Wakefield Council has been urged to mount a campaign to call for improved facilities at the city’s Kirkgate railway station.
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00:00Wakefield Council has been urged to mount a campaign to call for improved facilities
00:07at the city's Kirkgate railway station.
00:10The local authority looks set to put pressure on Rail Operator Northern to provide better
00:15services for passengers, including a manned ticket office and toilets.
00:20The issue was raised at a recent council meeting.
00:23Councillor Salim said he had met with residents who used the station after receiving complaints.
00:29Councillor Morley said the matter had been raised with West Yorkshire Mayor Tracey Braben
00:34at a recent question and answer session held at Capa College.
00:39Councillor Morley said that we have had correspondence with Northern.
00:43They are doing some work and they have identified a site for a potential toilet which is most
00:49welcome.
00:50They went on to say that I'm sure as a council we would get behind any campaign to get a
00:55ticket office there.
00:57It's one of the busiest stations that we've got in Wakefield.
01:00He then went on to say that it should be manned and it is something that we should campaign
01:04on.
01:05The Grade 2 listed station was the city's first, built in 1854.
01:10The station underwent a £5.6 million refurbishment, completed in 2015, following a fundraising campaign
01:17after it was dubbed the worst in Britain.
01:19Improvements at the time included a new café and upgraded passenger facilities with better
01:24CCTV lobby and subway.
01:27In 2020, complaints were made that passengers were being forced to huddle under the subway
01:31beneath the station during cold weather due to a lack of shelter.
01:36People using platforms 2 and 3 said they have been left exposed to the elements since a waiting
01:42room was demolished.