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I am travelling up to see a friend next week. I am planning to travel on Thursday 10th or Friday 11th of February. Time is not an issue although evening is preferable. I would likely come back on the Sunday or Monday. I will probably start from Euston. However I may visit Grandparents the night before and travel from Watford Junction instead. It seems that Avanti charge more to go to Manchester than they do Liverpool. Splitting up the likes of Tamworth and Litchfield does little to decrease the price. It doesn’t help that not many Manchester services are running via Crewe at the moment.
There seems to be a few cheap advances priced around £25 although I am wondering if any thing might be available cheaper than that? As a last resort I will buy a super off-peak return valid on Northwestern and TFW only. However a Pendolino would be nice. Thanks in advance!
The £35 Super Off Peak Return (Route WMR/LNR/TfW only) is likely to be your cheapest walk up ticket from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, but is quite restrictive as regards times and the ToCs you can use. So not Avanti, Northern or XC. See link below.
I am travelling up to see a friend next week. I am planning to travel on Thursday 10th or Friday 11th of February. Time is not an issue although evening is preferable. I would likely come back on the Sunday or Monday. I will probably start from Euston. However I may visit Grandparents the night before and travel from Watford Junction instead. It seems that Avanti charge more to go to Manchester than they do Liverpool. Splitting up the likes of Tamworth and Litchfield does little to decrease the price. It doesn’t help that not many Manchester services are running via Crewe at the moment.
There seems to be a few cheap advances priced around £25 although I am wondering if any thing might be available cheaper than that? As a last resort I will buy a super off-peak return valid on Northwestern and TFW only. However a Pendolino would be nice. Thanks in advance!
If you don't mind a slow journey, Trainsplit in value mode should find whatever is cheapest out of the combined West Midlands Trains (LNR/WMR brands) & TfW tickets, or a combination of tickets.
The £35 Super Off Peak Return (Route WMR/LNR/TfW only) is likely to be your cheapest walk up ticket from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, but is quite restrictive as regards times and the ToCs you can use. So not Avanti, Northern or XC. See link below.
The £45 "Off-peak return" version has a lot less restrictions in terms of timings (no afternoon restrictions, only morning). Although that ticket seems to be only London Euston to Manchester, doesn't exist if you start from Watford (or end at Stockport), but I can't see any "break of journey" restrictions like on the Super Off-peak ticket [so the OP could purchase a London - Manchester ticket and start short at Watford)
Just beware they can be a bit awkward to purchase due to the longer journey times, especially if you come back on a Sunday from Manchester as the Manchester - South Wales train isn't an official connection to the Crewe - London train [but as most of the Manchester - South Wales use P6 and most of the Crewe - London trains use P7 it's an easy enough connection unless the train is late
You are thinking of the Liverpool/Glasgow/Edinburgh/Blackpool - London Avanti services which call at Crewe, but the poster above was talking about using tickets only valid on West Midlands Trains (LNR/WMR brands) between Crewe & London, which are the Crewe - London services starting at (bay) Platform 7.
The Route WMR/LNR/TfW only tickets are normally good value, but currently TfW are terminating many S Wales - Manchester trains at Crewe. That means the ticket often won't cover the Crewe - Manchester leg, or not without a long wait or an extra ticket. Northern advances can be cheap, but the trains are even slower!
The £35 Super Off Peak Return (Route WMR/LNR/TfW only) is likely to be your cheapest walk up ticket from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, but is quite restrictive as regards times and the ToCs you can use. So not Avanti, Northern or XC. See link below.
I did take a look at going from St Pancras to Sheffield although strangely this came out as more expensive. I have wanted to have a ride of the Hope Valley line though so it is a contender.
If you don't mind a slow journey, Trainsplit in value mode should find whatever is cheapest out of the combined West Midlands Trains (LNR/WMR brands) & TfW tickets, or a combination of tickets.
In the current circumstances it would seem that £25 is good value. Although Liverpool is a similar distance yet is only £15 and £13 at around the same times. I also will have to book a return leg. I suppose time is money and that this is the market price. Tickets are no cheaper even 3 weeks later
The £45 "Off-peak return" version has a lot less restrictions in terms of timings (no afternoon restrictions, only morning). Although that ticket seems to be only London Euston to Manchester, doesn't exist if you start from Watford (or end at Stockport), but I can't see any "break of journey" restrictions like on the Super Off-peak ticket [so the OP could purchase a London - Manchester ticket and start short at Watford)
Just beware they can be a bit awkward to purchase due to the longer journey times, especially if you come back on a Sunday from Manchester as the Manchester - South Wales train isn't an official connection to the Crewe - London train [but as most of the Manchester - South Wales use P6 and most of the Crewe - London trains use P7 it's an easy enough connection unless the train is late
The long journey times are a pain. I have made the 3 minute connection at Stafford a few times before when heading to Liverpool. From Kent the end to end journey time is around 5 hours, not great although fine when on a budget.
You are thinking of the Liverpool/Glasgow/Edinburgh/Blackpool - London Avanti services which call at Crewe, but the poster above was talking about using tickets only valid on West Midlands Trains (LNR/WMR brands) between Crewe & London, which are the Crewe - London services starting at (bay) Platform 7.
The Route WMR/LNR/TfW only tickets are normally good value, but currently TfW are terminating many S Wales - Manchester trains at Crewe. That means the ticket often won't cover the Crewe - Manchester leg, or not without a long wait or an extra ticket. Northern advances can be cheap, but the trains are even slower!
You are thinking of the Liverpool/Glasgow/Edinburgh/Blackpool - London Avanti services which call at Crewe, but the poster above was talking about using tickets only valid on West Midlands Trains (LNR/WMR brands) between Crewe & London, which are the Crewe - London services starting at (bay) Platform 7.
Let’s keep this thread alive, price is not everything. I still have not come to a conclusion. Out of the routes mentioned above which is the most preferable and why? Opinions please. Honest reviews may help to positively sway my decision
So far @TT-ONR-NRN says £25 in their opinion is good value for London - Manchester. Although in comparison to what?
For example, for the return journey buying an advance at the same price would equal £50. At this stage, a railcard holder would be looking at a similar price to an off-peak return.
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