Hi,

i had a job interview today at yorkshire forward in leeds, they are based next to the halifax building opposite asda house. (5 mins walk from leeds station).

I got the train from sheffield and it took me about an hour this morning on the 7.50 train (i think it was a fast train) and an hour and a half back at about 12.00 on a northern service (which was definatly a slow train).

Realistically, how reliable is commuting to leeds like this everyday - are the trains overcrowded like the commuter trains in london? and what sort of time would i need to leave sheffield train station to get to work for 9?

also, how much does it cost? I bought a one day return today for £8.90 but is there a monthly pass available, and would getting a student railcard make a difference?

any advice is very much appreciated

thanks, harriet

Ask Andy C. He's the expert on those things :thumbsup:

What are you considering as an alternative - by car? Because if so I wouldn't recommend a regular commute by car. My daughter is at Leeds met uni and the other week she stayed over on the Sunday night instead of going back up. She left Sheffield at 7.30 am and didn't get to uni while 9.35 (she had to go to the Headingly side of Leeds).

Hope this helps

My mate commutes to leeds, he did it by train for about 3 weeks thren gave in and now drives, possibly to the same place you do. His car broke down on the motorwa today but generally he finds it better than the train but still a complete nightmare. Shall get him to give you his opinion when i see him!

my boyfriend has our car since he commutes to asda in lutterworth everyday so the other option would be not to take the job if i'm offered it really. It's only for a year placement, so i just wondered if it's do-able by train for a year really.

I commuted for four or so years to contracts in Leeds, finishing last May.

Drove, train and coach - driving was OK in convenience but expenssive if you had to pay the parking.

Train was a pain most of the time.

Coach was pretty good, and eventually used that. 50 minutes to an hour form Sheffield Interchange to the Coach Station in Leeds. 5.50 a day return.

Joe

thanks for all the information everybody. Does anyone know if you can get weekly/monthly passes for the trains - how much would it cost and how does it work? do i need a photo etc?

Andy C is still the best person to ask. He works for a train company

Hi,
you can get a season ticket which is £40 per week for sheff to Leeds and can use it anytime ie. before 9am. However, have a student pass but can only get the third off when travelling after 9am. I tend to still pay the daily £8.90 three days a week and then £4.80 I think for the other two instead of the £40 as it works out about the same.

I get the 8.50am train most days and it can be full but it's mostly been on time. The virgin trains are faster, just 40 mins but still can be pretty busy in the evening too.

so does the student card get money off the £40 pass? and is the student card valid for the evening journey say at 5.30pm?

Hi, the student card can be used for the 5pm trains, it's just not valid before 9am.

I don't think there is any discount from the £40 season ticket for the week with the student card.

thanks very much bulldog D :)

just to let everyone know that i've accepted the 1 year placement with yorkshire forward. I'll give the train a go, and maybe try the coach if the trains are bad!

If you are commuting then a Young Persons Railcard is not really suitable, as there are minumum fares before 10am (except in the summer holidays) and no discounts on season tickets.

You are better with a season ticket, available as a weekly pass, monthly pass, or anything you like above a month up to a maximum of a year. Basically the longer the season ticket you buy in one go, the better value it works out.

Limited stop trains run twice an hour from Sheffield to Leeds, at 21 and 51 minutes past the hour, and return from Leeds at 10 and 16 minutes past the hour. There are other trains inbetween too, but are much much slower.

Limited stop trains take between 40 and 60 minutes, stopping trains take about 75-80 minutes.

For train times and regular fares, plus real time train running news, visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.

To check season ticket prices visit http://www.firsttranspennine.trainsfares.co.uk/LandingPage.asp?sitecode=FTP

thanks andy, thats really cleared the whole pricing thing up for me! I think a season ticket is the best way to go as it seems it is more flexible in when you can travel for a certain price.
I will be getting to sheffield station at 7.00am. If i get the 7.21 train and arrive in leeds at 8.21 i'll be earlier than i'd like but I have time for window shopping and a cup of tea! If i get the 7.51 train and arrive at 8.51 then i'll be pushing it and will be late if trains are delayed. Thanks once again, I feel i know my options now!

Here is a list of morning train times

dep Sheff 0712 arr Leeds 0752 (Virgin)
dep Sheff 0714 arr Leeds 0827 (Northern)
dep Sheff 0751 arr Leeds 0849 (Northern)
dep Sheff 0821 arr Leeds 0905 (Virgin)

Here is a list of afternoon train times

dep Leeds 1634 arr Sheff 1756 (Northern)
dep Leeds 1710 arr Sheff 1751 (Virgin)
dep Leeds 1716 arr Sheff 1814 (Northern)
dep Leeds 1734 arr Sheff 1857 (Northern)
dep Leeds 1810 arr Sheff 1851 (Virgin)
dep Leeds 1816 arr Sheff 1913 (Northern)

You will need a passport sized photograph to buy your first season ticket by the way, as a photocard is required.

Also if you are buying a monthly or longer pass, you will be required to fill in a form so the ticket office staff can put your details on computer, in case you should lose it, so allow a bit of extra time for this.

thanks i've just been exploring that site which lets you buy tickets (i don't have a photocard or number but when i entered 123456 it showed me the prices for season tickets of different time lengths). The form you have to fill in - do you have to do that even if you buy your season ticket online?

would it be realistic to commute to leeds met uni?
or would halls be easier... i just cant decide!

no1 got any tips then :confused:

If you're studying in Leeds, you're probably better off living there.

Uni life usually revolves around socialising and you won't really make close friends if they're all off out later and you can't go because you're catching the train home!

i'd reccomend halls, i couldn't have done with commuting to sheffield from leeds for uni for 3 years, you may feel motivated now, but will you always bother to go in for those 9 o clock lectures when you know you have to come all the way back at 11?

depends on your personality. some people are freaked out by the living away from home.

You could start by commuting, and when you've settled in - move to halls. Spaces usually become available as people drop out or move out coz the halls don't suit them

ive decided to stay in halls... will be brill and i need the independence away from home.
cant wait now :clap: