeds

Region & Route:

Today (Monday 3 February) Secretary of State for Transport, Rt. Hon. Patrick McLoughlin MP visited Leeds to mark the start of work on Metro and Network Rail's £17.3m project to create a new entrance to the south of Leeds Station.

The Transport Secretary met with officials and dignitaries to view the site of the new iconic entrance, which will significantly improve access for pedestrians and passengers.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “As part of our long term economic plan we are investing record amounts into transforming our railways and stations, because improved transport links are vital for communities and local businesses. I am delighted to have had the chance to see how this iconic new station entrance will rejuvenate Leeds station, and support the continued regeneration of the southern quarter of the city.

“Leeds has great importance within our rail network as a gateway to the north. That is why it is crucial to our new high-speed rail link, which will improve connections for the entire region and boost the West Yorkshire economy to the tune of £1 billion a year.”

"I'm delighted that work on this major project for Leeds is underway," said Metro Chairman Cllr James Lewis. "This new, pedestrian entrance will be a great benefit to people living and working south of the river, open up new travel opportunities and provide a further stimulus to redevelopment and expansion of the city centre.

"It will complement the existing entrances on New Station Street and Aire Street while relieving pressure on both, and is part of a City Region-wide transport and regeneration plan, which also includes rail stations and trains, proposed electrification of more local rail routes, NGT, major highways improvements the new 23km Cycle Superhighway connecting Bradford and Leeds and in, the longer term, HS2."

Phil Verster, Route Managing Director for Network Rail, added: "As a gateway to one of the biggest and most economically important cities outside London, Leeds station must reflect and enhance the city it serves. We expect passenger numbers using the station to rise by 16% by 2014 and by 62% by 2029. With over 100,000 people already using the station each day, meeting that growth in demand will be a significant but very welcome challenge.

“We expect around 20,000 people to use this new entrance once it opens but our vision for the station doesn’t stop there. We already have plans to make the main concourse lighter, brighter and more spacious through improvements to the lighting and retails units. We continue to work with Metro and Leeds City Council to identify further opportunities to develop Leeds station into an even better asset for the city."

Leeds Station Southern Entrance (LSSE) is a new, fully-accessible, enclosed pedestrian extension over the River Aire directly south of the station. Lifts, escalators and stairs will take passengers arriving at the new entrance from areas south of the city such as Holbeck Urban Village to a widened footbridge, which will have customer information screens, ticket vending machines, CCTV, and cycle storage facilities, leading to a new ticket gate line above platforms 16 and 17.

To complement the scheme, the area around Little Neville Street will also be pedestrianised and landscaped and Network Rail has submitted an application for improvements to arches and area around Dark Neville Street.

The £17.3m scheme has secured £12.4m from the Department for Transport as well as funding from West Yorkshire’s Local Transport Plan and Leeds City Council.