Leeds to Manchester is one of the most travelled routes in Yorkshire, everyday travellers from both cities travel between the two for work, business and entertainment.
Due to this, it is also one of the most crowded routes in Yorkshire as there is only one direct line to the city. The only other line passes through Bradford and takes significantly longer.
I decided it was time to check out the trains for myself and got on the Transpennine service to Liverpool Lime Street which said it would get me there in an hour. However, when I arrived at Leeds Train Station things already started to go wrong.
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I had bought an anytime day return to Manchester Piccadilly for the price of £37.00, not exactly a bargain. If I had bought the ticket in advance it would have been cheaper, but if you ever needed to head to Manchester in an emergency then you would be looking at a higher price.
The train was also late, only by five minutes but if you were looking to make a close connection or were in a rush this would definitely be a problem.
Inside the Transpennine train, it was fairly nice although you could tell the train was getting old. It had plenty of space to put your legs and a tray as well as catering in case you needed to eat. The ride was mostly smooth, although the train often shook due to the diesel engine and bumpy track, but it quickly became clear to me how dated the route itself was.
According to a rail expert, the electrification of rail networks across the UK should be a priority and, while sitting on the Leeds to Manchester train, I had to agree. The train was loud and it shook as a result of the diesel engine built into the train, an electric engine would have been a lot quieter.
This is without even mentioning the potential speed increases an electric engine would provide as well as the environmental benefits. An electric engine would definitely have made my ride to Manchester much more comfortable at the very least.
Fortunately, the train itself was not too full and I was able to get a seat, but train services earlier in the morning are often packed full of people who are forced to stand for the whole hour-long journey. An hour to cover around 45 miles does not sound like a bad deal either until you realise the speeds of trains in Europe.
A trip from Madrid to Segovia, around 50 miles, can be covered in just half an hour for around £20, according to Rail Europe, due to the high-speed rail system installed across Spain. Yorkshire was supposed to get its own in the form of HS2 but with the recent cancellation of the leg to Leeds, this is looking increasingly unlikely.
Finally, I arrived in Manchester, although I only made it as far as Manchester Victoria due to the train delays causing me to miss my connection, and all I could think about was how much better our train services could be.
