Changes as south entrance arrives at Leeds station

Thousands of commuters in Yorkshire are now enjoying quicker and easier journeys after the new £20M steel-framed south entrance at Leeds station was officially opened.

The new entrance provides a direct link to the city’s growing south bank area – opening up access to South Bank Central, Holbeck Urban Village and Leeds Dock and Hinterland development areas. Passengers will no longer have to loop around the station to the existing northern entrance – cutting the time it takes to catch trains.

The entrance design is a striking addition to the cityscape south of the station, while additional customer information screens, ticket machines and automated ticket gates will reduce congestion and improve the experience for all passengers using the station.

The portal-framed entrance structure has been built over the River Aire and the construction programme posed a number of challenges.

Because of the location and a lack of access, steelwork contractor William Hare had to deliver all of the steel using pontoons that transported the material from a delivery yard located downstream.

Main contractor for the project was Carillion, while the entrance was designed by architect AHR and structural engineer Mott MacDonald.

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.”

Councillor Peter Box, Chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “A significant proportion of the city region’s 1.4M workforce use Leeds Station with a growing number of them wanting to head south when they arrive.

“The distinctive new southern entrance, will save 1 in 5 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.”