Manchester - Headingley

[EliPledge]

Does anybody know the quickest and/or cheapest way to get from Manchester to Headingley, Leeds by public transport? I'm talking about a daily commute, not a one-off trip to the cricket. Thanks

[darth vader]

it's been a while since i lived in Leeds but i don't think much has changed from this info: trains leave Mcr (Picadilly) to Leeds every quarter (or half) hour. You can get off at Pudsey, West Leeds. Then take a bus from Pudsey to Headingley: i can't give bus numbers any more except to say there are a few to choose from depending on what part of Headingley you're commuting to: the ringroad bus, for example, goes from right outside the station, to H but it's to the outskirts of H. otherwise you could either walk 5 minutes to ringroad (past Bradford turn off) to get buses going from Bradford to Headingley, or walk towards Pudsey (5 minutes past Owlcoates Centre) to Richardshaw Lane and get a bus from there. Failing that then take the train all the way to Leeds and get a bus from Leeds to Headingley - there are squillions going along the Skipton road to choose from (outside the station too). The first route via Pudsey avoids Leeds City Centre, though i imagine the 2nd is quicker as you're going "against the flow" of rush hour (i.e. out of Leeds when everyone is coming in). you can work out train journey times at link at bottom (for buses put "bus" "Leeds" into a search engine as there are many bus companies running in leeds). Pudsey -> Headingley by bus = 15-20 minutes (bear in mind that Leeds is 5h1t for rush hour congestion so you need to compensate). Leeds -> Headingley - anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes depending on what bus route you take. Hope all this helps if not ask more questions and i'll fire away. http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney/time_t
able/journey_requirements.asp?&T2ID=7094_200394112952

[EliPledge]

Thanks for taking the trouble to give me such a full answer Darth. Is Headingley "walkable" at all from Leeds city centre or Pudsey? I don't mind a longish walk - 30 mns or so - I'm a quick walker!

[andjac]

don't want to interupt but it would be easier and a matter of pence difference just to buy a rail ticket to headingley station and much quicker provided they are n't on strike ...just an opinion from a bradford lad

[darth vader]

re andjac: possibly but the trains to headingley were never very regular from what i remember - ok slap me with a wet herring and call me a liar, according to Nat. Rail enqs web site you can get the 7.59 or 8.29 train from Leeds arr. Headingley (though it is bottom end of headingley = 10 minutes walk to town centre, so maybe the bus might be a better alternative).
EliPledge the walk from Leeds or from Pudsey to Headingley is around the same distance, i would say 30-45 minutes at least and not a very pleasant one as it's all main roads and inner city traffic. I would recommend getting the train to Leeds, then getting a train from Leeds to Headingley as andjac recommends (or getting the bus, whichever you choose)