I've just started working in Leeds and wondered how other people who work there manage it. I've been driving to Outwood and getting the train in, which costs £2.90/day, and the parking's free - but i'm spending more on petrol and it's really tiring.

I'm thinking about parking at Meadowhall and getting the train in, but I just need to work out which way is the cheapest.. I'd park at Sheffield but it's £6.60/day parking, on top of train fare.

Does anyone have any advice on the best season tickets etc? Or alternative routes?

Thanks

Simplest and best value might be a Sheff-Leeds rail season ticket, plus whatever pass you'd prefer to get to Sheff station from your house (which you can also use in your leisure time don't forget - eg tram/bus whatever). Then you could leave the car at home altogether.

Go from Sheff station rather than Meadowhall and you can also get the express trains that don't stop at Meadowhall, as well as the stoppers. You'd still have the option of driving to any station on your route if you preferred that on any particular day.

or see if anyone will car-share with you?

I live in Leeds and work in Sheff so if you work nights can do a car share ;)

having spent ages research train and bus times and prices to get to work at Jimmys in Leeds I have concluded that it is more convenient to drive and balances out cost-wise at the moment on what I spend on petrol monthly compared to month passes on the train and buses. Also means I get to work in an hour and get home in just over an hour.

I have been travelling to leeds for 6 month now and found:
Cheapest - National Express from either Meadowhall or Sheffield. Return can be as cheap as 3.75 depending on type of ticket (this is a season ticket type)
Its also comfier / cleaner than train and only takes a little longer than the fastest train.

Fastest- Driving, when you include time saved in not getting to / from stations and waiting times.

I commute everyday to Leeds and have been doing so since June. I get the 7.10 Virgin fast train from Sheffield which stops at wakefield westgate and leeds and takes about 50 mins, occasionally I get the the 7.51 which stops at meadowhall, barnsley and wakefield kirkgate and takes about 1 hour. I pay £153.25 per month for a sheffield to leeds season ticket which includes a 5% discount that the train companies give depending on their performance. As far as I am aware that is the cheapest way of doing the train from sheffield if you work 9-5.

Isn't there a combined S Yorks and W Yorks travelcard (all trains, trams and buses in both counties)? I'm sure I read about that somewhere not long back. Might only have been a one-day off-peak one though, so no good for commuting.

You could buy both counties' travelcards separately for 68.50 (S Yorks) plus 89.50 (W Yorks) = £158/month. But I suppose that wouldn't cover the express trains as the next stop from Sheff is Wakey (in W Yorks).

I drive to leeds every weekday and it costs me £50 in petrol(per Week):)

Can you get a longer & cheaper season ticket? Plus how much is a bus seasn ticket for getting to and from the train station?

I've just started working in Leeds and wondered how other people who work there manage it. I've been driving to Outwood and getting the train in, which costs £2.90/day, and the parking's free - but i'm spending more on petrol and it's really tiring.

I'm thinking about parking at Meadowhall and getting the train in, but I just need to work out which way is the cheapest.. I'd park at Sheffield but it's £6.60/day parking, on top of train fare.

Does anyone have any advice on the best season tickets etc? Or alternative routes?

Thanks

When I commuted from Sheffield to Leeds (about 6 years ago) I started by driving to Outwood and then getting the train in (you can get a season ticket from Outwood to Leeds).

I then found a cheeky little parking space about a 10 min walk from the city centre near the old Gas works on an industrial estate - I think it has since been changed where you have to pay on a meter.

In the end I got feed up with commuting and got a job back in Sheffield, I hated working in Leeds anyway. It was the best thing I've done job wise, no more 3 hours a day commuting!

I drive to leeds every weekday and it costs me £50 in petrol(per Week):)

Me too- Anyone know where to get tax free petrol? That would reduce our costs a load..

hi, thanks for all your replies, very helpful and much appreciated! i work 9ish-5ish at Princes Exchange NHS, which is right by the station, but there's no parking there otherwise i'd probably drive all the way, but it's so knackering cos you've got to concentrate the whole time. And with all the faffing about at train stations, just missing one and having to wait half an hour for the next it probably doesn't save much time. i do know someone who works in Leeds - I'll ask him if he fancies car-sharing. I just need to find a side road somewhere so i can park for nowt. I'm going to try Meadowhall tomorrow, only because it's free parking, although I think they're geting ****** off with commuters parking for free... At least if you're on a train you can read a book or sleep for a bit..

I'll look into the season tickets too. i went on-line earlier but there didn't seem to be that much info. I'd rather not have to work in Leeds but career-wise it's a good move - for now. And i lived in London for years so nothing will ever be as expensive, stressful or exhausting as trying to get from A-B!! But even so, would be nice not to have to knacker meself too much.

Thanks again for your suggestions.
*Mwah* xxx

. I'm going to try Meadowhall tomorrow, only because it's free parking, although I think they're geting ****** off with commuters parking for free... *Mwah* xxx

There is a free park and ride on the other side of the bus station. Dont risk getting clamped in the shoppers car parks. They do check cause i seen them noting number plates one morning when I used to park there before finding out the park n ride was free anyway- and just as close

hi - do you mean drive to Meadowhall bus station, park for free and get bus to train bit? soz, bit thick.

hi - do you mean drive to Meadowhall bus station, park for free and get bus to train bit? soz, bit thick.

:huh: eh? lol , Drive to Meadowhall park n ride, then park- n ride! (on the train to Leeds):)

Oh i See!! If i could find a smilie i'd put one in. i'll give it a go tomorrow. Ta!

You could buy both counties' travelcards separately for 68.50 (S Yorks) plus 89.50 (W Yorks) = £158/month. But I suppose that wouldn't cover the express trains as the next stop from Sheff is Wakey (in W Yorks).

Him Indoors has been commuting from Sheffield/Meadowhall to Guiseley (i.e. into Leeds and back out again) by doing this - it's marginally quicker than driving, even with the bike ride to and from the station and it does work out cheaper to get the 2 counties' monthly passes than a straight point to point season ticket.
Now the state of the service they provide is a whole different matter....

Found the park and ride bit at Meadowhall this morning ok, and had a sleep on the train. Bliss!

Isn't there a combined S Yorks and W Yorks travelcard (all trains, trams and buses in both counties)? I'm sure I read about that somewhere not long back. Might only have been a one-day off-peak one though, so no good for commuting.

You could buy both counties' travelcards separately for 68.50 (S Yorks) plus 89.50 (W Yorks) = £158/month. But I suppose that wouldn't cover the express trains as the next stop from Sheff is Wakey (in W Yorks).

You do need to buy both area travelcards - although stupidly that works out a little cheaper than a season ticket :loopy: on top of which you can use the tram or bus to get to the station! You can't use those tickets on Virgin Train services, but you can use them on the 'Yorkshire Express' that stops at Barnsley (and you always get a seat on that service!)