My Leeds commuter diary: What it's like travelling on the city's rail network

It’s cold and there’s a slight scattering of snow.

I was one of the first people on the grit-covered platform at the aptly named Saltaire station waiting for my train to head into Leeds.

According to the digital screens the 7.32am service from Skipton was running on time. Calm was prevailing despite the fall of a few snowflakes at the picture perfect postcard scene.

However, within a matter of minutes the end of the platform, where I was patiently waiting, was starting to fill up as workers wrapped up in their hats and scarves assembled.

As a journalist I love nothing better than a spot of people watching. They say that everyone has a story to tell. There are the usual faces who gather each day including a young woman who read Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom if she was lucky enough to bag herself a seat and a little elbow room.

There is also the familiar sight of a lady who patiently waits at the edge of the platform for her daughter (I’m assuming) to arrive on the train so that she can be left with her small canine friend. It helps to while away the minutes as you see people trapped in a digital daze staring at their smart phones or listening to their headphones as they wait for the train to arrive,

But as soon as the train approaches any semblance of formality goes straight out of the window. The anticipation of boarding the train first becomes too much as manners are set aside while commuters are calculating where is the prime position to be stood as the train doors open. I’ve misjudged it completely.

Despite being one of the first people at the end of the platform I end up being one of the last on the train.

It appears the concept of a queue at times is simply non-existent. And it’s not hard to see why. The luxury of finding a seat is a premium.

However, nothing could quite prepare me for the journey home as I boarded the 17.26 back to Saltaire.

Even the standing space was at a premium. I ending up seeking sanctuary in the bike rack just to gain an extra few inches of breathing room.

Over the next two weeks I’ve kept a note of my journeys and punctuality has not been a major issue at all with my service.

I even mentally prepared myself for a night of travel delays on February 7 after a train ‘decoupled’ on its way into Leeds Station. Remarkably my journey was unaffected by the delays.

However, the following day I wasn’t as lucky with punctuality when my journey was delayed by nearly 15 minutes leaving Leeds City Station because of a failed train outside the station.

The only issue is the comfort of the journey.

There was certainly no love for passengers on Valentine’s Day when there wasn’t even room to text on my way to work because the train was so busy.

Northern, how about spreading the love with an extra carriage?