Shortly after passing under the redundant bridge 361 (blocked off on one side), an ancient right-of-way crosses the trackbed on the level, though only for pedestrian traffic.

A single short building provides basic services, including a booking office and refreshment servery, a waiting room, and toilet facilities (see History).

[2] Belgrave and Birstall station was built as a part of the Great Central Railway's London Extension and opened to passengers on 15 March 1899.

Built within the tight constraints of a cutting, Belgrave and Birstall was the only rural station on the London Extension to have no goods facilities.

[9] As late as spring 1972 the action group was not yet allowed access to the site to repair vandalism, and buildings were in a dangerous condition which would require "substantial rebuilding".

This company had subsequently obtained a Light Railway Order (LRO) to allow the heritage line to operate its own trains without British Rail supervision.

To the immediate south of the station, a new road from Mowmacre Hill to Redhill roundabout would cut through the railway's embankment.

[18] By late 1987, however, it seemed that through co-funding via Leicester City, who planned to build a museum 'Industrial village' adjacent to the site, a wholly new station to the south of Belgrave and Birstall would be built, requiring the removal of the existing platform.

Feasibility studies for the industrial museum were put on hold, which in turn required the retainment of the island platform for longer than planned.

[18] In early 1989, plans were submitted for extending track from the limit of the existing LRO into the land under jurisdiction of Leicester City Council.

Michael Heseltine MP, flanked by the replica of Stephenson's Rocket and No.35005 Canadian Pacific, each running into its own platform at Leicester North.

[7][27] The inclusion of a run-round loop at Leicester North removed the need for push-pull operation between Birstall and Rothley and through services from Loughborough Central could begin.

The problems of travellers camping on the small car park at the top of "The Sidings" access road was remedied in 1998 by the installation of a lockable gate.

[31] In late 1998, planning permission was granted for a modest construction on the down platform, intended as waiting room, booking office and toilet.

[30] Following a £30,000 bequest to the MLST by the Edith Murphy Trust, only £20,000 remained to be raised at the time the drawings of the new building were first published[32] The ceremonial "Cutting of the first sod" by the Countess of Lanesborough took place on 9 March 1999 as part of the railway's centenary celebrations, with contractors beginning work on the foundations on 19 April[33] and was completed by late June.

[35] Brickwork was complete to roof level by late January 2000,[36] with a variety of fitting-out, including connection to services and the installation of roller-shutter doors, plastering, and decoration, taking place throughout mid-2000.

Over the weekend of 2 and 3 September 2006, Leicester North hosted the commemorative speeches marking the 40th anniversary of the closure of the Great Central as a through route from Sheffield to London.