Leeds station multi-storey car park re-opens – boasting the first Network Rail electric charging points

The multi-story car park at Leeds station, which has been closed since May 2019 to accommodate the construction of the new Platform Zero, has re-opened to the public this week.

The newly refurbished facility run by car park specialists APCOA boasts 307 pre-bookable spaces and, as part of the redevelopment work, 56 electric vehicle charging points have been installed – making Leeds the first major station to receive charging points as part of Network Rail’s commitment to install electric vehicle charging at their managed car parks by March 2024.

The points provide enough power to fully charge a vehicle within as little as two hours, meaning passengers can now re-charge their car while they travel by train. The new charging points are marked with green parking bays and passengers can pay for what they need quickly and easily via the APCOA Connect app. Throughout June, however, electric vehicle drivers can charge their cars for free, as part of a promotion to celebrate the reopening.

Jo Lewington, Network Rail’s Chief Environment & Sustainability Officer said: “As part of our wider Environmental Sustainability Strategy, we’re working towards delivering a low-emission railway, and supporting the move to electric and ultra-low emissions vehicles is a key part of that.

“We hope that by providing affordable, efficient and reliable charging points we can encourage more electric vehicles onto the road and help promote healthier air in and around our stations.”

The electric parking bays will be rolled out in two phases, with 30 going live from the beginning of June the other 26 coming on stream in the autumn.

The £161 million Platform Zero will mean major improvements to passenger journeys by providing more trains, more seats and fewer delays due to an improved track layout, allowing trains to enter and exit the station more easily.

• Network Rail has committed to installing electric vehicle charging points across 10 per cent of car parking spaces at their managed car parks by March 2024.
• The charging points are powered by guaranteed renewable energy.

Photo credit: Network Rail

Download article