MAJOR £161 million upgrade works have been completed at Leeds railway station, which the Government has said will "boost reliability and punctuality" of trains.

The works have been finished at Leeds Station over the festive period, with workers on-site around the clock completing the upgrades.

It caused major disruption over the festive period for people planning on travelling by rail.

The works have resulted in platforms being lengthened, a new Platform 0 built, and a new concourse, modernising the station and allowing longer trains and more services to stop at the station.

It is hoped the improvements will also boost the reliability and punctuality of services entering the station, the Government said.

Wendy Morton, minister for rail, is visiting the station today to see the upgrades and meet staff who carried out the work.

She said: “These upgrades are a huge milestone making journeys even easier, providing passengers with more seats, more services and more punctual journeys, all while building upon our unprecedented Integrated Rail Plan - delivering a modern, fully connected transport hub fit for the future quicker than under previous plans.”

The recently published Integrated Rail Plan revealed a massive downgrade of the previously promised Northern Powerhouse Rail.

The plans, first revealed nine years ago, for a new high speed line between Leeds and Manchester (which it was hoped would run through Bradford) have been scrapped, replaced by mere upgrades to the existing system.

These include full electrification of the Calder Valley line between Leeds and Bradford, which the Government says will cut journey times to just 12 minutes between the two cities.

Work is also beginning on a new West Yorkshire-wide tram system under the Government's plans.

Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, added: "These upgrades will improve the passenger experience and are a first step towards beginning to address our capacity issues at Leeds train station."