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Leeds Station Improvement

tarq

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Joined
13 May 2013
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88
Went through Leeds for the first time in months today. The usual problems of folk deciding that right in front of the gateline or stairs to the bridge is the best place to stop and have a chat persists.

People stand in front of the bank of screens immediately following the gate line awaiting their platform to be confirmed.

In an airport, you don’t wait for your gate to be advertised before you pass through security, you go as far as you can.

Perhaps we need to create some kind of waiting zone where people can congregate before their train is announced. They have managed this well at the new King’s Cross and that’s what is needed at Leeds.
 
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johntea

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29 Dec 2010
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The new barriers have been plugged in sometime after 6am today - they're still open though with the old barriers in operation. I suspect they'll become active either overnight or sometime this week.

There was a gaffer wearing a Cubic jacket earlier inspecting them with his pocket torch around 8pm :D (it is very dark in that area and the roof feels rather low too!)

Don't think the overall station project will be completely finished in time for the bike racing though, according to one Northern guard they're still booked in the station for several more months of work!
 
Joined
16 Sep 2013
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The new barriers have been plugged in sometime after 6am today - they're still open though with the old barriers in operation. I suspect they'll become active either overnight or sometime this week.

I've heard a third-hand report of Friday being the switch on day, but I can't attest to how accurate this is (I'd have thought Sunday morning would be a better choice).
 
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Don't think the overall station project will be completely finished in time for the bike racing though, according to one Northern guard they're still booked in the station for several more months of work!

I agree, there seems to be so much more to do and less than a week to do it in. This would be another failure by Network Rail.
 

IanXC

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18 Dec 2009
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6,331
Perhaps we need to create some kind of waiting zone where people can congregate before their train is announced. They have managed this well at the new King’s Cross and that’s what is needed at Leeds.

You mean exactly what is to be created by this project?!

Don't think the overall station project will be completely finished in time for the bike racing though, according to one Northern guard they're still booked in the station for several more months of work!

Top quality, close to the project, source you've got there!
 

Islandexpress

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3 Mar 2016
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57
Once the roof and internal cladding are complete, I understand attention will then turn to the floor. Apparently the current is said to not meet Network Rail’s slip/skid requirements.
 

johntea

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29 Dec 2010
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Looks like they've been working overtime outside as most of the construction materials have now vanished

Inside the lights have appeared but rather weirdly they're just standard fluorescent tube lights so the concourse still feels a bit dark in the evening, maybe just me...
 
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16 Sep 2013
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76
I have confirmation that it is NRs intention to remove the current barriers and commission the new barriers over this coming weekend.
 

johntea

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29 Dec 2010
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This station improvement is rubbish...

...they seem to have stuck a number of bins around the station! Hurrah for common sense!
 
Joined
30 Apr 2018
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The Moor That Is Low
New barriers have gone live today (old ones this morning, new ones this afternoon).
Seem to work OK, despite being apparently the same model as at Bradford Forster Sq that enjoy eating me.
 

johntea

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I wonder how long it'll be before they decide to Error Code 93 my ticket just like the ones at Harrogate like to do every month or so...
 

oscarthecat92

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14 Aug 2016
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42
Having them all in a straight line is much improved, seemed to ease the flow this evening and may be better when people are used to them
 

johntea

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I wonder if the gates are in ‘trial mode’ as they read my paper ticket INCREDIBLY quickly!
 

ash39

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8 Feb 2012
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I remember visiting Leeds as a kid and the ticket 'barriers' were just a few glass booths with staff manually checking tickets. They were in roughly the same place as the new barriers, so whilst I have a real disdain for any type of barrier, it has given me some kind of strange satisfaction that the station layout has gone back towards it's original layout.

Does anyone know how many barriers there are vs the outgoing layout? Presumably a reduction as the opening isn't very wide. I know there's now an alternative exit, but it does concern me a bit that it might get a bit unpleasant at busy times. The majority of people for the city centre still use the original exit.
 

yorksrob

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6 Aug 2009
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Yorks
I remember visiting Leeds as a kid and the ticket 'barriers' were just a few glass booths with staff manually checking tickets. They were in roughly the same place as the new barriers, so whilst I have a real disdain for any type of barrier, it has given me some kind of strange satisfaction that the station layout has gone back towards it's original layout.

Does anyone know how many barriers there are vs the outgoing layout? Presumably a reduction as the opening isn't very wide. I know there's now an alternative exit, but it does concern me a bit that it might get a bit unpleasant at busy times. The majority of people for the city centre still use the original exit.

There were four booths in the old station layout.
 

Spartacus

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25 Aug 2009
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The old ones would take literally anything the right size for the first week, rail ticket or not.
 

ash39

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8 Feb 2012
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There were four booths in the old station layout.

Sorry, my question wasn't very well worded. What I meant to ask was, does anyone know how many ticket barriers there are in the new layout vs the recently removed ticket barriers? It must be a reduction given the available width?

Also if anyone has any photos of the old ticket barrier area for nostalgia, would love to see them. I remember the 10p platform ticket machine just to the right of the booths as well, where Camden Food Co now is..
 

yorksrob

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Sorry, my question wasn't very well worded. What I meant to ask was, does anyone know how many ticket barriers there are in the new layout vs the recently removed ticket barriers? It must be a reduction given the available width?

Also if anyone has any photos of the old ticket barrier area for nostalgia, would love to see them. I remember the 10p platform ticket machine just to the right of the booths as well, where Camden Food Co now is..

I'm not sure. There could be a similar number of barriers, now that the old Upper Crust and Camden Food stores have been knocked through and incorperated into the barrier line.
 

Cuboid

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Joined
9 Jan 2019
Messages
32
Looking at the planning drawing ages ago, I seem to remember there is only 1 new additional barrier added to the gateline compared to the old layout.

However, if they have the London-style access/deny on an small LED screen well above the floor then it could ease people accidentally aiming for the wrong ones.
 

sirbobpaisley

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Joined
3 Dec 2013
Messages
16
Location
Leeds
Just noticed the new flooring outside the station is now covered with fag ends and gum. They've only just put the floor down and people can't wait to defile it!

Why can't people show consideration for their own actions?

What a world we live in..
 

Bantamzen

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4 Dec 2013
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Baildon, West Yorkshire
I remember visiting Leeds as a kid and the ticket 'barriers' were just a few glass booths with staff manually checking tickets. They were in roughly the same place as the new barriers, so whilst I have a real disdain for any type of barrier, it has given me some kind of strange satisfaction that the station layout has gone back towards it's original layout.

Does anyone know how many barriers there are vs the outgoing layout? Presumably a reduction as the opening isn't very wide. I know there's now an alternative exit, but it does concern me a bit that it might get a bit unpleasant at busy times. The majority of people for the city centre still use the original exit.

The new barrier line is considerably wider than the original manned booths, and I believe the number of gates is similar to the existing line, but now in a straight line.

I also noticed over the weekend that Metro are expecting New Station Street to be reopened next Monday (30th September), and this seems to be backed up as most of the works around the widened pedestrian area & new bus stands being cleared. Its looking like just the façade at the front requires completion, which seems to have started already. Then I guess its the remedial stuff, departure boards and of course taking out of the old gateline. It does look to me that there should be a far improved flow once everything is done.
 

AndyHudds

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Joined
17 Jun 2012
Messages
530
Just noticed the new flooring outside the station is now covered with fag ends and gum. They've only just put the floor down and people can't wait to defile it!

Why can't people show consideration for their own actions?

What a world we live in..

It's their entitlement mate don't you know? Everyone seems to be entitled to do what they want these days.
 

ole17

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Joined
17 Jul 2015
Messages
15
I do hope that the direction of the barriers are changed to allow people exiting and entering the station to not have to criss cross each other, especially at the area next to platform 8 where this is frequent especially at peak times
 

61653 HTAFC

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Another planet...
I do hope that the direction of the barriers are changed to allow people exiting and entering the station to not have to criss cross each other, especially at the area next to platform 8 where this is frequent especially at peak times
Simply by moving the barriers back, a lot of the pedestrian conflicts should be removed. Hopefully the barriers will be organised to keep everyone to the left in the direction of movement: rather than the current situation where half the "entrance" barriers are over on the side pointing towards the low-numbered platforms.
 

Ken H

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11 Nov 2018
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N Yorks
Simply by moving the barriers back, a lot of the pedestrian conflicts should be removed. Hopefully the barriers will be organised to keep everyone to the left in the direction of movement: rather than the current situation where half the "entrance" barriers are over on the side pointing towards the low-numbered platforms.
Surely you need 2 sets. One set for 1 - 6, another set for the rest. separate the flows before people get to the barriers.
 

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