Helsby to Manchester Picc - Commute

[Cheshire Rover]

I'm about to start a new job based in Manchester city centre so for the first time since I left school (a long, long time ago) I am on a route where I can commute by train. When I used to occasionally travel to Sheffield during the rush hour a few years ago, the train from Helsby to Picc was busy but there were seats available. I'm thinking of travelling on either the 0721 or the 0749. Does anyone who travels this route have any idea how full these trains usually are when they leave Helsby?
Many Thanks.

 

[island]

This probably isn't a tickets and fares question. Can a moderator shift it?

 

[LexyBoy]

This probably isn't a tickets and fares question. Can a moderator shift it?

Unless the OP would also like advice on how to keep their costs to a minimum (admittedly they didn't mention this but who doesn't )

Without any local knowledge, I would hazard a guess that those trains are rammed by the time they get to Manchester but not so bad from Helsby. In particular the 0721 starts from Chester so I'd expect it to be the quieter of those two.

edit:
I can't see any better fare than a Helsby-Manchester season from a quick look, though there may well be ways to get it cheaper - in particular if you require any other transport at either end there may be tickets for this which could be combined with your rail ticket.

The usual season ticket advice is as usual: buy for the period you actually require so you're not paying for travel at weekend or on holidays when it's not used. Tickets can be issued for any period between one calendar month and 10 months (more than 10 months is equivalent to an annual ticket), so work out how long you need or just ask for a season valid until a particular date. Also remember that your season is valid on any permitted route and at any intermediate stations, and if travelling overdistance your need only buy a ticket for the portion not covered by your season - the train need not stop at the "changeover" station in this case.

 

[bb21]

(more than 10 months is equivalent to an annual ticket)

10 months 12 days

 

[Cheshire Rover]

Unless the OP would also like advice on how to keep their costs to a minimum (admittedly they didn't mention this but who doesn't )

Without any local knowledge, I would hazard a guess that those trains are rammed by the time they get to Manchester but not so bad from Helsby. In particular the 0721 starts from Chester so I'd expect it to be the quieter of those two.

edit:
I can't see any better fare than a Helsby-Manchester season from a quick look, though there may well be ways to get it cheaper - in particular if you require any other transport at either end there may be tickets for this which could be combined with your rail ticket.

The usual season ticket advice is as usual: buy for the period you actually require so you're not paying for travel at weekend or on holidays when it's not used. Tickets can be issued for any period between one calendar month and 10 months (more than 10 months is equivalent to an annual ticket), so work out how long you need or just ask for a season valid until a particular date. Also remember that your season is valid on any permitted route and at any intermediate stations, and if travelling overdistance your need only buy a ticket for the portion not covered by your season - the train need not stop at the "changeover" station in this case.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Tracky]

The 0651 is booked as a 2 car from Llandudno Junction, the 0721 is a 3 car starting at Chester but connecting with a Holyhead-Cardiff train so its well filled. You will get a seat on either if you join at Helsby but both trains are fairly full by Runcorn/Warrington and full and standing at Newton le Willows...

 

[scrapy]

The OP would be covered for their journey on a Runcorn East to Hale season (valid via Chester or Manchester). Not only is this slightly cheaper than a Helsby to Manchester season it would also allow the OP travel to Chester, Stockport and stations on the Mid Cheshire line.

 

[Cheshire Rover]

There is one lad who has a Patricroft-Manchester season with the return parts of Helsby-Manch and Manch-Helsby savers hiding behind... Hopefully it won't be long now...

The 0651 is booked as a 2 car from Llandudno Junction, the 0721 is a 3 car starting at Chester but connecting with a Holyhead-Cardiff train so its well filled. You will get a seat on either if you join at Helsby but both trains are fairly full by Runcorn/Warrington and full and standing at Newton le Willows...

Thank you. I'll be trying out both in the coming weeks I imagine. I'm looking forward to not having to drive 76 miles a day at the rush hour. as I have done for the past 10 years.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The OP would be covered for their journey on a Runcorn East to Hale season (valid via Chester or Manchester). Not only is this slightly cheaper than a Helsby to Manchester season it would also allow the OP travel to Chester, Stockport and stations on the Mid Cheshire line.

WOuld a straightforward Helsby to Picc season ticket not allow a route via the Mid Cheshire/Chester? That was going to be my 'second' route in case of problems on the ATW route- Picc - Chester - Helsby via the Mid Cheshire or Picc - Crewe - Chester - Helsby? Or are these new routes not valid ones?

 

[scrapy]

Yes those routes would actually be valid. The Runcorn-Hale option would make it a bit cheaper but would not be valid via Crewe.

 

[Cheshire Rover]

Yes those routes would actually be valid. The Runcorn-Hale option would make it a bit cheaper but would not be valid via Crewe.

Thanks. I don't mind paying a little bit more for the added flexibility it provides. I must admit I don't fancy riding the Mid Cheshire Line much on those dreadful Pacers but sometimes needs must and the route provides back up in case of problems with ATW, as we have recently seen at Picc . Also the Crewe option may actually be more comfortable. It will probably all just come down to times in the end.
You've been very helpful.

 

[Cheshire Rover]

As a seasoned veteran of a whole week now on this route I can declare that from Helsby, the 0721 has seats whilst the 0749 is standing room only and very unpleasant. I have been taking the 1651 and the 1721 home from Piccadilly and they are both fine from Picc, rammed from Oxford road. Yesterday the 0721 terminated at Oxford Road for some reason.

 

[pemma]

I must admit I don't fancy riding the Mid Cheshire Line much on those dreadful Pacers

The 06:35 Chester to Stockport and the 06:59 Chester to Manchester are both booked for 150s. The 16:58 and 17:58 Stockport to Chester services are also booked for 150s.

 

[Cheshire Rover]

The 06:35 Chester to Stockport and the 06:59 Chester to Manchester are both booked for 150s. The 16:58 and 17:58 Stockport to Chester services are also booked for 150s.

I prefer the Class 175, being over 6ft tall. Plenty of leg room. Mouldsworth to Manchester could be an alternative route for me but it takes so long..... OK on a Saturday run out but not on a cold, wet Monday morning.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

The 06:35 Chester to Stockport and the 06:59 Chester to Manchester are both booked for 150s. The 16:58 and 17:58 Stockport to Chester services are also booked for 150s.

and they normally stick to them!

 

[pemma]

I prefer the Class 175, being over 6ft tall. Plenty of leg room. Mouldsworth to Manchester could be an alternative route for me but it takes so long..... OK on a Saturday run out but not on a cold, wet Monday morning.

I certainly agree a 175 is better. I was just pointing out there weren't all 142s.

and they normally stick to them!

I think the morning two both finish up on the Buxton line later in the day, so it's easiest for Northern to ensure that they are 150s or if they aren't that they are 156s not 142s.

I'm not sure why the 16:58 Stockport to Chester is a 150 while the 17:09 Manchester to Chester is a 142 given the latter is busier from Stockport onwards and both units come ECS from Newton Heath. It used to be a 156 did a Buxton-Hazel Grove service and that unit finished up on the Stockport-Chester, so there was a logical explanation of why the 156 was on the quieter service but now there doesn't seem to be one.

 

[Thomas6187]

Yesterday the 0721 terminated at Oxford Road for some reason.

Due to a track fault on Plt 13 at Piccadilly, Single Line Working throught Plt 14 meant some train terminated early at Oxford Rd