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Bradford to Blackpool

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millario

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Hi all.

Next weekend we're heading to Blackpool for the weekend, from Bradford; leaving on Friday and returning on Sunday.

Simply for logistical reasons we'd like to go IN to the the Pleasure Beach Station (near our hotel) and return FROM Blackpool North (better travel times as we're meeting family for a meal in Leeds in the afternoon) and a direct route.

I'll be getting a family day rover to cover the Bradford-Leeds journeys later, but wondered if the IN/OUT options were viable?

ta in advance.
 
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sonic2009

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Welcome to the forum millario

Could you answer these questions please?

1. Are you eligible for a railcard as a family.
2. Are you happy to be tied to specfic trains.
3. What time would you like to leave from Bradford on Friday & return from Blackpool on Sunday.
4. How many people are travelling in your party adults and children.
 

millario

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Hi sonic, and thanks.

There's actually just 2 of us going but I believe the 'family' ticket would cover this. The day rover's just for the bit of journey on Sunday to get us from Bradford to Leeds for a family meal and back after the 'main' treck from Blackpool.

We're ideally looking at setting off from Bradford on Friday morning at 9ish (I believe there's a train to Blackpool Pleasure Beach at around 9.15) and returning on the Sunday at 10am-ish.

I was just hoping to get the direct, quicker train back to Bradford and therefore getting to Leeds sooner for the family meal in the afternoon rather than return via Preston (and a 30min wait there for the connection).

cheers!
 
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Are you asking is it ok to travel to Blackpool on the South Line, and return from Blackpool North Station?
There used to be 'Blackpool Stations' but this has been removed since privatization.
I have not yet had a problem returning to North station on a South ticket.
According to the rules they could charge you between Kirkham (Preston if the train does not stop there) and North.
I would book my ticket to Blackpool South. Probably no problem alighting at Pleasure Beach.

A friend booked a ticket on the York to Blackpool North train from Accrington.
She asked for Accrington to BPS. The guard said the train was going to North. The ticket to South was cheaper! We said we lived at South, and would change at Preston. He said OK and issued the ticket. Hope you know your trains!! (The 20 minute wait at Preston gave us time to go to an ATM. Her card would not work in the guards ticket machine.)
 

millario

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Sonic - apologies: 2 adults.

Clive - I'm asking if it's ok to travel TO Blackpool Pleasure Beach but return FROM Blackpool North.

The intrigue!
 

sonic2009

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Okay first of all :

There are no direct services from Bradford Interchange to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The services from Bradford via Burnley, go to Blackpool North. You would be required to change at Preston.

Outward Friday 15th

Bradford Interchange dep 0913 - Preston arr 1031
Preston dep 1102 - Blackpool Pleasure Beach arr 1134

Return Sunday 17th

Blackpool North dep 1011 - Bradford Interchange 1159
 

millario

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Thanks Sonic.

Yep I knew there'd be a change involved and that's fine. I just wasn't sure if I'd be able to return from a different station than the one I'm travelling to, using a return ticket.
 

sonic2009

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I would buy a return from Bradford to Blackpool Pleasure Beach route VIA BURNLEY priced at £23.10 each.

Before you leave Bradford on the Friday, if you purchase your tickets on the day, explain that you would like to return from Blackpool North, and ask for an excess for the return journey, explaining it's easier to return from there on a Sunday, this will cost you nothing as it is the same price for a return to Blackpool North as it is to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
 

millario

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Thanks for the advice, sonic. Probably wise to square it with the staff first then. Cheers.
 

sonic2009

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If even Bradford Interchange won't give you the excess, I'm sure if you approach the ticket office at Blackpool North on the Sunday, they will allow you to travel it's the same price ticket.
 

millario

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Yeah we've got that in our favour. I could understand having to pay if it was vastly different in price.
 

LexyBoy

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An excess isn't possible (well, it's not supposed to be done) for changing the origin of the return journey. Anecdotally, common sense prevails and tickets are accepted interchangably on the two routes - ticket barriers will accept tickets for either station. Always worthwhile checking with the guard though.
 

millario

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LexyBoy - cheers.

Here's hoping then. It's not the end of the world if not but it makes life a little easier.
 

bb21

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An excess isn't possible (well, it's not supposed to be done) for changing the origin of the return journey. Anecdotally, common sense prevails and tickets are accepted interchangably on the two routes - ticket barriers will accept tickets for either station. Always worthwhile checking with the guard though.

I agree. This excess is not possible officially as it does not fall under any of the excess category.

I seem to recall that some Northern staff on the forum have confirmed that tickets to Blackpool North are accepted into and out of Blackpool South. The reverse is not necessarily the case, especially on TPE services.

I would wait for further confirmation from one of the many Northern staff on this forum.
 

WestCoast

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This topic comes up regularly.

From my quite extensive experience, Northern staff in the area abide by an unofficial rule that Blackpool North and South tickets are interchangeable. TPE guards from Blackpool don't seem to have a problem with it either, although I'd probably avoid using a Blackpool South ticket on their services if at all possible.

There used to a Blackpool Stations ticket back in the day, so it's just followed on from that tradition.

The barriers at Blackpool North have been accepting Blackpool South tickets for about a year now, there aren't any barriers at any of the other stations (there aren't even ticket machines or info displays on the Blackpool South line).
 
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millario

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bb21 - cheers.

I love all this!

Just to confirm - the 2 stations in 'question' are Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Blackpool North. All info appreciated.
 

WestCoast

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Forgot to mention - just buy a ticket from Bradford Interchange to Blackpool North (via Burnley) and you'll be fine to use it on the train to Pleasure Beach.
 

millario

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WestCoast, really? So: a return from Bradford Interchange to Blackpool North would allow us to change at Preston and from there get the train to the Pleasure Beach? and the guard will be ok with that?

That would solve the problem at the Bradford end rather than the Blackpool end then.

Ta very much!
 

yorkie

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Yes, I'd get the Blackpool North ticket. Guards have told us before that such tickets are accepted on the branch to Blackpool South.

In the highly unlikely event that you get a guard who does not adhere to this, the fare from Kirkham & Wesham (where the lines diverge) to Blackpool Pleasure Beach is £4.70 single.
 

34D

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Yes, I'd get the Blackpool North ticket. Guards have told us before that such tickets are accepted on the branch to Blackpool South.

In the highly unlikely event that you get a guard who does not adhere to this, the fare from Kirkham & Wesham (where the lines diverge) to Blackpool Pleasure Beach is £4.70 single.

Thirded. Do it this way round, rather than buying to. Blackpool south or blackpool pleasure beach.

Also you mention your Leeds trip - compare Hebden Bridge-Blackpool + bradford-HBD single and HBD-leeds return with HDB-BPN and BDI-HDB and dayrover and LDS-BPN plus LDS-BDI single etc etc.
 
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I wish they would bring back 'Blackpool Stations BR'
Many visitors find it confusing. Several would use South for their return journey as it is much closer, but afraid whether ticket is valid. (saves a £8 taxi fare!)
Blackpool South Stn is a much nicer walk. (No underpasses, undesirables lurking around!)
My BPS ticket has always worked at BPN barriers.
 

millario

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Thanks all - looks like it's the Bradford to Blackpool North return then! Much appreciated.
 

millario

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Evening all.

Just thought I'd send a quick note to say thanks for the advice, and that we opted for the Bradford-Blackpool North return, getting off at Preston and jumping on the Blackpool South train (and then off at the Pleasure Beach) and, as you wisely and widely predicted there were no issues, just a polite reminder from the inspector that we were going to BPS and not BPN.

She was fine.

Much appreciated, and I know who to call upon for any queries in the future!
 

bb21

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You are most welcome. Thank you for updating us on your experience.
 
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