Which is the best Hull to Leeds train?

If you’re looking for a Hull to Leeds train, then you have two options. There’s the faster TransPennine Express train, and the slower Northern train. Let’s take a look at what these trains are like, and who offers the best fare.

What are the Hull to Leeds train options?

If you’re travelling between Hull and Leeds, you have two options. Your first option is TransPennine Express, who run a train every hour (every two hours on Sundays until further notice). This train stops at Brough and Selby on the way, and takes around 55 minutes.

Alternatively, you can travel with Northern. Their train stops at Brough, Selby then all stations through to Leeds. It takes roughly 65 to 70 minutes to complete the trip. Their trains run every hour Monday to Saturday, but don’t run on Sundays (they only run between Selby and Leeds on a Sunday). On a Sunday, you can still make the journey entirely on Northern, but it’ll take around 1h50m and you’ll need to change at Selby.

What are the trains like?

If you’re travelling with TransPennine Express, you’ll have a Class 185 train. They have three carriages, though they’re regularly doubled up to form a six-coach train:

Every window seat has access to a power socket and USB port, and all seating in Standard Class is in a 2+2 layout:

If you have a reservation, they’ll be in the front three carriages of the train. The rear set is usually always unreserved.

Travelling with Northern? You’ll likely have a Class 158 Express Sprinter train. They have two or three carriages:

All seating is in a 2+2 layout. Some trains have access to USB ports at the window seats, but this isn’t guaranteed:

On this Hull to Leeds train option, you won’t find any seat reservations. Just jump on board and find a free seat.

Who offers the best Hull to Leeds train fare?

If you want a flexible ticket, this is a fairly straightforward answer. For an Anytime Short Return ticket valid at any time (and valid to return within a month), the cheapest option is Northern. It’s £23.40 for this ticket, while the equivalent ticket is £42.00 for all rail operators.

Looking for cheaper Advance tickets? Let’s see what happens if we want to travel a week in advance:

As you can see, the fares are pretty consistent. Northern is a little cheaper, but there isn’t much variation in the price.

You can actually buy Advance Hull to Leeds train tickets pretty much all the way up until the train leaves. Let’s see what the prices are like if we want to get on the next available train:

TransPennine Express is a little cheaper this time, but there isn’t much in it. The 16:03 train was departing less than 20 minutes after we made this search, so you can just buy this ticket on your way to the station if you like. In a sense, the best Hull to Leeds train is the one that’s due out next!

Is there a First Class option?

Only on TransPennine Express. If you travel in First Class, you’ll find a carriage with seats in a 2+1 layout:

Every window seat has access to a power socket. While TransPennine Express do offer catering in First Class, it typically isn’t offered between Hull and Leeds. You’d need to remain on the train after Leeds to receive any refreshments.

Is there anything else I should know?

You should be aware that TransPennine Express are suffering from significant reliability issues as of June 2023. Always check their JourneyCheck page before you travel, as short-notice cancellations are extremely common.

The final thing we’d recommend is using the Railsmartr website to book your Hull to Leeds train journey. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares. Not only that, but we’ll show you the slower, but cheaper options that some websites won’t.

Don’t forget that we don’t charge any fees, either. That includes if you change your mind and want to travel on a different day. If your ticket is refundable, we’ll refund it fee-free, too!

Fancy a bite to eat in Leeds? We’ve got a recommendation in our list of the best eateries near stations.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 15:00 07/06/23. They’re subject to change at any time and Railsmartr are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}