Leeds Railway Station's £300m upgrade should include Platform 17 extension: Yorkshire Post Letters

It is excellent news that Leeds railway station is to be transformed by a £300 million refurbishment and improvement (The Yorkshire Post, October 29). Almost everything that we have read is overdue and to be applauded. However, we have two concerns.

Firstly, I have not seen any mention of the much needed extension to Platform 17, to enable the very popular and often overcrowded Leeds to Nottingham and Lincoln services to be formed of three or four carriages, rather than the present two.

Additionally, more points need to be installed to enable more flexible use of platforms.

Secondly, we understand – hopefully incorrectly- that the toilets currently on the concourse will be moved to a lower level. This is not acceptable.

Toilets must be conveniently sited, and speedily and easily accessible by all passengers, including disabled people, and those with luggage, pushchairs and bikes. Similarly, we understand that the Boots and WHSmith’s shops will be relocated downstairs.

People in a hurry want quick access to buy medicines and make-up, cards and magazines, sandwiches and bottled drinks. We hope we are wrong, but if these passenger amenities are planned to be located downstairs, then we ask Network Rail to think again.

Many passengers are in a hurry. The station must make passenger convenience a priority.

Finally, we observe on one of the visuals a new, larger, First Class lounge.

Under GBR, this must be available to all First Class passengers, and not just LNER passengers as at present.