Lines Served

There are direct services from Leeds to:

• London Kings Cross via the East Coast Mainline
• Birmingham and the south coast
• North-east England and Scotland
• Manchester and Liverpool
• Preston and Blackpool
• Lancaster and Carlisle
• as well as a wide range of local services

Layout

Overview

We're reliably informed that Leeds used to have two stations which have now been combined and redeveloped to form Leeds City Station. One consequence of this is that the concourse is divided into two parts, called the north and south concourse. For some historic reason, however, that which is called the south concourse lies north of the north concourse.

The two sections of the concourse are joined by a walkway, running north/south, past the travel centre which is on the east side of the station.

The gates towards the platforms leave from the southeast corner of the north concourse, opposite the main entrance.

There are 17 platforms, generally numbered from 1 to 17 from north to south. I say "generally" because there are some exceptions which need to be understood, see below.

Platforms 1 to 8 can be accessed directly from the gates. Two bridges, which we call west and east, connect the remaining platforms to this part of the station.

The west bridge is the main bridge, offering up-escalator, step and lift access throughout. There is also a down escalator from this bridge into the area inside the gates.

The east bridge only offers step access between platforms.

Readers should note that there's an emergency exit beyond the west end of platform 17, which, via a series of steps, emerges onto the canal tow path, to the south of the station.

The Platforms

I mentioned above that readers should note the exceptional layout of the platforms in this station. The following list is given for guidance.

• Platforms 1 to 6 are termini within the north section of the station. Tracks 3 and 4 do not extend as far east as tracks 1 - 2 and 5 - 6, hence these platforms are shorter than the others in this section.
• Platform 7 is a terminus platform to the east of the station, which shares part of the island platform with platform 8.
• Platforms 8, 9, 11, 12, 15 and 16 are bi-directional through platforms.
• Platform 8 shares its east section with platform 7 and its west with platform 6.
• The island platform 9 to 11 incorporates the bay platform 10 at the west end of platform 9.
• The island platform 12 to 15 incorporates the bay platform 13, sharing the west section of platform 12 and another bay, platform 14 shares the east section of platform 12. Platform 15, however, is much shorter than platform 12.
• Platforms 16 and 17 form the southern boundary of the station itself, however platform 17 is a bay platform, set into the west section of platform 16.

The Sub-division of Platforms

These platforms are divided into sections, which are labelled alphabetically from the west end. Here again, there's sufficient inconsistency about this for me to list them individually.

• Platforms 1 and 2 are each divided into three sections, A, B and C.
• Platforms 3 and 4, being shorter, are each divided into two sections, A and B.
• Platform 5 is divided into three sections, A, B and C.
• Platform 6, surprisingly enough, seems to be divided into two sections, A and C, though it's as long as platform 5.
• Platform 7 seems to be designated 7B, though we found no 7A.
• Platforms 8, 11 and 12 are divided into four sections, A through D.
• Platform 9 is divided into three sections, B, C and D.
• Platforms 10 and 13 are divided into two sections, A and B, though 13B seems almost non-existent.
• Platform 14 appeared to be divided into two sections, A and D, though 14A seemed almost non-existent.
• Platform 15 is divided into two sections, A and B. The exception here is that this platform extends both east and west of the west bridge, yet is much shorter than platform 12.
• Platform 16 is divided into two sections, A and B.
• Platform 17 has no sub-sections.

Accessibility

This station offers comprehensive step, escalator and lift access so it should be accessible to wheelchair and guide dog users.

Back Links

LEEDS CITY STATION

© 2005, Terry Robinson

This guide is sponsored by
The Strategic Rail Authority
to whom we extend our sincere thanks.