A transparent roof made from the fluorine-based co-polymer material ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) will replace the existing dark and tired wooden roof in the southern concourse of Leeds station.
ETFE, which has been used at Birmingham New Street, Carlisle Citadel, and Manchester Piccadilly stations, is much lighter than glass, offers greater light transmission and is shatterproof.
The announcement was made by Network Rail and the East Coast Main Line Railway Board – one of many boards established in 2017 for Network Rail to “to get closer to [its] customers” – as part of the masterplans for the country’s 12th busiest station.
The lightweight design is the first of several upgrades to be announced at Leeds station in the coming weeks.
A CGI of Leeds station released by Atkins, which is leading a consortium of Gensler, Bilfinger, GVA, Faithful + Gould, Albion Economics and BAM Construction for the planning and design work for the station.
Chair of the East Coast Main Line Railway Board Sir Gary Verity said: “Leeds Station is a main gateway into Yorkshire so it’s crucial people coming to visit the county are given a great first impression of the city of Leeds – now one of Europe’s most dynamic and vibrant cities.
“It was also important to the Board that passengers who use Leeds station everyday have a station they can be proud of.”
Construction of the new roof will begin in the coming weeks with scaffolding in the concourse to support a crash deck below the existing roof.
With a dedicated design and construction team in place, the project is scheduled to be completed in under a year.
Read more: Transforming Carlisle Citadel station through the use of ETFE
