From One City to Another: Transport

One week into the semester and I can’t believe how busy I already am!

I’m not sure if I’m busier than I was this time last year – but it certainly feels that way. They do say that during your final year, you just hit the ground running and it appears to be totally true. Although, I have done my very best to enjoy all the opportunities that the Student Union had to offer this week with Fresher’s Fair 2016 being a great success!

I adore London. I visit often so the regular trains are hugely beneficial for me.

Recently I had the pleasure of taking a short trip to London to attend a career event. It’s not the first time; in fact I’m so used to it that the entire process from booking tickets to getting on the tube is basically muscle memory. The other students I met on the day had typical questions, the most common being: “Oh, what do you study?” followed by “Where do you study?”. What I found interesting was the look of amusement on their faces when I confirmed that I travelled straight from Leicester.

“But doesn’t that take forever?” commented one, shaking her head. I shook my own head – highlighting how the trip included a 1 hour and 20 minute train ride and a ten- minute tube connection. Easy to book too!

This had me thinking about how lucky I was to be studying in a city that is so well connected.

University travel links are not something that people generally prioritise compared to other factors – but it is a matter worth considering. I remember being in my first semester of first year and being horrified at the thought of a 3-hour commute home. However, the fact that trains ran regularly between Leicester Station and London St. Pancras meant that I was able to complete that commute with minimal hassle.

This link continues to be a lifesaver. The fact that I can easily travel to London (and other major cities like Nottingham and Birmingham) means that I am able to get to where I need to be without missing out on opportunities. Being a final year student, career planning is incredibly important to me and having the opportunity to attend events and open days has been invaluable to my decision-making experience.

Obviously I am very biased towards train journeys, as I hate sitting longer than I need to! But I know from others that the coach/bus links are broadly available alongside general road links. There are even airports around! All the information is available on the university’s ‘Getting to Leicester’ page.

So the take home message is: Leicester’s transport connections have gained an excellent five star rating from me! It’s not something I’ve thought about praising before – but it has definitely contributed positively to my experience at this university.