Recommendation 14

HM Government · verbatim extract Accepted in Part

The Government accepts this recommendation, subject to the future conclusions of the HS2 to Leeds Study. Previous development work at Leeds as part of NPR, as well as work by Network Rail, has identified the need for additional infrastructure at the station. Work is underway with local partners to ensure Leeds station has capacity to meet the additional services outlined in the IRP by 2035. If required, work to accommodate any further commitments that may arise from the HS2 to Leeds Study will be scoped once it completes and may not be required until after 2035. The first set of interventions in the Leeds Existing Station Programme are now in the design phase, to provide a future- proofed level of capacity for passenger circulation within Leeds station, better access to the Southbank, and potential future access to the mass transit network. As part of the Leeds Area Improvement Programme, Network Rail is developing a series of options to increase network capacity, including platform extensions and improvements to station approaches at the western end of Leeds station. These will all be subject to further investment decisions in line with the RNEP process. Further improvements to platform capacity and to the station approaches are being developed to support the NPR core scheme. Safeguarding of the proposed HS2 route remains in place around Leeds, and the Government expects it to remain so until the conclusion of the HS2 to Leeds Study allows a firm view to be taken on how HS2 trains could reach Leeds. The Government will continue working with local partners on infrastructure plans at Leeds, to maximise the development that can take place, as well as helping to deliver value for the taxpayer.