Leeds Sunderland Train

The West Yorkshire city of Leeds can trace its origins back to the Middle Ages where it developed as a market town. Prior to the onset of the Industrial Revolution, Leeds became a coordination centre for the manufacture of woollen cloth and white broadcloth was traded at its White Cloth Hall. In 1770, the city was responsible for one sixth of the export trade of cloth. The construction of the Aire and Calder Navigation in 1699 and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in 1816 spurred on the growth of textiles in Leeds. The next stage of the city's development came with the arrival of the railway network in the 1830's which connected Leeds to markets throughout the north of England and beyond. Specifically it connected Leeds to Manchester and the ports of Liverpool and Hull which improved access to international markets.

Leeds railway station offers passengers services to the suburbs of Leeds and beyond to the rest of the country. It is one of the busiest stations on the national rail network outside London. It also has the largest number of platforms of any railway station in the United Kingdom outside London.

Leeds Bradford Airport also provides passengers with many daily flights to destinations in the United Kingdom, Europe, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan and the USA.

Located in Tyne and Wear in the north east of England, the city of Sunderland is a former coal mining and ship building city which has undergone a major transformation over recent decades. The city's former shipyards have been transformed into expensive apartment blocks, the National Glass Centre and the Stadium of Light football ground, home to Sunderland Athletic Football Club.

Getting around Sunderland by public transport is a relatively easy thing to do. The city's bus station, the Park Lane Interchange (supposedly the busiest in the United Kingdom after London Victoria), provides bus services throughout the city. From Park Lane Interchange it is also possible to catch an underground Metro service to destinations within the city. Finally, national coach services can be taken from the bus station to destinations throughout the rest of the United Kingdom.

The Port of Sunderland is the second largest municipally owned port in the U.K. The port offers a total of 17 quays handling cargoes including forest products, non-ferrous metals, steel, aggregates and refined oil products, limestone, chemicals and maritime cranes. It also handles offshore supply vessels and has ship repair and drydocking facilities.