The Anonymous Widower

Improvements To Leeds And Hull Services

This news story from the Department of Transport is entitled Yorkshire And The Humber To Benefit From £19.8 billion Transport Investment.

This is said about Leeds and Hull services.

Hull will also be brought into the Northern Powerhouse Rail network, reducing journey time from Leeds from 58 minutes to just 48. The number of trains between Hull and Sheffield will be doubled, to 2 per hour, with capacity also doubled. Journeys from Hull to Manchester will drop from 115 to 84 minutes, enabling 2 fast trains to Leeds.

I shall look at the 10:15 Northern Trains service between Hull and Leeds on the 13th October 2023.

• The distance is 51.8 miles.
• There are seven stops.
• The service is run by a diesel Class 158 train.
• Journey time is 69 minutes.

Ten minutes off this time would be worthwhile.

I shall look at the 10:03 TransPennine Express service between Hull and Leeds on the 13th October 2023.

• There are two stops.
• The service is run by a diesel Class 185 train.
• Journey time is 54 minutes.

Ten minutes off this time would be difficult.

Note.

1. The line between Micklefield and Leeds is being electrified.
2. The distance between Hull and Micklefield is 42 miles.
3. The route has a maximum speed of between 75 and 90 mph.

There is also an historic swing bridge at Selby, which would probably be difficult to electrify.

How Many Minutes Could Electric Trains Save Between Leeds and Hull?

Electric trains have better acceleration and deceleration, when compared to diesel trains, so two minutes per stop and for the acceleration and deceleration at Hull and Leeds, would give the following times.

• Northern Trains – 53 minutes
• TransPennine Express – 48 minutes

As electrification is not mentioned for between Leeds and Hull, the only electric trains, that could work the route will be battery-electric trains.

Battery-Electric Trains Between Leeds and Hull

Consider.

• TransPennine Express already have Class 802 trains, from which the battery-electric version is being developed.
• Northern Trains would need a suitable battery-electric train. There has been talk of a CAF battery-electric Class 331 train, but nothing more. These would surly be ideal.
• Trains could be charged on new electrification in Hull station and between Micklefield and Leeds.

The trains would need a range of just 42 miles.

A Second Fast Train Between Leeds and Hull

What does this statement in the news story imply?

Journeys from Hull to Manchester will drop from 115 to 84 minutes, enabling 2 fast trains to Leeds.

I feel that this statement must be read in conjunction with the benefits of the TransPennine Route Upgrade.

One benefit is given as Faster Journeys, where this is said.

We’re speeding up journeys so you can travel to your favourite towns and cities more quickly. Our fastest journey times are forecast to be 63-66 minutes between Manchester and York and 41-42 minutes between Manchester and Leeds.

The news story says that the fastest journey times between Leeds and Hull will be 48 minutes, which would give a Hull and Manchester time of 89-90 minutes.

Alternatively, there could be these timings on one train.

• Hull and Leeds – 48 mins
• Hull and Manchester Victoria – 84 mins
• Leeds and Manchester Victoria – 36 mins

Note.

1. The train would call at Brough, Selby, Leeds, Huddersfield and Stalybridge.
2. There may be a new station at Leeds Thorpe Park
3. The distance between Hull and Manchester Victoria is 94.7 miles.
4. This is an average speed of 67.6 mph.

It almost looks like it’s connectivity East of Leeds and speed between Leeds and Manchester.

Conclusion

Battery-electric trains would provide all the improvements promised between Leeds and Hull.

October 16, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Battery-Electric Class 331 Train, Battery-Electric Trains, Class 158 Train, Class 802 Train, Discontinuous Electrification, Hull Station, Leeds Station, Northern Trains, Spending High Speed Two Money, TransPennine Express