📋 Tender Overview
Scope :
Handling 28 million passengers a year, Leeds Station is a nationally significant rail station and the busiest hub in the northern part of England.
Peak use of the station is expected to increase by 49% by 2023, and 135% by 2043, with the introduction of the High-Speed Rail (HS2), Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), and major upgrades to the Trans-Pennine routes, according to a Network Rail study.
As a result, Network Rail proposed a new integrated Leeds Station with the aim of creating an international gateway by integrating national, regional, and local services with HS2 and NPR. The project master plan also aims to drive the economic growth of the Leeds City Region.
The integrated station proposal comprises three main components, namely the upgrade of the existing station, the creation of a station district, and upgrades to the urban realm and public spaces. The proposed master plan has been released and a public consultation took place between October and December 2017.
Construction on the project is expected to begin by 2023, with the commencement of the development works related to the HS2 phase 2b. The integrated station is expected to be completed by 2033.
Leeds Station upgrade details
In January 2022, a £161m ($217.23m) upgrade was completed at the Leeds Station, as part of the UK government’s £96bn Integrated Rail Plan, to transform rail connections across the North and Midlands.
The upgrade works included the lengthening of platforms, and the construction of a new platform and a new concourse. The tracks were also upgraded to improve the reliability and punctuality of trains entering the station.
The existing Leeds Station is planned to be remodelled into an integrated station based on the ‘open station’ concept, which is easy to understand and navigate. It will include new platforms, a new roof, a new footbridge, and external landscaping including a new city park and River Aria waterfront development.
A common concourse, centrally located over the existing platforms, will provide a hustle-free interchange for all types of rail services. It will also provide easy access to passengers on both sides of the city centre.
The concourse will include 7,000m² of waiting area, with space for leisure activities, and retail uses such as food and beverage kiosks.
The project will add new platforms adjacent to the current platform one. A new roof design is also proposed for the station to allow more natural light to enter the building.
The upgrade will add multiple entrances to the station, which will serve as key gateways and provide easy access to, from, and between station components, the city centre, the South Bank, and the River Aria water space..
District and public spaces at the new Leeds integrated station
The master plan proposes to develop a station campus surrounding the station, which will comprise 300,000m² of new commercial, residential, and leisure developments. The new campus will harmonis
