Trainspotting this summer in Manchester/Liverpool

[MatthewE707]

I'm planning a trainspotting trip this summer to Liverpool / Manchester / Sheffield / Leeds, and I've been investigating Lime Street station. I believe there are only ticket barriers to platforms 1-5, but on the National Rail station map, it seems to show 'ungated' access to platforms 1-5 up platform 6 and left past the 'Network Rail Lounge'. Does anyone know if this is actually possible?

 

[Bletchleyite]

No, there's no public access up that side, it's gated off as you can see on this Google Streetview link:

Street View · Google Maps

Explore a place in a more immersive way in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[185]

it seems to show 'ungated' access to platforms 1-5 up platform 6 and left past the 'Network Rail Lounge'. Does anyone know if this is actually possible?

Staff gate blocks access... up platform 6 you'd fall off. ....edit as posted above.

Buy a £6 trains-buses-ferries Saveaway... come and go as you please through the barriers.

 

[MatthewE707]

Ok, thank you!

 

[MatthewE707]

Are the trains in platforms 1-5 visible without going through the barriers?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Are the trains in platforms 1-5 visible without going through the barriers?

Not particularly easily, only through the gateline itself which would have you in the way and so the staff may ask you to move.

 

[MatthewE707]

Ok, thanks.

 

[childwallblues]

Just go to the top of Platform 6 and you will see all the arrivals/departures.

 

[MatthewE707]

Approximately how long does it take to walk from the Northern line to the Wirral line (and vice versa) at Liverpool Central? Is Moorfields quicker?

 

[Djgr]

Approximately how long does it take to walk from the Northern line to the Wirral line (and vice versa) at Liverpool Central? Is Moorfields quicker?

If you find the escalator down on the Northern Line platform at Central, about 2 minutes from Northern to Wirral.

You have to go the long way around from the Wirral line to the Northern line and so about 5 minutes.

I don't think Moorfields is quicker.

 

[MatthewE707]

Is there anywhere better to spot as many Merseyrail trains as possible (in a fixed amount of time)?

 

[Djgr]

Is there anywhere better to spot as many Merseyrail trains as possible (in a fixed amount of time)?

I wouldn't have thought so. However, if you don't want to go crazy through being underground for hours you might want to consider Sandhills for your Northern line ones.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Is there anywhere better to spot as many Merseyrail trains as possible (in a fixed amount of time)?

I think a while ago it was established here that the best way to see all the 777s (if I remember correctly) was to check the sidings at West Kirkby/New Brighton, passing Birkenhead North depot, then stay at one of the 5 stations on the Wirral Line loop for enough time to all the ones on the Wirral line, then go to Sandhills/Moorfield/Liverpool Central for a while to have all the Northern line trains pass, then go past Kirkdale Depot, then go up to Southport to see the ones in the sidings there.

Since there's nowhere to see the Wirral and Northern Line at the same time, I think the best bet to see the most in the least time is any of the Wirral line loop stations (Technically Hamilton Square is the fastest but you'd need to get there first).

 

[Bevan Price]

Edge Hill is better for spotting than Lime Street, as you may also see some of the biomass workings.

 

[MatthewE707]

Is it possible to get between all platforms at Manchester Piccadilly without going through barriers? (presumably not 13/14, but the others?)

 

[jfollows]

Is it possible to get between all platforms at Manchester Piccadilly without going through barriers? (presumably not 13/14, but the others?)

Yes.
Including 13/14 although sometimes there are ticket checkers in the way.
1-12 is usually clear over the footbridge, although 12 isn’t directly connected to the footbridge.

 

[MatthewE707]

Great, thank you!

 

[Bevan Price]

Yes.
Including 13/14 although sometimes there are ticket checkers in the way.
1-12 is usually clear over the footbridge, although 12 isn’t directly connected to the footbridge.

You can see everything in Piccadilly Platforms 13/14 from the outer end of Platforms 8/9.