Why 40p toilet charges are set to be abolished at Leeds train station

It's been described as a "long-overdue Christmas present for train passengers in the north.

Network Rail have said that doing away with the 40p charge is the first passenger improvement resulting from a Â£15 million benefits package, announced last week by rail minister Andrew Jones for Northern and TransPennine Express customers.

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Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street railway stations will also be free to use under the plans, which come into place next Monday.

Network Rail’s Martin Frobisher, managing director for the London North Western route, and Rob McIntosh, managing director for the London North Eastern & East Midlands route, said in a joint statement: “We welcome the rail minister’s funding package for passengers in the north. We will respond to this immediately and one of the first changes will be the removal of toilet charges at Manchester Piccadilly, Leeds and Liverpool Lime Street. This is a long-overdue Christmas present for train passengers in the north.”

The charges will be lifted on Monday December 17.

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It had been planned for April 1 2019, but has been brought forward.

The fee to use toilet facilities at Leeds train station are set to be scrapped

Last week the rail minister said the disruption suffered by train customers in the north had been “unacceptable.”

“Network Rail will spend an additional Â£15 million on a passenger benefits package for Northern and TransPennine Express customers,” he said.

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An industry-wide recovery project for performance for the north of England was now “focused on delivering reliable and punctual services that people can have confidence in,” he added.