Railways are extremely important for every city or region. After all, this public transport has a positive effect on the economy, business, leisure, education, etc. In this article, we are going to tell you about Leeds Railway Station, which is also known as Leeds City. It serves Leeds city centre and is one of 20 stations operated by Network Rail. By the way, as of December 2023, it was the busiest station in West Yorkshire. Read more about the history of the railway station’s creation and development at leeds-future.com.
History of Leeds railway
The Leeds railway began its history in 1834 when the Leeds and Selby Railway opened its line. The railway network in the city was developing with each coming year. In 1840, the North Midland Railway built its line from Derby via Rotherham to the southern terminus at Hunslet Lane. Six years later, the line had already been extended to the central terminus on Wellington Street.
Another railway station, Leeds Central on Wellington Street, was opened in 1854. It became joint property of the LNWR and the North Eastern Railway. 15 years later, New Station was opened as a joint venture between the LNWR and the North Eastern Railway.
In 1921, the government adopted a new act, according to which the British railways were grouped into four companies.
Railway development
In 1938, two railway stations in the region were amalgamated into Leeds City Station. Its project was designed by LMS architect William Henry Hamlyn. However, the new railway station didn’t start functioning for a long time due to the beginning of the Second World War. In March 1941, Leeds was attacked and the railway station was one of the targets, as an important strategic object. During the air raid, the railway station was destroyed and many people died. Later, the station was restored.
The site was reconstructed in 1967. Accordingly, trains departing from Central Railway Station were redirected to City Railway Station. Thus, it became the main railway station serving the city of Leeds. As for Central Railway Station, it was closed and the building was demolished.
In 1988, City Railway Station was equipped with overhead electrification.
Modern period
The station continued to be improved in the 21st century. In 2008, it acquired automatic ticket gates. This system accelerated the control process. In 2016, the construction of the southern entrance was completed, which facilitated access from the south part. This innovation cost £17.3 million. It widens the station’s western footbridge and provides access to the river deck via stairs, elevators and escalators.
In 2018, Network Rail decided to ease the load by relocating and extending ticket barriers. A new transparent roof was installed next year. In 2021, a new terminal platform was completed alongside Platform 1.
Leeds is an important hub of the British rail network. The city is a major point on local and regional routes across Yorkshire, Therefore, this public transport is so important to the region. After all, the railway connection is not only convenient for residents and guests of the city but also necessary for the economy and development of Leeds.
We hope that our article was informative and that you learned more information about Leeds.
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