Passengers in Yorkshire are being urged to check before travelling by Network Rail if they need to travel over the late May bank holiday weekend as important work is taking place in the region.
Network Rail engineers will be continuing the work on the new platform, platform 0, at Leeds station. Engineers will be installing the track for the first time along with the signalling systems and equipment.
On the 26th May, the temporary platform one will replace the current platform one until November 2020. The work will involve installing new switches and crossover.
The work is part of a £161m investment into the railway at Leeds for a new platform. More trains can stop at Leeds once the new platform is installed, creating a better connection for Yorkshire.
Platforms 1 to 5 will be closed from Saturday 23rd May until Tuesday 26th May. This means that there will not be any direct trains between Leeds and Harrogate. If you are classed as a key worker and need to travel between Leeds and Horsforth, there will be a replacement bus in place for them. Additionally, trains from Carlisle will start and terminate at Skipton.
Credit: Langton Photography
In addition to the work at Leeds, Network Rail will be working on upgrading the track between Wakefield Westgate and Leeds.
This additional work means there will be a reduced train service at Wakefield Westgate station on Sunday 24th May. Trains between Wakefield Westgate and Leeds/ Sheffield/ Doncaster and between Leeds and Knottingley will be affected.
Matt Rice, Route Director for Network Rail's North and East Route, said: “The work we are carrying out over the Bank Holiday weekend will help to improve the railway in West Yorkshire, bringing benefits for the wider region. The work we are doing at Leeds station will bring us one step closer to completing the construction of Platform 0, which will allow more trains to run, better connect towns and cities across the North and help to reduce delays for passengers. The work to upgrade the track between Wakefield and Leeds will improve the reliability of the railway, something which is particularly important during the Covid-19 crisis as critical workers, such as doctors, nurses and supermarket workers, as well as freight services transporting medical and food supplies, rely on the railway. We strongly advise those who need to travel over the Bank Holiday weekend to check before travelling via National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator and we would like to thank people for following the Government's advice on public transport use. Please continue to avoid public transport where possible, and where you do have to use it, follow the guidance on social distancing and allow more time for your journey.”
Credit: Langton Photography
A spokesperson on behalf of train operators in Yorkshire said: “Over the Bank Holiday weekend, Network Rail is carrying out various improvements projects across West Yorkshire, meaning changes for customers travelling on these routes. We'd urge anyone who must travel to follow Network Rail's advice and check their journey ahead of time as there are changes to services. We'd like to thank all those who are impacted by this work, and we look forward to them reaping the benefits once upgrades complete.”
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So what is platform 0 going to be used for. Local services across West Yorkshire including Bradford Forster Square, Shipley, Skipton, Doncaster and Harrogate.