Huddersfield to Birmingham Xmas Eve

Depending on how things work out beforehand I may have to travel from Huddersfield to Birmingham on Xmas Eve, I normally travel via Manchester or Sheffield using XC for the second leg of my journey.
As Xmas Eve is one of the days earmarked for industrial action on XC I would be grateful if anyone could suggest alternative routes avoiding XC, where my HUD to BHM ticket would be valid.
Hopefully things will pan out OK and I will be able to travel on the Saturday, but just in case......
Many Thanks.

TPE to Manc, Northern/VT/ATW to Crewe or Stoke, then LM/VT to Birmingham

Merseysider said:

TPE to Manc, Northern/VT/ATW to Crewe or Stoke, then LM/VT to Birmingham

Click to expand...

Crewe is better, as the LM service requires a further change at Stafford from Stoke, and there is no VT service