Thorpe Park Rail Station: Phase 1 engagement

Please note that this is an archive copy of the phase 1 engagement website for Thorpe Park Rail Station. To keep the information we provide relevant we have updated the main engagement page (opens in a new page) in readiness for the next phase.

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Update (Autumn 2018):

A report has been produced that includes all the comments received during the engagement period (2 July – 3 August 2018) and this feedback is currently being considered by the rail team. The report can be found here.

We envisage that the outline business case for Thorpe Park Rail Station will be submitted to the Combined Authority during Summer 2019. Subject to approval of this business case submission, we will be in a position to provide further information on the next phase of public consultation.

If you haven’t done so already we encourage you to sign-up on yourvoice to be kept informed of future activity.
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Information provided for the engagement period 2 July - 3 August 2018

Transforming our rail network

In 2016 we started a conversation with people who live and work in Leeds about the future of transport in the city. We had more than 8,000 responses, with a clear message that you want to see improvements to public transport.

You told us what your issues are and what you would like us to change.

Your views helped us shape the vision for the city’s transport strategy, which led to the development of the Connecting Leeds vision.

Visit leeds.gov.uk/connectingleeds (opens in a new tab) for more information.

Improving our rail network is an important part of the strategy and we would like to improve journeys for existing passengers as well as attracting new users.

With significant development and investments across the city we must make sure our rail network connects us to where we want to go; within Leeds, regionally and nationally. We also want to make sure we are ready to maximise the benefits of future opportunities such as High Speed Two (HS2) and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

We want to provide better access to jobs and training opportunities, and reduce costly congestion on our roads and improve air quality, which means increasing the number of people choosing to travel by train, bus, bicycle and on foot.

We also want to encourage and enable further investment in new and better services, and ensure continual improvements that will benefit everyone. A new station could help achieve this and supplement investment that train operators are already putting into the route to create a high-quality rail network and increase the number of rail users.

Development of new rail stations

Planning and developing new rail stations for Leeds is being done in a number of phases. At this stage we have highlighted three areas around the city that have the potential for new stations. This potential is based on predicted rail user demand, potential development and the accessibility of the locations.

We are sharing initial plans for White Rose and Thorpe Park in July 2018 and intend to share plans for a Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway later in 2018.

The stations we are proposing are at their earliest stage of development and we will invite feedback from the public at a number of stages, as plans progress.

It is not known at this time if all three stations are possible, but we want to give you the opportunity to comment at every step along the way, and to keep you informed of progress.

Thorpe Park Rail Station

A new rail station with park and ride facilities is proposed at Thorpe Park on the Leeds to York/Selby line, approximately two kilometres east of the existing Cross Gates station.

A station at this site would benefit a large number of local residents who currently commute to central Leeds or to York by creating an attractive and efficient connection with reduced journey times to the city centres. It would also attract people commuting by car from further afield who currently travel through East Leeds neighbourhoods and would help to take cars off the road that will in turn improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.

The station could also offer opportunities for an interchange with bus services as these expand into the new housing areas to be developed in the East Leeds Extension and into Thorpe Park.

Objectives:

• Serve the established and expanding business park, providing improved transport links for employees and visitors
• Connecting people to jobs in existing and new developments around the area
• An accessible station for all users
• Better serve the local demand (with potential park and ride for commuters)
• Encourage more people to travel by public transport which in turn would improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions

To find out more about the whole programme, including bus consultations, visit

leeds.gov.uk/connectingleeds. If you have any questions, would like to receive more information by post, or would like a large print or braille copy of this leaflet, please contact us: transportprojects@westyorks-ca.gov.uk or 0113 245 7676.

A station at Thorpe Park could:

• Improve rail access for local residents in the East Leeds area
• Form part of wider plans for new transport infrastructure across the East Leed Extension, offering integrated public transport for existing and new residents
• Improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions by taking cars off the road
• Provide a potential park and ride for commuters with over 500 car parking spaces
• Serve the established and expanding business park, providing improved transport links for employees and visitors to new office, leisure and retail facilities
• Help employers have access to a wider labour network by creating a better connection to the city and beyond, and reducing journey times

Public engagement:

The engagement on these plans has now closed and all feedback is now being examined. Further information will be posted here when it becomes available.