Heading in from the north... and other Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: If you’re heading in to Hull by car from the north, though it may look the quickest route don’t head straight down the A1079. When the road hits the outskirts of Hull you’ll be hit by Traffic Light after Pedestrian Crossing for the next three to four miles; its painfully slow going especially anywhere near rush hour. Though it does look the longer way round on the map, come off the A1079 southwest of Beverley onto the A164 and follow the loop round to where it meets the A63 (aka the 'Clive Sullivan Way') and then head in from the west. The roundabouts make it a smoother, often quicker run and a far less stressful drive, especially during rush hour!

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Commencing today public transport in the city faces major upheaval. With the multi-million pound St Stephen’s development now gaining real momentum. Bus services in and out of the city will be routed to different parts of the city centre as the main city-centre bus station will be slowly wound down and then demolished to make way for brand new integrated transport exchange along with the refurbishment of the adjoining railway station. Great news, but the projected opening date unfortunately isn’t until 2007! This really is a pain with gain though as the state of the city’s two main transport nodes has been an embarrassment for too long.

You’re best checking the website links below to see how this will affect your journey in/out or around the city. But to quote directly from a recent article in the Hull Daily Mail:

“While bus terminals will move from the Ferensway station to Bond Street, Albion Street, Story Street, Prospect Street, King Edward Street and Jameson Street, passengers will still be able to board buses at their normal stopping points, as not everyone boards at the station.”

Check the following bus company websites:

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/hull/index_html/index_html

http://www.eyms.co.uk/

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'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Hull has fairly good rail links with the rest of the country and is served by no less than four train companies 'thanks' to the Conservative Party's privatisation legacy.

Arriva (http://www.northernrail.org) runs regular regional services to the rest of Yorkshire and links to the London-Edinburgh east coast main line. First Group www.firstgroup.com/tpexpress) runs the lucrative 'Transpennine' franchise linking to the west country, Manchester and its Airport. Hull Trains (www.hulltrains.co.uk) runs five daily direct services a day to and from London and GNER (www.gner.co.uk) adds another two. I suggest using www.thetrainline.com if you're planning your rail journey to or from the city.

Hull Railway station isn't the most dignified entrance to the city to be honest and it has begun a long-overdue modernisation and redevelopment due to finish in 2007. Once complete it should be one of the most integrated and modern transport hubs in the UK, but until then I apologise for your first impressions of the city if you enter here. Though patrolled by security guards and staff, like many local railway stations it is somewhat desolate and intimidating come nightfall and inevitably attracts various unsavory characters. You'll certainly want to move on as soon as possible - head out the main entrance for the local taxi firms.

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Website: See the various links in the text above!

'Mode': TO
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: P&O Stena Line operates two ferry routes to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge, sailing from the King George Docks located three miles east of the city center. A bus service connects foot passengers to the city bus and railway stations. The two 'super ferries' that service the city 'Pride of Hull' and 'Pride of Rotterdam' are the largest of their kind in the world and are so vast they can easily be see for miles away. The service is particularly popular with continental hauliers so don't be surprised if you find yourself behind a truck or three on your way in/out of the city.

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Website: http://www.mycruiseferries.co.uk/default.asp

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Avoid Ferensway in the city during working hours if you possibly can. Use the Park & Ride system, or park at Princes Quay. It’s a rush-hour nightmare to navigate Ferensway up to Beverley Road at the moment. A lot of structural improvement work going on in the area, it’s a bottleneck for bus routes; all this linked to the construction of the new St Stephen’s transport interchange in around the current train station, and former bus station area. This pain, with eventual gain, may well continue until 2007 when the project is due for completion!

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Website: www.hullcc.gov.uk