Could There Be Better Transport Connections Between Leeds/Bradford and Glasgow/Edinburgh?
I shall start this post with eleven questions, that I will ask Google AI.
How Many People Live In the Greater Leeds/Bradford Area?
I received this answer from Google AI.
The greater Leeds-Bradford urban and larger urban zone has an estimated population of about 1.65 million to 2.4 million people. The core combined Leeds-Bradford continuous built-up area holds roughly 1.66 million people, while the wider Leeds City Region and Larger Urban Zone reaches approximately 2.4 million.
How Many People Live In the Greater Glasgow Area?
I received this answer from Google AI.
The Greater Glasgow urban area has an estimated population of over 1 million people. Depending on how the boundaries are drawn, the wider NHS health board region contains about 1.2 million, and the broader Glasgow City Region counts roughly 1.8 million residents.
How Many People Live In the Greater Edinburgh Area?
I received this answer from Google AI.
The greater Edinburgh metropolitan or wider city region has an estimated population of approximately 912,000 to 1.35 million, depending on the regional boundary used. The City of Edinburgh council area itself holds 531,370 residents.
How Many Sheduled Air Services Are There Between Leeds/Bradford and Glasgow Airports?
I received this answer from Google AI.
There are currently zero direct, scheduled non-stop air services operating between Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) and Glasgow Airport (GLA).
How Many Scheduled Air Services Are There Between Leeds/Bradford and Edinburgh Airports?
I received this answer from Google AI.
There are currently zero direct, scheduled non-stop air services operating between Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI).
How Many Scheduled Direct Rail Services Are There Between Leeds or Bradford and Glasgow?
I received this answer from Google AI.
There is typically only 1 scheduled direct train service per day in each direction between Leeds and Glasgow (operated via CrossCountry), and n0 direct scheduled services between Bradford and Glasgow.
How Many Sheduled Direct Rail Services Are There Between Leeds or Bradford and Edinburgh?
I received this answer from Google AI.
There are typically only 1 to 2 scheduled direct train services per day running from Leeds to Edinburgh (usually operated by CrossCountry or via select extensions), taking roughly 3 hours. Bradford has zero regular scheduled direct rail services to Edinburgh; journeys from Bradford require at least one change (commonly transferring at Leeds).
How Long Does It Take To Drive Between Leeds And Glasgow?
I received this answer from Google AI.
Driving between Leeds and Glasgow takes about 3 hours and 50 minutes to 4 hours and 15 minutes under normal conditions, covering a distance of roughly 210 to 222 miles via the A1(M) and M74.
How Long Does It Take To Drive Between Leeds And Edinburgh?
I received this answer from Google AI.
Driving between Bradford and Glasgow takes about 3.5 to 4 hours under normal conditions. The total distance is roughly 200 miles (322 km), mostly following the A1(M) or M6 motorways depending on your chosen route.
How Long Does It Take To Drive Between Bradford And Glasgow?
I received this answer from Google AI.
Driving between Leeds and Glasgow takes about 3 hours and 50 minutes to 4 hours and 15 minutes under normal conditions, covering a distance of roughly 210 to 222 miles via the A1(M) and M74.
How Long Does It Take To Drive Between Bradford And Edinburgh?
I received this answer from Google AI.
Driving between Bradford and Edinburgh takes about 4 hours to 4.5 hours under normal traffic conditions. The total driving distance is roughly 196 to 202 miles, primarily heading north via the A1(M) or M1 and A69/M74 routes.
But I do think that Northern England and Scotland could be getting closer together in the next few years.
Consider.
- LNER stopped running between King’s Cross and Glasgow a couple of years ago.
- No airlines fly between Leeds/Bradford and Glasgow or Edinburgh Airports.
- TransPennine Express run direct rail services between both Liverpool and Manchester, and Glasgow.
- There are only occasional direct rail services between Leeds or Bradford, and Glasgow or Edinburgh.
- Driving is not an easy or fast option.
- Lumo run a few limited rail services between Glasgow and Stirling, and London.
There is a big gap in rail and air services between the 1.5 million people in Leeds/Bradford and nearly 2 million in Central Scotland.
But.
- Between Bradford and Carlisle is the Settle and Carlisle Line.
- The Settle and Carlisle is one of the most scenic lines in Europe, if not the world.
- The Settle and Carlisle is not electrified.
- Until 1974, it was used by the Thames-Clyde Express between London St. Pancras and Glasgow.
- Avanti have used the route for engineering diversions.
- I believe that in a couple of years, LNER will have CAF tri-mode trains and Hitachi battery-electric trains, that will be able to bridge the gap in the electrification between Skipton and Carlisle.
Selected Kings Cross and Bradford Forster Square services could be extended to Carlisle, Dumfries, Kilmarnock and Glasgow.
There will be three major benefits.
- Several towns and cities will gain a London service.
- The extra services will help to take on the airlines between London and Glasgow.
- Leeds and Bradford will be connected to Glasgow.
No major infrastructure would need to be created.
I have other thoughts.
Passengers Would Have A Choice Between London And Glasgow
These would be the options.
- Fast – Ryanair and lose a lot of brownie points.
- All-Electric Semi-Fast – Avanti or Lumo.
- Slower, but enjoying the scenery and why not a meal – LNER via Settle and Carlisle.
Five trains per day each way would add 3,000 seats per day, which would be around 15 of Ryanair’s 737s per day.
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