Leeds Station Improvement

Spartacus · 24 Sep 2019

Ken H said:
Surely you need 2 sets. One set for 1 - 6, another set for the rest. separate the flows before people get to the barriers.

I think that was the idea behind the old barriers and it was clear from the outset that it wasn't going to work, too many movements across the main flows between those movements to make it viable with people needing to go round the barriers to get to their connection or the ticket windows, having to go across to get to wide barriers or seek assistance or simply trying to get to a barrier without a queue.

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johntea · 24 Sep 2019

They’re ripping out the old barriers tonight so they’ll be gone by the morning!

skyhigh · 25 Sep 2019

johntea said:
They’re ripping out the old barriers tonight so they’ll be gone by the morning!

It'll take a few nights - only the first few went last night. They were carefully wrapped and loaded onto a lorry, so they might well reappear elsewhere...

bluenoxid · 26 Sep 2019

Looks like there is a week delay on reopening New Station Street to buses.

Services affected: 4, 4G, 5, 11, 11E, 15, 16, 19, 19A, 40, 757 and Dalesbus

* UPDATE * A scheme to improve the New Station Street means it is closed to buses, until Saturday 5 October. Buses are being diverted via Mill Hill and Bishopgate Street and will call at nearby stops. From Sunday 6 October, these stops will re-open.

Updated: 25 September 2019

https://www.wymetro.com/plan-a-journey/travel-news/bus-travel-alerts/new-station-st-leeds/

Bantamzen · 26 Sep 2019

Ken H said:
Surely you need 2 sets. One set for 1 - 6, another set for the rest. separate the flows before people get to the barriers.

I've thought about this in the past. However the problem is whilst some passengers will know where their platforms are, many others will not and so you'll never really get rid of the crossovers of passengers. But at least with more space beyond the barriers, the crossovers won't be as chaotic & battling with people hanging around by the departure boards.

thejuggler · 26 Sep 2019

Its a few weeks since I was there, but went through yesterday. New roof etc have done the job and create a far more spacious feel before the gates. About half the old gates were out.

However the office above the station and directly over the concourse will always give it a tunnel feel around the area where the old barriers are. I really hope this is going to be improved.

Steps to the over bridge at the eastern end now have signage advising to keep left.

However biggest improvement is an actual real life litter and recycling bin opposite Wetherspoons. As the new barriers don't take your used ticket (a step backwards) its needed.

mm333 · 26 Sep 2019

Walked past last night and saw the station name had gone up. They've reverted to calling it Leeds City station.

Ken H · 26 Sep 2019

mm333 said:
Walked past last night and saw the station name had gone up. They've reverted to calling it Leeds City station.

is it braille?

_toommm_ · 26 Sep 2019

Ken H said:
is it braille?

It is - for the average 20ft high male.

ohgoditsjames · 26 Sep 2019

The new barriers are in operation now and the old ones have all gone!

johntea · 26 Sep 2019

In an odd twist, the station may now have bins but McDonalds have removed theirs! (or at least hidden it behind the counter), cue rubbish being left all over the tables!

_toommm_ · 29 Sep 2019

Most of the entrance hall is now finished, with the skirting above the shops finishes, and this rather nice 'Tickets' panel installed.

Carrying on inside, we have departure screens directly above the ticket barriers, complemented by the usual A-Z departure screens platform-side of the barriers. With the barriers being moved forward, this should create less of an area of congestion hopefully...

Ken H · 29 Sep 2019

_toommm_ said:
Most of the entrance hall is now finished, with the skirting above the shops finishes, and this rather nice 'Tickets' panel installed.

View attachment 68902

Carrying on inside, we have departure screens directly above the ticket barriers, complemented by the usual A-Z departure screens platform-side of the barriers. With the barriers being moved forward, this should create less of an area of congestion hopefully...

View attachment 68903

a screen with 'next train to' and a list of popular stations would be good
the next train to York could be going to Scarborough, Middlesborough, Newcastle. Same for Wakefield, Harrogate & Bradford

thejuggler · 29 Sep 2019

The "next train" with A-Z station list is after the barriers.

The photo of the new screens on the concourse demonstrates the tunnel effect

GoneSouth · 29 Sep 2019

It feels much longer and narrower than before but so much brighter and a welcome improvement. Still wish it was a proper glazed roof instead of translucent plastic though. I do wonder how it will look in 5 years (having said that the Eden Project still doesn’t look too bad and that’s been around a few years).

Looks like there’s going to be an information desk in the front centre too which is helpful. They old place really did need those 60s features removing and nice to see the signage for shops is simple, clean and not at all gaudy like some of the tat that has been on show at Leeds in recent years

Ken H · 29 Sep 2019

thejuggler said:
The "next train" with A-Z station list is after the barriers.

The photo of the new screens on the concourse demonstrates the tunnel effect

Yes. I will be there with my bifocals trying to decipher the screens in the middle of the rush hour surge. And auntie madge will be stood there waiting for her trains to bournemouth to appear on the screens. Who put the screens just a few yards in front of the barriers? Or is there another set where people can sit and still see the screens?

61653 HTAFC · 29 Sep 2019

Ken H said:
Yes. I will be there with my bifocals trying to decipher the screens in the middle of the rush hour surge. And auntie madge will be stood there waiting for her trains to bournemouth to appear on the screens. Who put the screens just a few yards in front of the barriers? Or is there another set where people can sit and still see the screens?

The only other A-Z list is on the P12-15 island in front of the cafe, with a few rows of benches in front.

rich-leeds · 29 Sep 2019

Looks like a very welcome improvement overall. Having been away for just over a week I'm surprised at the progress that has been made! Thanks for the photos--looking forwards to seeing this for real next week. Roof renewal money well spent.

ASharpe · 29 Sep 2019

This is a minor thing, but passing through the barriers the other day with the pram I was a bit frustrated that they are grouped together at either end.

On the exit I was rather annoyed that a queue had formed to be let through which blocked the second (inner) wide gate. If ticket checkers insist on using wide gates to let people though they should have a second unmanned set further away for those of us who just need a wide gate and no assistance.

_toommm_ · 29 Sep 2019

One weird thing is the new ticket barriers are not currently swallowing tickets with a destination of Leeds either...

yorksrob · 30 Sep 2019

It's my first time through there for a week or so, and it strikes me as a better use of space, with the Wellington St concourse now the main shopping/waiting area, and the South concourse largely given over to moving passengers.

It all looks very swish at present.

modernrail · 30 Sep 2019

asharpe said:
This is a minor thing, but passing through the barriers the other day with the pram I was a bit frustrated that they are grouped together at either end.

On the exit I was rather annoyed that a queue had formed to be let through which blocked the second (inner) wide gate. If ticket checkers insist on using wide gates to let people though they should have a second unmanned set further away for those of us who just need a wide gate and no assistance.

Agreed! This should be a national edict. Happens at Thameslink St Pancras a lot as well. Then causes problems with overall flow.

In general I think ticket barrier lines at busy stations should have a clearly designated manned wide gate and then a clearly designated wide gate with a luggage/wheelchair/buggy/bike symbol above.

james2trains · 30 Sep 2019

_toommm_ said:
Most of the entrance hall is now finished, with the skirting above the shops finishes, and this rather nice 'Tickets' panel installed.

View attachment 68902

Carrying on inside, we have departure screens directly above the ticket barriers, complemented by the usual A-Z departure screens platform-side of the barriers. With the barriers being moved forward, this should create less of an area of congestion hopefully...

View attachment 68903

Are the screens smaller than the old ones? I think they look that way in the photo but I haven't seen them for myself yet.

JaJaWa · 30 Sep 2019

I suppose they don’t want to leave a wide gate free considering how easy they are to squeeze through.

johntea · 30 Sep 2019

The barriers now seem to have been taken out of trial mode, the joys of ‘reject passback’ (or error 133) are back!

Why they still have such a long delay before I can use my season ticket to enter the platforms again after exiting is beyond me, 5 minutes maybe not 10-15!

ashkeba · 4 Oct 2019

johntea said:
It doesn't really matter how many signs you put up as people love to ignore them anyway!

Case in point they put up that stupid luggage barrier at the bottom of the main escalator telling people to use the lifts, guess what everybody still forced their luggage through the gap somehow and up the escalator so I notice that has been removed now!

Well what was the point of them? People have to be able to lift their luggage (or bicycles now with Azuma hangers) so can hold it on an escalator even if it doesn't fit on one step. Please leave the slow lifts for wheelchairs, buggies and people with balance problems, instead of manufacturing unnecessary conflict!

Spartacus · 5 Oct 2019

ashkeba said:
Well what was the point of them? People have to be able to lift their luggage (or bicycles now with Azuma hangers) so can hold it on an escalator even if it doesn't fit on one step. Please leave the slow lifts for wheelchairs, buggies and people with balance problems, instead of manufacturing unnecessary conflict!

A lot worse is the potential conflict when someone near the top loses grip of their large suitcase near the top and it comes tumbling back down again. It’s everyone underneath who’ll suffer.

jayah · 5 Oct 2019

johntea said:
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...

The area of the platforms under the roof are almost completely dark all of the time.

skyhigh · 5 Oct 2019

The departure boards in the station keep failing - Thursday morning when I went through they crashed and all went blank. This evening the same thing happened - boards all went blank and kept rebooting for the 15 mins I was there. Combined with no announcements, disruption and platform changes it was carnage...

ashkeba · 5 Oct 2019

Spartacus said:
A lot worse is the potential conflict when someone near the top loses grip of their large suitcase near the top and it comes tumbling back down again. It’s everyone underneath who’ll suffer.

No, the person behind will probably stop it. Anyone frail enough to be hurt by a suitcase small enough to fit on a train should probably use the lifts and take care not to sit opposite a luggage rack.

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