What it’s really like to be a commuting student at Huddersfield

I am currently in my third year at the University of Huddersfield studying English Literature. Therefore, already in my third year of commuting! I am from a small town outside of Leeds, called Guiseley. It is approximately 21.8 miles from Huddersfield and takes around an hour on the train. I did not begin as a commuter; I started my studies in September 2020 and lived in student accommodation for a short time. However, the pandemic was still a constant presence and socialisation was limited. I felt, that at the time, moving back home would suit my personality better and I could enjoy the home comforts I had really missed. Of course, it was not an easy decision. However, today, I could not be happier with my choice and have never looked back. Commuting comes with its pros and cons, but I have found that the positives outweigh any minor negatives. 

There are many pros of commuting: 

• You can get work done whilst travelling: There have been numerous occasions where I have been able to catch up on my essential reading and plan essays whilst on the train. Once my headphones are in and I am enthralled in my work, it is easy to forget to get off at my stop! 
• It can be a great way to unwind: I find that travelling home from university via the train can be really relaxing after a long day. Any stresses from the day can be easily helped through the scenic Yorkshire countryside that passes by. 
• You can do the things that you enjoy whilst commuting: As a literature student, I obviously love to read and regularly use the train as a place to do this. I definitely recommend the books: ‘Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race’ by Reni Eddo-Lodge, ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens and ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald. However, if you prefer to rest your eyes after a long day of study, listening to a podcast or music playlist is equally as enjoyable. I love podcasts and some of my favourites to listen to whilst travelling are ‘Hardcore Literature’ and ‘Successful Failures’. Perhaps you are a musical person and love to listen to a relaxing playlist. I recommend the Spotify playlists ‘Your Favourite Coffeehouse’, ‘Comfort Zone’ and ‘Mellow Classics’. 
• Using a railcard: One of the positives about commuting is finding ways to save money. I have a 16-25 railcard which saves me 1/3 off my ticket fare. I have found that when I travel after 10 am, an open return from Guiseley to Huddersfield is only £7.45. My railcard has undoubtedly saved me money and I only paid £30 for the whole year! 
• The scenery: I love walking to the train station each day and observing the beautiful fields near where I live. I believe this has meant the early mornings are worth it because of the views I get to see. 

The cons of commuting:

• Bad weather: England does not always bring the best weather. When it snows, trains are usually cancelled, which means you cannot travel. However, I have found that if you simply drop your lecturer an email and ask for them to create an online meeting to join, you can be involved in your class from home. 
• It can be really tiring: After a long day and by the time I get home, sometimes I am exhausted. However, I find that including podcasts and music in your travel time can ultimately ease the tiredness. 
• The train can be very busy: If you are travelling in rush hour times you are very unlikely to be able to get a seat and instead you end up squashed against the train door. Yet, this is only ever in rush hour; sometimes, a nearly empty train can arrive. Therefore, it is luckily never a permanent annoyance.