£46.1m Leeds Station Gateway fully opens to passengers

The £46.1m Leeds Station Gateway fully opened today (Monday 9 November), completing the transformation of the main entrance to Leeds City Station.

Leeds City Council delivered the scheme, formally the Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway, on behalf of Network Rail and in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which funded it.

Lifts and taxi rank at Leeds Station Gateway

The final safety hoardings and barriers came down today after testing of the passenger lifts linking New Station Street and Bishopgate Street. The steps between the two streets also opened. Public realm work on New Station Street, now pedestrianised with more seating, and the pavement along Bishopgate Street opened in recent weeks, following the phased opening the council set out in September.

A new taxi rank on Bishopgate Street also comes into use today. Hackney carriages can pick up there as well as at the existing rank on Princes Square at the rear of the station.

The gateway was built alongside essential maintenance to the station’s underground supporting structure. Enabling works began in 2022 and engineering work started in May 2023. The council said combining the projects gave better value for money and less long-term disruption than delivering them separately.

Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Currently, Leeds Station handles more than 27 million passengers a year, with footfall inside the station rising six percent year on year and is now busier than before COVID.”

James said the council had worked with groups across the city so the new facilities are more pedestrian-friendly and allow people to board taxis more safely.

“The transformed new gateway gives commuters and visitors an improved first impression of the city and easier access to everything Leeds has to offer, paving the way for the wider transformation of the station in the years ahead.”

Jason Hamilton, Route Director North and East, Network Rail

The wider Leeds City Station transformation

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “Leeds Station is the front door to West Yorkshire, and we thank people for their patience throughout this transformation, which creates a more welcoming and accessible gateway for residents, commuters and visitors.”

The Leeds Station Gateway opens ahead of a bigger programme at the station itself. The recent Budget confirmed a further £200m of government money on top of the £100m already committed. The council said the funding will add space and improve passenger facilities and accessibility, with almost 12 million extra passengers expected to use the station by 2043.

The station work is designed to prepare for phase one of Northern Powerhouse Rail and the £11bn Transpennine Route Upgrade, which aims to raise passenger capacity by 30% and electrify key routes across the North.

Sources: Leeds City Council news release, 9 November 2026