Lack of redevelopment to Leeds city station

[sirbobpaisley]

As a regular rail commuter in Leeds I have been bitterly disappointed to find that Leeds City Station in the city centre is only receiving a lick of paint to the main concourse instead of receiving a make over on the scale of the recent Kings Cross redevelopment. The existing 1960's structure is not a good advert for visitors to the city as it looks terribly outdated, especially more so about the derelict City House building that looms over the station and needs demolishing. Doing this will create more room to improve the station and make it a grand spectacle that would be befitting for a city of Leeds' stature.

I am getting sick and tired of London getting all the money to improve it's stations while were suffering fare increases and not seeing any of the benefits locally.

Does anyone else feel the same about this?

 

[RichmondCommu]

As a regular rail commuter in Leeds I have been bitterly disappointed to find that Leeds City Station in the city centre is only receiving a lick of paint to the main concourse instead of receiving a make over on the scale of the recent Kings Cross redevelopment. The existing 1960's structure is not a good advert for visitors to the city as it looks terribly outdated, especially more so about the derelict City House building that looms over the station and needs demolishing. Doing this will create more room to improve the station and make it a grand spectacle that would be befitting for a city of Leeds' stature.

I am getting sick and tired of London getting all the money to improve it's stations while were suffering fare increases and not seeing any of the benefits locally.

Does anyone else feel the same about this?

For crying out loud not this old chestnut again.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Leeds City Station was largely rebuilt a short while ago, stop complaining

 

[lincolnshire]

For crying out loud not this old chestnut again.

But the problem is its very true, the south end is getting all the money especially round London.

I see they still havn,t finnished Kings Cross off yet, still wotking on it.

Time they did something with the booking office and ticket machine area at Leeds as it causes a bottleneck to the flow of passengers

 

[DarloRich]

So did i imagine the vastly expensive rebuild on Leeds station 10 ish years ago? Is that the lifecycle of a station now? Christ we best start on St Pancras ASAP. :roll:

What exactly do you want to happen? Any work is difficult what with the massive office block on one end of the station and the hotel over the other! Personally I find Leeds easy to use and well laid out, at least platform wise. There are bottle necks with the barriers, the small concourse and the ticket office though.

 

[overtonchris]

Isn't there a live and recent thread on here specifically to "deal" with the great "North / South" divide???????

 

[ExRes]

I'm not sure that having money thrown at a station is a very good idea, take the money 'lavished' on St Pancras, it's not a station it's a gigantic shop/restaurant complex, the passengers came absolutely bottom of the list, sorry second bottom, the staff had the honour of being deposited at lower basement level

If someone told me my station, let's say I live in the wastes of the north for now, was to be 21st centuryised I'd run a mile

 

[Clip]

As a regular rail commuter in Leeds I have been bitterly disappointed to find that Leeds City Station in the city centre is only receiving a lick of paint to the main concourse instead of receiving a make over on the scale of the recent Kings Cross redevelopment. The existing 1960's structure is not a good advert for visitors to the city as it looks terribly outdated, especially more so about the derelict City House building that looms over the station and needs demolishing. Doing this will create more room to improve the station and make it a grand spectacle that would be befitting for a city of Leeds' stature.

I am getting sick and tired of London getting all the money to improve it's stations while were suffering fare increases and not seeing any of the benefits locally.

Does anyone else feel the same about this?

Not really no, because the 'London gets everything' argument is becoming a little more than tiresome.

Now I think I have used Leeds once in the past 20 odd years that I can remember and granted Wiki isnt always right but it appears to me that between 1999-2002 there were new tracks added and a new roof along with other remodelling. There is also a new entrance being built(is this true?) and plans in place for new lines and platforms in a car park.

So Leeds has and still is getting money spent it on so why are you bitching about it not having money spent on it? Fair enough it may not be as grandiose as the Cross but nevertheless millions have been and are being spent on it so you are talking out of your bottom.

 

[Bantamzen]

I have to agree with the OP with regard to the approach to the barriers & around the ticket hall, it's quite dated & there is an annoying bottleneck with people having to shove past people queuing for tickets. Perhaps a redesign of the concourse might be in order, maybe moving some of the retail units around to allow room for a new ticket office which isn't so much in the way.

As for the station development itself, it's a big improvement on the old design but I have to confess my main disappointment is the rather, well dreary feel Leeds can have especially when the weather isn't so fair. There's a little too much battleship grey around the place, so a lick of slightly brighter paint would be nice...

Oh and maybe some new rolling stock…..

<walks away sniggering>

 

[LowLevel]

I'm not sure that having money thrown at a station is a very good idea, take the money 'lavished' on St Pancras, it's not a station it's a gigantic shop/restaurant complex, the passengers came absolutely bottom of the list, sorry second bottom, the staff had the honour of being deposited at lower basement level

If someone told me my station, let's say I live in the wastes of the north for now, was to be 21st centuryised I'd run a mile

Ahh yes - no need for waiting rooms, you can pay large amounts of money to sit in one of the many shops or be out in the cold on the concourse (benches only grudgingly installed years later).

 

[Dunc108]

Last thing I noticed last time I was in Leeds was how filthy the overall roof was looking with all the diesel fumes, looked like it needed a deep clean!

 

[sirbobpaisley]

Not really no, because the 'London gets everything' argument is becoming a little more than tiresome.

Now I think I have used Leeds once in the past 20 odd years that I can remember and granted Wiki isnt always right but it appears to me that between 1999-2002 there were new tracks added and a new roof along with other remodelling. There is also a new entrance being built(is this true?) and plans in place for new lines and platforms in a car park.

So Leeds has and still is getting money spent it on so why are you bitching about it not having money spent on it? Fair enough it may not be as grandiose as the Cross but nevertheless millions have been and are being spent on it so you are talking out of your bottom.

You're quite right that Leeds station was modified around 10 years ago to expand it to cope with the expected increase in passenger numbers. Extra platforms were added to widen the station as well as putting a new roof on so that it covers the new platforms.

This isn't what I am complaining about. My main gripe is the concourse itself looks god awful and doesn't look very appealing when compared to Manchester Piccadilly as an example. It's going to take far more than a few tins of white paint on the ceiling to brighten up the concourse after the station received complaints for being dark and dingy.

Even Liverpool Lime Street has had redevelopment work done on it a few years ago with the ugly 1960's tower block demolished at the same time and the concourse now looks very attractive, so surely Leeds should be able to follow suit?

I am not the only one complaining as I have read reports of other people who aren't impressed with the station as a whole. Even the proposed new south entrance development is being regarded as a waste of money and it should be put to better use, brand new trains maybe, but that's for another thread.

I am sure that I do have a valid argument that I am paying a lot of money for my train fare and I am entitled to believe the money should be spend improving local services and not frittering it away so that London can have nice stations.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Last thing I noticed last time I was in Leeds was how filthy the overall roof was looking with all the diesel fumes, looked like it needed a deep clean!

I share your pain! I use the station every day and the roof and gantries are covered in diesel soot, pigeon poop as well as pigeon feathers.

I reckon it's possibly the worst station I've ever used!

 

[ExRes]

You're quite right that Leeds station was modified around 10 years ago to expand it to cope with the expected increase in passenger numbers. Extra platforms were added to widen the station as well as putting a new roof on so that it covers the new platforms.

This isn't what I am complaining about. My main gripe is the concourse itself looks god awful and doesn't look very appealing when compared to Manchester Piccadilly as an example. It's going to take far more than a few tins of white paint on the ceiling to brighten up the concourse after the station received complaints for being dark and dingy.

Even Liverpool Lime Street has had redevelopment work done on it a few years ago with the ugly 1960's tower block demolished at the same time and the concourse now looks very attractive, so surely Leeds should be able to follow suit?

I am not the only one complaining as I have read reports of other people who aren't impressed with the station as a whole. Even the proposed new south entrance development is being regarded as a waste of money and it should be put to better use, brand new trains maybe, but that's for another thread.

I am sure that I do have a valid argument that I am paying a lot of money for my train fare and I am entitled to believe the money should be spend improving local services and not frittering it away so that London can have nice stations.

Please don't make the mistake of calling new/refurbished London stations 'nice stations', they are retail centres that have the annoyance of the railway business going on around the shops

 

[sirbobpaisley]

Please don't make the mistake of calling new/refurbished London stations 'nice stations', they are retail centres that have the annoyance of the railway business going on around the shops

Even Leeds station has several shops and restaurants and if you're using the same argument for London stations then I'm sure Leeds should have that same privilege.

 

[Grumpy]

I reckon it's possibly the worst station I've ever used!

Then you've clearly not travelled much.
As stated by others it could do with a good wash down, but apart from that is perfectly functional.

It could benefit from some ticket machines in the main concourse to spread the load from the current area that can be congested.

And the money being squandered on the Southern entrance could be saved.

 

[sirbobpaisley]

Then you've clearly not travelled much.
As stated by others it could do with a good wash down, but apart from that is perfectly functional.

It could benefit from some ticket machines in the main concourse to spread the load from the current area that can be congested.

And the money being squandered on the Southern entrance could be saved.

That's why I said it's the worst station I've used, not the worst station in the UK.

I agree it's functional, but that's besides the point; Kings Cross station was perfectly functional before the improvements were made. I know this because I've been there a few times in the past.

 

[Emyr]

You've never used Ardwick.

 

[sirbobpaisley]

You've never used Ardwick.

Yeah I've been past that station before on a TPE service through Manchester and I'm not even sure that would qualify as a station. It looks like something time forgot.

 

[yorksrob]

Personally I'm quite happy with the facilities at Leeds City. I even have a soft spot for the functional 60's concourse. I'm of the persuasion that Metro ought to be spending money on the nitty gritty of new stations, trains and capacity rather than commercial and cosmetic improvements to the station, particularly as a lot of money is already being sunk in the South entrance.

 

[petersi]

I agree it's functional, but that's besides the point; Kings Cross station was perfectly functional before the improvements were made. I know this because I've been there a few times in the past.

The 1970's concourse was only meant to be temporary. In its latter years it had to have its planing permission renewed annually.

It only took 40 years for a permanent solution



Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Dunc108]

You're quite right that Leeds station was modified around 10 years ago to expand it to cope with the expected increase in passenger numbers. Extra platforms were added to widen the station as well as putting a new roof on so that it covers the new platforms.

This isn't what I am complaining about. My main gripe is the concourse itself looks god awful and doesn't look very appealing when compared to Manchester Piccadilly as an example. It's going to take far more than a few tins of white paint on the ceiling to brighten up the concourse after the station received complaints for being dark and dingy.

Even Liverpool Lime Street has had redevelopment work done on it a few years ago with the ugly 1960's tower block demolished at the same time and the concourse now looks very attractive, so surely Leeds should be able to follow suit?

I am not the only one complaining as I have read reports of other people who aren't impressed with the station as a whole. Even the proposed new south entrance development is being regarded as a waste of money and it should be put to better use, brand new trains maybe, but that's for another thread.

I am sure that I do have a valid argument that I am paying a lot of money for my train fare and I am entitled to believe the money should be spend improving local services and not frittering it away so that London can have nice stations.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


I share your pain! I use the station every day and the roof and gantries are covered in diesel soot, pigeon poop as well as pigeon feathers.

I reckon it's possibly the worst station I've ever used!

I had lunch in a Cafe Nero type place and the concourse felt a bit gloomy and dark in places - is this the Wellington Concourse?

 

[Clip]

I am sure that I do have a valid argument that I am paying a lot of money for my train fare and I am entitled to believe the money should be spend improving local services and not frittering it away so that London can have nice stations.
!

What?? Are you claiming that Londoners do not pay their fares and that all of the money that was spent on the Cross was used solely by the money Northern rail passengers pay?

Rubbish.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Leeds Station has two pubs and three more across the road (including the well known Scarborough Taps) which is more than can be said for many stations

 

[deltic08]

As a regular rail commuter in Leeds I have been bitterly disappointed to find that Leeds City Station in the city centre is only receiving a lick of paint to the main concourse instead of receiving a make over on the scale of the recent Kings Cross redevelopment. The existing 1960's structure is not a good advert for visitors to the city as it looks terribly outdated, especially more so about the derelict City House building that looms over the station and needs demolishing. Doing this will create more room to improve the station and make it a grand spectacle that would be befitting for a city of Leeds' stature.

I am getting sick and tired of London getting all the money to improve it's stations while were suffering fare increases and not seeing any of the benefits locally.

Does anyone else feel the same about this?

I most definitely do agree with you.

 

[47802]

While the platform area is OK, the concourse and the layout are not fit for purpose, the whole lot including the office block, the Queens hotel, the old refurbished part of the station (even though I'm a fan of the art deco style I would make an exception in this case) want bulldozing and starting from scratch.

 

[gordonthemoron]

The Queens Hotel is great and is probably listed, the office block should be demolished or something though

 

[47802]

The Queens Hotel is great and is probably listed, the office block should be demolished or something though

Yes I think it is grade 2 listed but as 1930's art deco building go I don't think its one of the best, but clearly your not going to get it demolished, but it would be better if could demolish the whole lot and have the mini bus station and pickup point where the Queens hotel currently is.

 

[gordonthemoron]

1 less art deco building is 1 too many

 

[Mikey C]

Leeds station seemed perfectly adequate to me, quite spacious as well, having waited there for ages for the night replacement coach to York!

 

[deltic08]

For the benefit of you head-up-your-arse Southerners, Leeds station was upgraded in 1999/2000 to deal with west end approach congestion where six double track routes (12 tracks) converged into just four tracks. The opportunity was taken to incorporate the adjacent old Midland Railway Wellington Street station platforms into the new station. Growth was estimated at no more than 1% per annum and design for the station was in accordance with forecast.

When the Northern franchise was awarded in 2004 it was awarded on a "no growth" contract during the franchise period. Actual growth since 1999 has been 72%. This is why Leeds station needs rebuilding again now to cope with 26M passengers and 2.7M interchanging passengers annually, 60% more than forecast.

I agree with many that the new south entrance is too expensive but it is a way of relieving pressure on the main entrance. It is expensive because that end of the main footbridge just happens to be over the middle of the River Aire.