Train Travel

Travelling to Leeds by train

Our station is one of the busiest in the country, and services bring in eager visitors from inbound arrivals at hubs like London Heathrow or Manchester airport. Leeds is well served by national rail operators and getting to Leeds by train is quick and easy. LNER run direct trains into Leeds from London with most journey times taking just over two hours, while Edinburgh is only three hours away. TransPennine Express run direct train services from Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Scarborough. Northern Rail runs journeys to Nottingham, Skipton, Hull, Blackpool, Knaresborough and Ilkley to name but a few. There are also direct services from Birmingham and Bristol via CrossCountry.

 

Top tip: booking your train tickets in advance and direct with the train company can result in saving on the ticket price, so why not use the Northern Rail Journey Planner to book your next trip now? 

Mini guide to the quickest direct trains to Leeds

Frequent inner city routes connect us to nearly every major UK city, including speedy services from London run by LNER, linking with the Eurostar at St Pancras to bring the continent within reach, with Brussels and Paris are five hours away.

  • York: 22m
  • Sheffield: 40m
  • Manchester: 49m
  • Newcastle: 1h 24m
  • Hull: 58m
  • London: 2h 16m
  • Derby: 1h 15m
  • Nottingham: 1h 43m
  • Scarborough: 1h 22m
  • Liverpool: 1h 24m
  • Birmingham: 1h 57m
  • Carlisle: 2h 48m
  • Edinburgh: 2h 54m
  • Bristol: 3h 26m
  • Glasgow: 4h 07m

City Transformations

Leeds is currently undergoing a period of development of its public realm to create a more sustainable and pedestrian friendly city centre. Plans to transform City Square and the area surrounding the railway station – already well underway – will give visitors a modern gateway into our city with wider pavements and cycleways, outside dining spots and improved transport connections.

As part of the transformation of Leeds City Rail Station’s main entrance and surrounding area, certain areas will be closed. Please see signs within the station for directions. For more information the transformation and closure announcements please visit the Leeds City Council website here: Transforming Leeds City Rail Station: Date of New Station Street closure announced

 

To minimise any disruption to your onward journey by train, please plan ahead and allow additional travel time.