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Major improvements to the station’s main entrance and surrounding area begin this week – and visitors are being encouraged to consider how these changes will affect their journey to and from the station.
From 7pm on Thursday 18 May, taxis will move from their current location on New Station Street to Princes Square (off Aire Street) in the short-stay car park, next to Wetherspoons. Short-stay car parking has moved to the multi-storey car park. Information on how to find the taxi rank is available here.
From midnight on Friday 19 May, the northern section of New Station Street, from the station’s main entrance towards City Square, will close to pedestrians to allow works to be carried out.
Advice for pedestrians
Pedestrians will be able to walk towards Boar Lane from the station’s main entrance by travelling along the other side of New Station Street.
To access City Square, Infirmary Street, Park Row and Wellington Street, pedestrians are advised to use the station’s northern entrance (opposite the Majestic building).
Pedestrians walking to the south bank area of the city can do so by following New Station Street onto Boar Lane and looping back onto Mill Hill, or by using the station’s southern entrance (open between 6am and 10pm).
Walking routes are available here.
Plan ahead if driving to the station
Motorists travelling to the station are advised to plan ahead and allow more time for journeys.
Following the changes to roads around City Square, private vehicles can no longer drive to Princes Square from Bishopgate Street and along Wellington Street in front of the Queens Hotel. Any private vehicles travelling in this direction will pass through a bus gate and incur a fixed penalty notice.
Motorists travelling to the station should do so via the eastern end of Wellington Street before turning right onto Northern Street and left onto Whitehall Road which then becomes Aire Street.
Maps and advice for motorists is available here.
The changes come as works start on the Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme, which will create a much improved and more people-friendly environment that can accommodate growing rail passenger numbers and ensure people can enter and exit the station safely.
At the same time, the closure of New Station Street is necessary to allow Network Rail to carry out essential maintenance work to reinforce the Mill Goit underground structure beneath the street which supports much of the station above it.
Delivering the two schemes in tandem will lead to less disruption in the long-term and provide value for money, as there will be less need to revisit the Sustainable Travel Gateway Scheme later if further works are required as part of Network Rail’s scheme.
The next stage in the transformation of Leeds City Rail Station’s main entrance and surrounding area has begun.
Major improvement works began in March following advanced works and preparations which began last May.
Since securing planning permission for the scheme, Leeds City Council and Network Rail have been working together to combine the Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme with a separate project which will see Network Rail reinforce the underground structure below New Station Street. This supports much of the station above it.
Delivering the two schemes in tandem will mean less disruption in the long-term and also reduces the need to revisit the Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme at a later date if further works are required as part of Network Rail's scheme.
What's next
In May, as part of Network Rail's scheme the taxi rank currently on New Station Street will be moving to Princes Square. Network Rail are currently liaising with private hire and hackney carriage services with details of the arrangements.
May will also see the northern section of New Station Street from the station's main entrance towards City Square closed to pedestrians and vehicles (except service vehicles and emergency services) to allow paving works to be carried out. This will mean pedestrians will only be able to access Boar Lane from the station's main entrance by turning right, or by using the station's northern entrance.
The full programme of improvements including the Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme and the Network Rail works is due to be completed by September 2025. Updates will be published at https://leedscitystation.commonplace.is/
Motorists are advised that Neville Street (the road under the railway bridge near Leeds City Station) will be closed inbound to vehicles travelling towards the station from 5am on Monday 25 July until 10pm on Friday 29 July, due to urgent works.
A diversion will be in place from the traffic lights on Neville Street near the Hilton hotel, taking vehicles along Sovereign Street, Swinegate and Bishopgate Street.
Outbound traffic travelling along Neville Street out of the city centre will be unaffected.
The footpath on the eastern side of Neville Street will also be closed during these works. The footpath on the western side of Neville Street will be open.
The urgent works are essential to complete drainage connections and ensure safety for those carrying out the works and the general public using the highway.
Motorists who normally travel into the city centre along this route are urged to plan their journeys in advance and allow extra time, and consider alternative ways to travel.
This could include:
• Using Park and Ride schemes such as Stourton, Elland Road and Temple Green.
• Travelling by bus or rail.
• Cycling or walking into the city.
Motorists who can travel to their destination without driving through the city centre are encouraged to consider a number of diversionary routes which involve using junctions 4 and 2 of the M621.