Leeds rail commuters: How strike action has affected their journey into work

Hundreds of train journeys will be subject to change, due to industrial strike action this week.

Whilst over 60% of Northern Rail services are running normally, some passengers have had to take alternative routes to get to work.

Your YEP tested the temperature of rail commuters at Leeds City station and Huddersfield station.

Property manger, Darek Kurowski, 36 said: “My usual journey from Brighouse to Leeds takes about 35 minutes, but I’ve had to get a bus to Huddersfield to get a train.

“It’s added an extra 20 minutes to my journey.”

Christine Simpson, committee member of the West Leeds Walking Group said the delays had caused problems for their scheduled walk.

She said: “We were going to walk from Slaithwaite to Marsden, but we’ve had to go to Huddersfield and get on a bus to Slaithwaite. It runs every hour.

“Quite a few of our members haven’t been able to make it. We’ve worked around it, but it is inconvenient.”

Due to changes and cancellations, many of the train and bus services have been exceptionally busy and passengers have expressed their concerns about the strike.

Paralegal Kathryn Dyson, 24, said: “Striking three days in one week is really difficult for so many people.I understand why the train staff are striking, but at the same time they don’t seem to be thinking about how it is going to affect communters.

“I’ve had to travel to Hudddersfield by bus today and it has cost me an extra £6.”

However, despite delays, many of the passengers expressed their support for the strike. Some have stated that the stike has not made a difference to their daily communte.

Elaine Dobbin, 47, who is an art director said: “My train has been cancelled today, but I think train staff are entitled to their own opinion and they should be allowed to express it.”

Jane Cotton, 65, said: “The strike hasn’t affected my journey at all and I support worker’s rights.

“Everybody has the right to withdraw their labour and if they feel there is a genuine reason for it, then they should strike.”