The Leeds Station capacity improvements has been awarded an ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating.
The BREEAM rating system is a globally recognized assessment method for the sustainability of buildings and infrastructure. The successful capacity improvements will improve sustainability and the surrounding environment with the project team estimating that the improvements will save over 144 tonnes of CO2e each year – the equivalent of emissions of over 300 cars.
Leeds Station is one of the busiest railway stations in the UK, with over 30 million passengers passing through each year. In recent years, there have been significant improvements to the station's capacity, as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
There are a number of factors that have contributed to the excellent BREEAM rating at Leeds Station, including:
- The use of sustainable materials, such as recycled concrete and timber.
- The installation of energy-efficient lighting and heating systems.
- The use of rainwater harvesting to collect and reuse water.
- The development of a green roof to help improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.
Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn said: “The awarding of excellent in BREEAM infrastructure for the work at Leeds station is testament to all the staff involved and to the sustainable ethos of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.
“Rail travel is vital to the people of Leeds and this recognition shows how sustainability is being built into the future of rail travel across the North of England.”
Neil Holm, managing director of Transpennine Route Upgrade said: “Sustainability is at the heart of the Transpennine Route Upgrade and the recognition from BRE Global for our work at Leeds Station pays tribute to our ambitions.
“Leeds is a key station on the Transpennine Route Upgrade and to deliver this vital work while making major carbon savings, engaging the community and creating jobs sets a blueprint for the rest of our programme.”
During the capacity upgrades at the station, design and construction teams reduced materials and waste which resulted in a saving of over 144 tonnes of CO2e. This included finding efficiencies through delivering some track upgrades at Category 4 instead of Category 2, reducing the quantity of materials used. They also changed two OLE portals to Twin Track Cantilevers (TTCs) and removed four OLE structures.
Photo Credit: Network Rail
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