London to Leeds, M1 or A1(m)

[golfdsg]

Hello,

I will be going up to Leeds on Friday, have used the M1 quite a few times, sometimes it is packed with cars if there is an accident, and heavily delays travel time.

I will be starting my journey in the south of london, and was intending to drive clockwise up the M25, then up the M1.

However google maps is suggesting that I take the A1m.

Has anybody here used these routes recently, and what would you suggest, M1 or A1? I am hoping to do the journey in under 4 hours, (even though google suggests 4h10).

Thank, any suggestions will be appreciated.

[golfdsg]

Defcon5 said:

I went from Farnborough to Wakefield the other week, went down on the M1 and back up the A1, hitting rush hour midway both times.

A1 was miles better

Did both journeys take roughly the same time?

I am under the impression that the A1 may take longer due to its lower speed limit.

[golfdsg]

mph1977 said:

what lower speed limit ?

does this poster need a copy of the HC i wonder ?

the A1 up to beyond Newcastle is entirely Dual carriageway so the NSL for cars is 70 same as the Motorways ... unless the journey happens to be in a 50 /60 /70 limited light commercial when your speed and risk of enforcement may vary.

both the M1 and the A1 have stretches where lower limits are in place some or all of the time ...

Edited by mph1977 on Sunday 29th March 15:16

Sorry my mistake, I realised that speed limit for cars is 70 on the A1, shortly after posting that.

I think i will be taking the A1 then, unless theres something major happening on it that day.

[golfdsg]

Red Devil said:

golfdsg said:

I will be starting my journey in the south of london, and was intending to drive clockwise up the M25, then up the M1.

Where exactly are you starting from and at what time?

golfdsg said:

However google maps is suggesting that I take the A1m.

I would go M11/A14/A1(M) but the issue with going that way is the Dartford Crossing. Northbound still has the barriers in place and the tailbacks are as bad as ever. It was nearly back to J4 last Wednesday. There is a way to avoid it but it requires some local knowledge.

I'll be starting my journey in Croydon at 7am, if I use the A1 I will travel east on the A232, A21, joining the M25 at junction 4.
However if I use the M1, I would drive clockwise on the M25 joining it at junction 7.

I could go right through London as the crow flies, possibly not getting caught up in traffic as it'll be 7/8am and also its a Good Friday. not too sure though.

[golfdsg]

talksthetorque said:

A1. All the bank holiday numpties will be following their satnavs up the M1, and there are major roadworks at the M6 junction.
There are also a lot of managed sections on the M1, which probably means you won;t be able to go 70 ( ish) all the way up anyway.

On the A1, there are some speed restrictions at the Elkesley Junction improvement. 40 mph for maybe 2 miles, this is normally a 50.
But you can now go from Biggleswade to Leeds without any roundabouts. There won't be as many elephant races on the two lane sections as it's a bank holiday.

just a thought....train? (sorry, very unPH, I know) or are there holiday works or four of you?

A1 it is then

I usually get the train, takes 2h15 from London Kings Cross to Leeds, however since Virgin trains have bought East Coast trains they have bumped the prices up, I use to book 2 weeks in advance for £30, now the price is around £60+ thats why I've decided to drive now.

btw, is it possible to do the journey in under 4 hours if driving at a constant 80, sorry i mean 70.

[golfdsg]

Gompo said:

mph1977 said:

the conspiracy theorists would also suggest EC tickets to S + W Yorks have less need to be competitive now as the choice between EMT+ connections and EC+ connections is no longer a choice of operator ...

I can understand that. Without wanting to derail (sorry) the thread too much, my current experience is:

I am just travelling from Retford (between Newark and Doncaster) to KX; I'm on EC mainline so a good connection with no changes. The train I often get is the second one (that stops here) travelling south in the morning, it leaves Retford at 6.51. I've never paid more than £17 for this and done it a handful of times. Since the Virgin takeover, I've experimented with various days and with different time periods in advance - anywhere between 9 weeks and 3 weeks the price has been roughly the same, £28-9. Obviously it's not a massive jump, but it all adds up. I understand the previous price may have been too cheap for a train that gets into London before 9am, but the comparison stands.

Agree with all that the A1 is more interesting, I find it a little less stressful/more relaxing than the M1 - it will depend on how much of a rush you are in though.

My experience is quite similar. Booking 2 weeks in advance London to Leeds used to be in the region of £25-£30. Now if I am booking tickets for May they are around £50+, 2 week advance tickets are £70

[golfdsg]

So should I avoid the Dartford crossing, and go straight through London? I checked google maps from my starting point to the M11 and it was 1h30, which is during very heavy traffic on the M25 around the dartford crossing.

Im not sure which route to take to avoid that bit of traffic

[golfdsg]

Conscript said:

golfdsg said:

So should I avoid the Dartford crossing, and go straight through London? I checked google maps from my starting point to the M11 and it was 1h30, which is during very heavy traffic on the M25 around the dartford crossing.

Im not sure which route to take to avoid that bit of traffic

The heavy traffic around the tunnel today is caused by the high winds, meaning the bridge was closed earlier, then operating at reduced capacity in the afternoon.
It's unlikely to be as bad on a normal day.

vrsmxtb said:

Conscript said:

Looking forward to even better improvements once the road layout changes are fully completed and the barriers removed completely (probably around the beginning of June, so I'm told).

I didn't think the barriers were coming down Northbound, due to needing a way of physically preventing traffic entering the tunnel if necessary. Or will they just be permanently open? Good news if so, the southbound is a breeze now as long as no muppet has broken down on the bridge which seems to be quite common at the moment.

The barriers are currently still in operation because they need a way to be able to halt over height vehicles entering the tunnel. However, they are currently building a system of traffic lights and vehicle height detectors to enable them to do this, but until it's fully operational, the barriers have to remain in place. Once in operation, the need for traffic to come to a complete stop will be gone.

oh ok, should be fine on Friday then, Im looking forward to seeing no traffic haha