York station to be made easier to access

[yorkie]

Good news for cyclists & pedestrians as there is to be direct access to York station from Lowther Terrace and Leeman Road.

I've been wanting these developments to happen for some time!

People visiting the hospital, the football ground, the youth hostel and anywhere else to the North of the City will benefit from the Leeman Road entrance.

And at least half a dozen forum members who I know will benefit from the Lowther Terrace entrance!

MORE than half a million pounds is to be spent on two new cycle routes to improve access to York Station.

New ramps are to be built at the north and south ends of the station, leading into the short and long-stay car parks respectively.

The footbridge inside the station, linking platform three with platforms five to 11, will also be improved.

Rail and station operator East Coast has teamed up with City of York Council and Cycling City York on the project, which will cost £550,000. Work will start early next year.

The northern ramp will lead into the short stay car park from Leeman Road, linking the station to the path next to the Royal Mail depot that leads to the River Ouse.

Access to the south will be from Lowther Terrace. Extra CCTV cameras and lights are being introduced to cover the new access points.

Passengers and cyclists are asked to use the subways and lifts while work is carried out on the bridge.

Karen Boswell, managing director of East Coast, said: “We are investing in our stations as well as our trains to ensure East Coast passengers have the best possible travelling experience.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with the City of York Council, Cycling City York and Network Rail on these station improvements which will benefit passengers and staff alike.”

Cycling City York Programme Manager Graham Titchener said: “The new access points at York station will be a welcome addition to the range of facilities and infrastructure available to cyclists in York, and will also benefit pedestrians and disabled people.

“They will make it quicker, easier and safer for people to reach the station.”

 

[142094]

East Coast had a poster of this up in the summer, although seems to have taken a while to filter to the Press. Sure I heard that there were plans to increase the cycle capacity but haven't heard where they are going to put the extra spaces yet.

 

[4SRKT]

About time. There used to be a route from the steps on Station Road bridge leading into the Railway Institute, past what is now the NCP, and via some railway land covered in rusting bits of old wagons and stuff onto Lowther Terrace and Holgate Road. We used to use this sometimes, but my father, who was staff and therefore had some reason to be there, said we weren't to go that way without him. He was incredibly paranoid about trespassing: he reckoned he knew someone who'd had the whole family's privs taken off them because his son got caught trespassing. This short cut takes 5-10 minutes off the journey from the station to the Iron Bridge, and I will definitely benefit when visiting the family

 

[tbtc]

Presumably this means zero chance of barriers at York now?

 

[yorkie]

Presumably this means zero chance of barriers at York now?

The plans were abandoned the instant EC took over from NXEC!

 

[tbtc]

The plans were abandoned the instant EC took over from NXEC!

Yeah - I was meaning that the new entrance at York would hopefully make it even harder for this to be "proposed" in future (given how some things which are rejected have a habit of being suggested a few years later)

 

[yorkie]

Yeah - I was meaning that the new entrance at York would hopefully make it even harder for this to be "proposed" in future (given how some things which are rejected have a habit of being suggested a few years later)

Possibly, but in both cases they appear to be shortcuts through car parks rather than new entrances onto platforms. However it is certainly true that the more accessible you make a station, the more you encourage people to use the service. Barriers would be a hindrance. The number of people using access from the new western side (which was completed in time for Railfest 2004) has really grown in recent years.

 

[4SRKT]

The number of people using access from the new western side (which was completed in time for Railfest 2004) has really grown in recent years.

That entrance is also a total winner for Holgate types, giving access to Cinder Lane and the footbridge by York Yard South.

 

[D6700]

I received a leaflet from the council a few months ago mentioning the possibility of the Lowther Terrace route, but didn't know it was definitely going ahead, so this is good news.

When heading to the station, this should provide a real benefit, but coming away from the station, I have a few reservations. Obviously, it will improve cyclists' safety by avoiding the terribly dangerous stretch around Blossom Street, but coming out of Lowther Terrace onto Holgate Road could be just as bad. I wonder how they will deal with this potential accident black spot.

 

[4SRKT]

I received a leaflet from the council a few months ago mentioning the possibility of the Lowther Terrace route, but didn't know it was definitely going ahead, so this is good news.

When heading to the station, this should provide a real benefit, but coming away from the station, I have a few reservations. Obviously, it will improve cyclists' safety by avoiding the terribly dangerous stretch around Blossom Street, but coming out of Lowther Terrace onto Holgate Road could be just as bad. I wonder how they will deal with this potential accident black spot.

If it's that dangerous you could just push yr bike along to the pelican crossing at the junction of Holgate Road and Blossom Street. Can't see it's as dangerous as the Blossom Street section though, which really is nasty.

 

[142094]

Well CYC did make a massive mess of the cycle lanes on Fulford Road - more money down the drain.

 

[DarloRich]

Presumably this means zero chance of barriers at York now?

They couldnt get planning permission anyway - The City COuncil did one decent thing in bloking those bloody Barriers.

These proposals are very sensible and will offer better access to York Station from the "south" side. Certainly better than walking along dog sh*t alley up to Holgate at 2345!

 

[OuterDistant]

That entrance is also a total winner for Holgate types, giving access to Cinder Lane and the footbridge by York Yard South.

I had my first ever trip to York and the NRM this summer (aged 29!) and it blew my mind that we could walk out of our hotel on Holgate Road, go up Wilton Rise, over the footbridge and come straight out by the NRM. Result!

At the same time, I was quietly grateful that I didn't have to drive anywhere in York. The word "busy" doesn't even come close

 

[142094]

At the same time, I was quietly grateful that I didn't have to drive anywhere in York. The word "busy" doesn't even come close

If I had my way cars would be banned from inside the Inner Ring Road...

 

[yorkie]

At the same time, I was quietly grateful that I didn't have to drive anywhere in York. The word "busy" doesn't even come close

Indeed. Due to lack of space, it's not easy for me to overtake them either. Let's just say, for people who want to get to the station, there are some parts of York you're glad you don't live in, as it would take almost as long to get there than it takes a train to get to Newcastle.

If I had my way cars would be banned from inside the Inner Ring Road...

I'd agree with that!

 

[142094]

York station now has quite a big catchment area - had a few people that were using their old age bus passes to get all the way from Hull to York, then the train on from there.