FAQs
- Serve the established Thorpe Park development including business park, leisure and retail facilities, providing improved transport links for employees and visitors
- Connecting people to jobs in existing and new developments around the area
- Provide an accessible station for all users
- Better rail service for local demand (with park and ride for commuters)
- Encourage more people to travel by public transport
- Improve rail access for local residents in the East Leeds area
- Form part of wider connectivity for new transport infrastructure across the East Leeds Extension, offering integrated public transport for existing and new residents
- Improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions by taking cars off the road
- Provide station parking for commuters
- Help employers have access to a wider labour network by creating a better connection to the city centre, and reducing journey times
What has been done so far?
We are developing plans to build a new rail station with associated car park on the existing Leeds to York section of the Trans-Pennine railway line, between Cross Gates and Garforth Stations. The first phase of public engagement regarding this station took place 2 July - 3 August 2018 and a report was produced analysing the feedback we received during this period. Thorpe Park Rail Station received Outline Business Case approval in October 2021.
The station is currently in the design phase and producing the Full Business Case. This is due to be completed and submitted to our assurance panel in Spring/Summer 2024. Planning consent will be sought later this year, in Autumn 2023, with the delivery phase expected to begin in Summer 2024. The implementation of the scheme will be subject to the relevant rail industry approvals, availability of funding and technical and business case feasibility.
Where will the proposed Thorpe Park Station be located?
The station would be situated on the existing Leeds to York section of the Trans-Pennine railway line - between Cross Gates and Garforth Stations.
What other locations for the station have been considered?
Options for location have been driven by track alignment and positioning next to Cross Gates station to the West and constrained by the East Leeds Orbital Road (ELOR) rail bridge to the East. The proposed station is therefore located immediately on the straight section of track to the west of the ELOR bridge. This also conveniently aligns the location immediately adjacent to the Thorpe Park development.
What is the purpose of the station?
Improving the rail network is an important part of the strategy that aims to improve journeys for existing passengers, as well as attracting new users. With significant development and investment across the city, the rail network must connect people to where they want to go. It is also important to make sure Leeds is ready to maximise the benefits and future opportunities of Northern Powerhouse Rail. The station will also help to reduce road congestion, through reduced road journeys.
Thorpe Park Rail Station proposals have the following objectives and benefits:
When is it likely to be open?
The current programme envisages that the station will be in operation by December 2025.
What improvements will be made to the local road and pedestrian and cycling network surrounding the proposed Thorpe Park station?
Vehicle access to the station from Leeds and beyond would be via the M1 motorway (junction 46) accessing the southern end of the recently constructed East Leeds Orbital Route (ELOR). Vehicles would then drive along William Parkin Way and access the station car park from Manston Lane.
Pedestrian and cycle routes will be incorporated as part of the station and car park design. The Combined Authority are working to tie in the rail station with the existing pedestrian and cycle network within the Thorpe Park development and East Leeds Orbital Route.
Is the proposed railway station at Thorpe Park definitely going ahead and how will the new station be funded?
The project is currently working towards Full Business Case, where a detailed design will be brought forward. The delivery of the station beyond the Full Business Case is subject to the relevant approvals, as defined in the Leeds City Region Assurance Framework. Thorpe Park Station is being funded by Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme (LPTIP), West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund (WY+TF) and New Stations Fund (NSF).
How much will the new station cost?
The anticipated cost of the station is still being refined as part of the detailed design development process.
What provision will the station have for car parking?
At this stage, the exact number of car parking spaces is not known as the car park design is still in progress. However, it is envisaged to be between 300 and 800 spaces. The car park will include disabled bays and EV charging spaces.
Will a charge be made for parking at the station car park?
Most rail station car parks in West Yorkshire do not apply charging, however, some locations are charged on a case-by-case basis. Charging will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis if it is beneficial to the business and financial cases of the scheme which ultimately brings benefit to the passengers. No decision has been made about whether the rail user car parking will be charged or not at this stage; this will be determined at Full Business Case and reassessed throughout the scheme’s lifecycle.
Will buses serve the new railway station?
Development of suitable bus service provision to the station will be considered throughout the development of the project. The Combined Authority will continue to work with Leeds City Council and bus operators to deliver the most appropriate services that meets the needs of passengers.
Will the station be staffed?
Based on current assumptions the station will not be categorised as a staffed station. However, the provision of staff at the station is a commercial decision for the operator and we will be working closely with the operator to understand whether staff presence is required at the proposed station.
What passenger waiting facilities will the station have?
The specification for the station building and waiting facilities will be refined during detailed design. Current proposals include ticket machines and a covered seating area.
Will the station have facilities to purchase a ticket?
Ticket vending machines will be provided at the station.
Will the station have toilets?
The current design stipulates that the station will not include toilet facilities. However, all trains calling at the station are equipped with on-board toilet facilities.
Will the station have lifts and be compliant to modern accessibility standards?
Yes, the station will be designed to the latest accessibility standards which will include the provision of passenger lifts to the platforms.
Has an Environmental Impact Assessment been carried out?
An Environmental Impact Assessment is being carried out as part of the Full Business Case.
Will the station have CCTV?
The station will be covered by a CCTV system including cameras located throughout the station, platforms and car park.
What facilities will be provided for cyclists?
The station and car park design will incorporate cycle routes and secure cycling parking facilities.
What other engagement will be taking place in the future?
A period of consultation for the project will be taking place alongside the planning submission; anticipated to be in late 2023/early 2024. Updates will be posted on Your Voice and engagement activities will be assessed throughout the scheme’s progression.
How long will it take to walk from the car park to the station?
It is estimated that walking from the furthest point in the car park to the station will be approximately 8 minutes. Disabled bays and bus drop off/pick up infrastructure will be located next to the proposed underpass, which is located within 500m of the station.
Will this new station result in any closures of existing stations, or impact on current service provision?
There are no station closures anticipated associated with building the new station at Thorpe Park. Network Rail are currently undertaking a timetable study which will be reported in Summer 2023.
What train services will call at the station?
A timetabling study has been undertaken and it is currently envisaged that 3 train services will call per hour during peak times, with 2 trains per hour during off-peak times. The Combined Authority are in consultation with the Train Operating Companies to identify the most suitable timetable solution.
Is the track bed wide enough for 4 tracks?
The track bed through the bridge at William Parkin Way will be wide enough to accommodate 4 tracking. In other areas through the Thorpe Park site, earthworks will be needed to extend the cutting and embankments in order to enable 4 tracking. This will be managed by the Transpennine Route Upgrade project.
Will the station be constructed to accommodate faster train services?
Faster train services are an anticipated benefit of 4 tracking through the station site.
Will the line be electrified or will there be passive provision for electrification?
The line will be electrified as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade. In the meantime, there will be passive provision as part of the Thorpe Park project.
Are the faster trains going to overtake the stopping services on the line?
It is anticipated that faster trains will have the ability to overtake stopping services on the line as part of the 4 tracking.
How many carriages will the platforms be able to accommodate? Will this cater for future growth?
The platforms at Thorpe Park will be approximately 150m long which can accommodate 6 carriages. The platforms will cater to the current rolling stock plus an additional 50m passive provision for future extension if the rolling stock increases.
When will the Transpennine Route Upgrade be delivered? And how will this affect Thorpe Park Station?
The Thorpe Park Station project has a close interface with the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) and the project is working closely with TRU to minimise passenger disruption. However TRU is not being delivered as part of this project, for further information on TRU please visit their website.
What timetable changes will be implemented to accommodate the new station?
The project is currently undergoing consultation with the Train Operating Companies to discuss a suitable timetable for the station.
How will this station affect the stopping services at other local stations?
The Combined Authority with Network Rail are in consultation with the Train Operating Companies to review the Leeds to York rail corridor, to enable adequate provision for all stations in the area.
Will building this station make my journey even more crowded? Are there plans to increase the rolling stock on this line?
The Combined Authority are in consultation with the Train Operating Companies (TOC) over the service level that will be provided at Thorpe Park Station, this includes discussions around any increase in rolling stock. Thorpe Park Station has an interface with the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) and one of the objectives of TRU is to provide more frequent and faster trains by increasing the capacity of the line which we envisage will reduce overcrowding on services.
Who will be responsible for operating and managing the station?
It is currently envisaged that Northern will be responsible for operating and managing the station.