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Alternative route London to Liverpool Lime St.

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Grumpy Git

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I have an off-peak open return (return leg) London Stations to Liverpool Lime St which I will be using later today, (valid via any permitted route).

My chances of catching the last early afternoon off-peak train at 14:07 (or 14:10 with a change) are virtually nil, which means a very long wait for the 19:02 service.

Are there any other routes I can use to get back to Liverpool in the interim period. I'm not bothered how long they take, so long as I arrive back at Lime St before 21:08 (the arrival time of the 19:02 from Euston).

Is it possible to travel via Birmingham or Sheffield for example?

Thanks in anticipation.
 
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Mcr Warrior

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Could you not travel via Crewe (1440 departure) or via Manchester (1420 + 1500 departures) on Avanti before the afternoon peak hour restrictions at Euston kick in?
 

roversfan2001

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Valid via Birmingham.

The 1459 Avanti service to Birmingham followed by the 1704 WMT from there to Lime Street would get you there at 1844.
 

JonathanH

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I have an off-peak open return (return leg) London Stations to Liverpool Lime St which I will be using later today, (valid via any permitted route).

My chances of catching the last early afternoon off-peak train at 14:07 (or 14:10 with a change) are virtually nil, which means a very long wait for the 19:02 service.

Are there any other routes I can use to get back to Liverpool in the interim period. I'm not bothered how long they take, so long as I arrive back at Lime St before 21:08 (the arrival time of the 19:02 from Euston).

Is it possible to travel via Birmingham or Sheffield for example?

Thanks in anticipation.
The last valid train out of Euston is the 1459, changing at Birmingham New Street for the 1704 to Liverpool.

The last valid train out of Marylebone is effectively the 1537, changing in Birmingham for the 1804 to Liverpool.

You can also catch the 1532 from Paddington to Reading for the 1616 to Birmingham, again changing into the 1804 to Liverpool.
 

Mcr Warrior

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The last valid train out of Euston is the 1459.
Thought the Mon-Thurs off peak restriction was 1501-1844 (inclusive) as per restriction code 2C so the Avanti 1500 Euston->Manchester Piccadilly would (if running) be the last one possible if routing via Manchester is allowed.
 

JonathanH

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Thought the Mon-Thurs off peak restriction was 1501-1844 (inclusive) as per restriction code 2C.
It is - there isn't a 1500 to Manchester running at the moment - as you can see, the 1503 to Birmingham is retimed to 1459 with the extra stop at Watford Junction so creeps under the 1501 cut off.
 

Grumpy Git

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The last valid train out of Euston is the 1459, changing at Birmingham New Street for the 1704 to Liverpool.

The last valid train out of Marylebone is effectively the 1537, changing in Birmingham for the 1804 to Liverpool.

You can also catch the 1532 from Paddington to Reading for the 1616 to Birmingham, again changing into the 1804 to Liverpool.

Thank you, top information. I assume the Paddington via Reading is a valid route as this would be a great last-ditch option, (I'm coming into London via Heathrow airport)?
 

JonathanH

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Thank you, top information. I assume the Paddington via Reading is a valid route as this would be a great option as I'm coming into London via Heathrow airport?
Yes, absolutely - valid route on maps RV+RG. If you put Liverpool to London Terminals via Reading into a booking engine it will come up with the relevant off-peak return fare for this connection.

If the timings are right, you could change at Hayes & Harlington for a train to Reading - you need to be in Reading for the 1616 to Birmingham as later trains are specifically restricted from Reading. The off-peak return is valid from Hayes & Harlington to Reading as much as it is from London Paddington.
 

Grumpy Git

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Yes, absolutely - valid route on maps RV+RG. If you put Liverpool to London Terminals via Reading into a booking engine it will come up with the relevant off-peak return fare for this connection.

If the timings are right, you could change at Hayes & Harlington for a train to Reading - you need to be in Reading for the 1616 to Birmingham as later trains are specifically restricted from Reading. The off-peak return is valid from Hayes & Harlington to Reading as much as it is from London Paddington.

Brilliant, thanks.

Will I have any problems as I currently don't have the "compulsory" reservations for the GWR and CC services?
 

JonathanH

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Brilliant, thanks.

Will I have any problems as I currently don't have the "compulsory" reservations for the GWR and CC services?
No, postings here suggest it isn't typically being enforced. The 1616 XC train from Reading appears to be booked with two Voyagers today and starts at Reading.
 

Ianno87

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Brilliant, thanks.

Will I have any problems as I currently don't have the "compulsory" reservations for the GWR and CC services?

No, postings here suggest it isn't typically being enforced. The 1616 XC train from Reading appears to be booked with two Voyagers today and starts at Reading.

The GWR (or TfL Rail) service from Hayes to Reading won't be reservable anyway.
 

Grumpy Git

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I'm aiming to get the 15.01 latest to Reading from Hayes & Harlington.:D

Edit: is it possible to simply tap in and tap out with a debit card for the Heathrow to Hayes and Harlington journey?
 
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Ianno87

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JonathanH

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I'm aiming to get the 15.01 latest to Reading from Hayes & Harlington.:D

Edit: is it possible to simply tap in and tap out with a debit card for the Heathrow to Hayes and Harlington journey?
Yes, that is fine.
 

BluePenguin

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I'm aiming to get the 15.01 latest to Reading from Hayes & Harlington.:D

Edit: is it possible to simply tap in and tap out with a debit card for the Heathrow to Hayes and Harlington journey?
Yes it is! The readers at Hayes & Harlington are at the top of the stairs
 

Grumpy Git

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Update, I have time to get the Avanti 14.59 to Birmingham and am currently en route on the Piccadilly Line, (on an almost empty tube).

Thanks again, you have all been a great help.


Edit:
Ended-up on the 14:40 Avanti to Manchester changing at Crewe.

This means i will be boarding the 15.07 ex Euston for Liverpool at Crewe, which I wasn't allowed to catch at Euston!

Am I missing something here?
 
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Ianno87

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Edit:
Ended-up on the 14:40 Avanti to Manchester changing at Crewe.

This means i will be boarding the 15.07 ex Euston for Liverpool at Crewe, which I wasn't allowed to catch at Euston!

Am I missing something here?

Others may correct me, but that technically won't be valid, as the train you are connecting onto is timed to depart Euston in the "barred" period. That bars the entire service, not just being on it at Euston at that time.

I'd suggest waiting for the next LNW service at Crewe instead.
 

30907

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Others may correct me, but that technically won't be valid, as the train you are connecting onto is timed to depart Euston in the "barred" period. That bars the entire service, not just being on it at Euston at that time.

I'd suggest waiting for the next LNW service at Crewe instead.
...or at least checking with the guard before boarding!
 

Grumpy Git

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Plumped for the LNW service, as if its on time I can get home quicker to Cressington by alighting LPY.

Trivia: whilst passing through the 1st class section, I spotted Michael Hesletine, (probably the only Tory not despised in Liverpool).
 
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Statto

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I think you can also go from Crewe via Chester & Merseyrail to Lime Street, most of the AWC services to Chester/North Wales start from Crewe.
 

Merseysider

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I think you can also go from Crewe via Chester & Merseyrail to Lime Street, most of the AWC services to Chester/North Wales start from Crewe.
Yep, that is also permitted on a London - Liverpool ticket.
 

Merseysider

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It can be a good way of finding cheap Euston-Liverpool Advance tickets, when the quotas on direct trains have sold out.
Definitely. And it can also be worth checking via Warrington if the direct Liverpool trains are too expensive.
 

Bletchleyite

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Others may correct me, but that technically won't be valid, as the train you are connecting onto is timed to depart Euston in the "barred" period. That bars the entire service, not just being on it at Euston at that time.

That's actually not how the restrictions work on the WCML despite the misleading wording, as MKC has different restrictions than Euston, but all sets are in one restriction code.

Therefore a word with the guard would be prudent, they might let you on (though I wouldn't just board - a ticket from Euston may cause confusion). Or to avoid any conflict just take LNR.
 
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