Wendy Morton, the rail minister, has praised the new £161m upgrade to Leeds station which will transform rail journeys across Yorkshire.
The Minister met with former apprentices and Network Rail staff who have helped deliver the upgrades to the Trans Pennine Route.
New tracks and longer platforms are included in the £161m upgrade which will provide passengers with more seats, services, and more punctual journeys.
The Leeds station upgrade forms part of the Government’s £96bn Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) aimed at transforming rail connections in the North and Midlands.
Speaking on the upgrade Rail Minister Wendy Morton said: “Leeds station is a major hub right at the heart of the North. It is not only a gateway to one of the UK’s most vibrant and lively cities but a vital transport link.”
She added that this would enable people from all over the country to travel for work, pleasure and connect with friends and family. These upgrades are a huge milestone and will go a long way to delivering a modern, fully connected transport hub fit for the future. Passengers should also see improvements to journey times much sooner than under previous plans with the IRP.
Councillor James Lewis said that the upgrades at Leeds station were an important milestone in the continued ambitions to modernise Leeds rail connections.
The upgrades are a first step towards beginning to address the capacity issues at Leeds station.
“We will work with the government to secure a robust strategy for ongoing enhancements to improve connectivity for Leeds that will benefit Yorkshire, the North and the UK.”
Upgrades to Leeds station were completed by engineers over the New Year break.
