A new £20m entrance to Leeds city station has been unveiled today by transport minister Andrew Jones.
Looking over the River Aire on the south side of the station, the entrance includes a brand new concourse, escalators, stairs and lifts to improve accessibility and new cycle storage.
Central government contributed £12.4m towards the development, which was delivered in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Network Rail.
Leeds' new station entrance design
Transport minister Andrew Jones said: ‘The stunning entrance will make journeys quicker and more convenient for thousands of passengers every day. This is a further example of the Northern Powerhouse in action, improving lives for people and businesses in Leeds.
‘We’re determined to provide Leeds and Yorkshire with a transport network to support its ambitions, with new rail franchises, new rail stations and major road upgrades to drive the region’s growth.’
Around 20,000 people a day will use the new entrance, which links to the city’s south bank area and removes the need for commuters to have to loop around to and from the existing northern entrance.
Cllr Peter Box, chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: ‘A significant proportion of the city region’s 1.4 million workforce use Leeds Station with a growing number of them wanting to head south when they arrive.
‘The distinctive new southern entrance, will save one in five of them up to 50 minutes on their weekly commute and will help to encourage development in an area which as well as being home to ASDA’s UK headquarters is also the location of Eversheds, Ernst & Young and DWF’s regional HQs.’
