Major plans to transform Leeds Station into 'Yorkshire Hub'
Plans to transform Leeds train station into a high-speed transport hub for the region have been revealed.
The recommendation to government would see the station redeveloped as a ‘Yorkshire Hub’ with a ‘T-shape’ design.
This would see the existing east-west rail lines being combined with connecting new north-south lines to accommodate HS2 when it comes to the city.
It would operate as a single station and serve connecting cities and towns across the city and further afield.
Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council said: “This major project will not only transform the station into a landmark gateway to welcome visitors and business travellers in the city and region, but will be transformative in terms of new jobs, skills, regeneration, and business opportunities.
"Redeveloping the station in Leeds alone will create 10,000 new jobs and we are determined that people in the city benefit from these opportunities."
The Leeds Chamber of Commerce has been calling for the new station for several months and welcomed today's commitment to investing in the idea.
"We'll see some 60 million passengers use the new railway station in 30 years' time," says Gerald Jennings, President of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce.
"It will be the size of Gatwick Airport in terms of passenger numbers. And with this news today we can plan ahead for how Leeds railway station will play a really important part in the Northern Powerhouse.
"The sense of arrival when you currently get to Leeds railway station is not great. We're the second busiest railway station in the UK and I think it's quite disapointing when people come to Leeds and see our existing station.
"So we absolutely need to invest. We need to make it bigger and better."
George Osborne today confirmed that HS2 trains will run to Crewe by 2027 - six years earlier than first planned.
The Chancellor also announced that former CBI chief John Cridland is to become the first chair of Transport for North, with a remit to improve connections across the region.
The rail link was originally due to stretch from London to Birmingham by 2026, and then reach Manchester and Leeds by 2033.
But HS2 boss Sir David Higgins proposed speeding up the £50 billion project last year.
Mr Osborne said last week's Spending Review had heralded the biggest rise in transport investment in a generation.
Bringing forward this part of the HS2 route by six years is a massive step in the right direction for the Northern Powerhouse where high speed rail will play a big role in connecting up the entire region with the rest of the country,'' he said.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin is publishing a Command Paper setting out the route for Phase 2a of the project, to Crewe and beyond.