Overview

It's a common problem with electric vehicle charging points that there is not enough space between the bays for wheelchair users to get out of and around the car and to the terminals. The multi-storey car park at Leeds station has EV chargers on the ground floor that are specifically for blue badge holders -- with the added advantage of easy access without the need for lifts (and another one on level 3). There are also many more EV chargers that do not require a blue badge, so if you require some space but do not have a blue badge, you might be able to find one next to some empty bays. There are 56 Type 2 7.4kW chargers in total that do not include a cable. Payment is via the APCOA or ScanPlay app. There is a QR code and a helpline number on the terminal. You also need to pay the regular car parking tariff and there is no exception for blue badge holders.

Transport & Parking

Confusingly, Google Maps and Zapmap put the pin to these chargers at the top of Aire Street, which almost made me think they didn't exist! Instead, navigate to the car park on Princess Square. The multi storey is, of course, close to the station. If you are coming not from the station but from City Square/Wellington Street via Aire Street, it goes downhill. There is a taxi rank and two bays for disabled parking at the side of the station. There are bus stops on Wellington Street and Boar Lane (on the other side of the station).

Access

If you approach the car park from the station, be aware that some of the dropped curbs are quite steep. The ground floor level is called level 2. There are three blue badge EV chargers on that level and you can reach them from the street without any steps. They are close to the front of the entrance. The terminals are mounted at the back between the bays at a decent height. Most of the writing on the terminal is not very large or high contrast (white on light green) and there are no alternative formats. There are two different lifts to access the other levels, one for odd levels and another for even levels. So you actually reach level three via a ramp to the left at the entrance to the carpark from the street. From there you can take the lift to levels 5 and 7. There is no braille on the outside of the lift. The lift and the lift lobby are not very big. There is a heavy manual door that opens into the lift lobby and there is an incline with a railing on the other side leading to the car parking area. More electric vehicle charging points are right there on the left and another blue badge EV charger bay is a little further down on the right. I think you can access the upper station level from level 3 of the car park, but I did not go looking for it and it was not obvious from that end.

Toilets

There are disabled toilets and a Changing Places toilet in the station.

Staff

Photos