Rail transport master plan to drive better deal for Leeds commuters

Council and transport leaders and providers are joining forces to devise a master plan to determine the future of rail transport in the Leeds area and beyond.

Leeds City Council and Metro, the passenger transport executive, have forged a partnership with Network Rail to drive forward plans to secure the best possible facilities for the city’s train users.

The three organisations, working with business leaders, will pool their resources through a joint programme board to achieve their ambition of ensuring Leeds has the most modern rail infrastructure and train services it can get.

It will set a fresh vision for Leeds Station- a key gateway to the city used by over 100,000 people every day. Board members will consider whether current plans will deliver what is needed for passengers and for the city’s ambition to be the best city in the UK.

The board will drive projects such as the one providing a new southern entrance to the city centre railway station and ensure Leeds is central to future Network Rail plans for east-west and north-south rail services.

The joint-working approach comes as the Government last week confirmed plans for a high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham and its extension to Leeds and Manchester. The group will also work on how to best capitalise on the recently-confirmed electrification of the trans-Pennine rail track between the two big northern cities. Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan will chair the board.

Cllr Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for development, said:
“This new partnership is a real breakthrough in terms of how we plan rail transport to fit in with the city’s development. I’m very pleased that our chief executive, Tom Riordan, will be chairing this new group.

“By joining forces with Network Rail and Metro we are in a stronger position to both understand how Leeds can capitalise on its rail links and to lobby more powerfully for the best rail deal we can for the city region. A strong transport infrastructure and services will be crucial in under-pinning our ambition to be the best city in the UK.”

Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail, said:
“Leeds is one of the biggest cities on the LNE route and is an important transport hub for the north. It is also a dynamic, growing economy in its own right.

“Plans such as the northern hub demonstrate that Network Rail is committed to driving economic growth through improving the railways across the north. Working with partners in Leeds we will seek to make sure we deliver the best possible service for rail passengers in the city and the wider region.”

Metro director general Kieran Preston said:
“Firmly focused on improving the travel experience for rail passengers in Leeds the new board complements the work we are doing to improve rail services for the Leeds City Region and across the North of England.”


For media enquiries please contact:
Donna Cox, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 224 3335
e-mail: donna.cox@leeds.gov.uk

ENDS