Northern has launched a new service that aims to connect the White Rose cities of Leeds and Sheffield in 47 minutes – the Yorkshire Flyer.
Launched during an event at Leeds station; the Yorkshire Flyer will also add over 30,000 extra seats a week, accommodating projected growth along the railway.
Previous journeys between the two cities would take around an hour or longer, with trains calling at a number of stops en route. The new service, meanwhile, makes one stop at Wakefield Westgate, allowing journey times to be slashed by almost 15 minutes.
The Yorkshire Flyer will run once per hour in both directions, and operate alongside the hourly fast CrossCountry service that links Leeds and Sheffield.
Northern will also continue to operate four stopping services per hour in both directions between the cities.
Alex Hornby, Northern's commercial and customer director, said:Our customers have been calling for faster trains between Leeds and Sheffield for some time. That’s why we are really excited to launch the Yorkshire Flyer.
Running every hour every day, it offers customers a fast and straightforward alternative to taking the car. They can make affordable journeys with less faff, whether they’re travelling for work, university or days out with friends and family.
The new Yorkshire Flyer will provide a more effective link between Yorkshire’s economic powerhouses and help drive growth.
