Leeds could learn from Europe on rail networks - YEP letters

Calls for the possible reopening of former rail stations in suburban Leeds such as Armley and Stanningley, as well as a new central station at Marsh Lane, have recently been in the news again and while laudable go nowhere near enough.
By Gemma Jimmison
Published 17th Jan 2020, 11:45 BST
Leeds Railway StationLeeds Railway Station
Leeds Railway Station

by James Bovington, Horsforth

Radical development and restructuring of the Leeds rail network is needed. I remain unconvinced of the merits of HS2 but if it comes to Leeds then it could approach the centre through a tunnel to a new station under Eastgate in the same way that a 10km tunnel will bring HS2 into Manchester.

A transverse wave west-east rail tunnel could serve new underground stations at places such as Leeds City Square, Millennium Square, Southbank and Eastgate with the tunnel extended to St James’s hospital where a major bus interchange could built.

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The benefit of a tunnel is that it allows fast direct access to major passenger objectives without having to follow a frequently Victorian street pattern. It’s also less disruptive to construct. Municipal trams to destinations like Roundhay and Seacroft could share the tunnel with regional trains on, for example, the Bradford line effectively putting north-east Leeds onto the national rail network.

Of course there are technical issues - more trains approach Leeds from the west than the east and the western end of the tunnel would require a long approach owing to trains on viaducts having to get into tunnel and then negotiate the river. We can do this surely?

Our leader Boris proposes a bridge to Ireland so an underground metro for Leeds is surely possible, or is this the most technically challenging venture ever faced by any city anywhere in any possible universe?

A station at Leeds Minster would also allow connections with HS2 and removal of many local trains for suburban destinations like Selby and Skipton would free up space in Leeds station for longer distance services, to Liverpool and Scarborough for example. These should also be electrified and could be more frequent with the local services in the tunnel.

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The fact is that this is exactly the sort of system that has been developed in cities even smaller than Leeds and its region such as Oslo and Zurich, Bergen and Zaragoza, Stuttgart and Leipzig. But of course in Blessed Blighty, led by Boris and the Brexiteers, why would anyone listen to my impertinence in suggesting that we could learn from elsewhere in Europe?

Related topics:LeedsEuropeArmleyEastgateHS2