Skipton to Southport in less than 3 hours (Northern Connect?)

LCC106 · 29 Apr 2019

Bletchleyite said:
For the record car parking in Southport is both easy and cheap, particularly off-season. There are even a few car parks where you can park free for a few hours (e.g. the one by the bowling alley/Premier Inn unless it's changed since I last went). And a park and ride.

No longer free to my surprise on Easter Sunday so a trip to one of several nice parks instead.

RailUK Forums

Cambus731 · 29 Apr 2019

I havent looked at the actual bus/train times, so Im not sure how well they would connect. But my instinct would be to get the X43 to Burnley Manchester Road stn. Then the train to Preston. Then the Stagecoach bus to Southport. I believe the bus can be caught from the vicinity of Preston station?

Bletchleyite · 29 Apr 2019

LCC106 said:
No longer free to my surprise on Easter Sunday so a trip to one of several nice parks instead.

Sorry, which one is no longer free, the bowling alley car park? That's recent then, as a month ago it was 3 hours free there.

LCC106 · 29 Apr 2019

Bletchleyite, as I understand it, the small one under the pier and the one where Chiquitos and the other restaurants are. Didn’t look at the McDonalds side of the road.

Bletchleyite · 29 Apr 2019

LCC106 said:
Bletchleyite, as I understand it, the small one under the pier and the one where Chiquitos and the other restaurants are. Didn’t look at the McDonalds side of the road.

Yes, that one. That is a very recent change then - that was 3 hours free up to a month ago. Will have to tip my sister off as she always parks there.

Ken H · 29 Apr 2019

while in Soutport you could go to Lord St Morrisons/Travelodge. the clock tower is what remains of Lord St Station. Morrisons is built on the site of the trainshed.

https://goo.gl/maps/GXyFDXJDD9D7fmhdA

al78 · 29 Apr 2019

jayah said:
3hr10 on the train, 6hr on a bicycle.

If you are a slow cyclist. A strong club cyclist could beat the train on that journey, it is about 50 miles.

Pyreneenguy · 29 Apr 2019

A bit of nostalgia :

Southport-Preston closed in September, 1964. However, there was sufficient pressure the following summer to operate a Colne- Southport service on Saturdays only until 4 September, routed via Bamber Bridge, Moss Lane Junction and the North Burscough curve. It did not run the following summer. Times were :- Colne 08.48 arriving Southport 10.35. Return left Southport 19.40 arrived Coln 21.22.

jamesst · 29 Apr 2019

To be utterly honest I'd just ditch Southport and go to Liverpool. Far more to do and more life to the place!

xotGD · 29 Apr 2019

Alternatives from Skipton:

1. Change at Carnforth and go to Arnside. Lovely place to visit (says the person who just spent the weekend there!) and a scenic journey to get there.
2. Book on the Scarborough Spa Express for a trip to the coast in style. OK, it's the other coast, but living in the middle of the country offers that flexibility.
3. The Yorkshire Dales is without rival; stay at home!

Ken H · 29 Apr 2019

xotGD said:
Alternatives from Skipton:

1. Change at Carnforth and go to Arnside. Lovely place to visit (says the person who just spent the weekend there!) and a scenic journey to get there.
...

good chippy (with caff) at arnside. but then get the next train and visit Ulverston

Bevan Price · 29 Apr 2019

Cambus731 said:
I havent looked at the actual bus/train times, so Im not sure how well they would connect. But my instinct would be to get the X43 to Burnley Manchester Road stn. Then the train to Preston. Then the Stagecoach bus to Southport. I believe the bus can be caught from the vicinity of Preston station?

Yes, the bus passes over the bridge at the north end of Preston station.

randyrippley · 29 Apr 2019

bobbyrail said:
My advise is to forget Southport and go to Morecambe instead, similar set up to Southport and you can go Skipton to Morecambe with no changes in 90 mins on a weekday.

Have you ever actually been to Morecambe?
Except for walking along the prom, the only entertainment is birdwatching. And watching the traffic lights change......
its a squalid dirty town with a mud beach, all the entertainment venues have long gone

Ken H · 30 Apr 2019

randyrippley said:
Have you ever actually been to Morecambe?
Except for walking along the prom, the only entertainment is birdwatching. And watching the traffic lights change......
its a squalid dirty town with a mud beach, all the entertainment venues have long gone

quite nice views across to the southern lakes. and a nice eric morecambe statue. the old station was nice but thats a pub now. the fairground has gone so not a lot there.

LCC106 · 30 Apr 2019

Bletchleyite said:
Yes, that one. That is a very recent change then - that was 3 hours free up to a month ago. Will have to tip my sister off as she always parks there.

The pay and display machine used to give you free parking for so many hours by pressing a button. The machines have been replaced with new ones without the facility. Worth her double checking in case I’ve got it wrong.

DynamicSpirit · 30 Apr 2019

Ken H said:
quite nice views across to the southern lakes. and a nice eric morecambe statue. the old station was nice but thats a pub now. the fairground has gone so not a lot there.

I'm not sure how useful this discussion is to the OP, who specifically wanted to go to Southport. But, in defence of Morecambe: It's a reasonable walk along the promenade (or short bus ride) from Heysham, which features St. Peter's Church and some lovely views over the bay. Also, I'd argue you probably need to consider Morecambe and Lancaster together since they are basically part of the same urban area. A Dayrider bus ticket (£5 adult, £12ish family) will get you to Lancaster (Ashton Memorial, Williamson Park, amazing walks along the canal, museum, pretty good market on Weds and Sat, very frequent buses from Morecambe) and Carnforth (railway station/museum, although a longer journey and less frequent buses). Personally I could easily spend a few days enjoying the area (although it does help that I used to live there and so know it pretty well).

xotGD · 30 Apr 2019

Ken H said:
good chippy (with caff) at arnside. but then get the next train and visit Ulverston

You need to venture further than the chippy in Arnside! Lovely shoreline walk with views across the estuary then out over Morecambe Bay. Several galleries and antique shops to browse, and 68/88 combos to photograph on the viaduct. I'd also recommend the coffee in the Jazz Cafe across the road from the station. Basically, that was my weekend!

randyrippley · 30 Apr 2019

xotGD said:
You need to venture further than the chippy in Arnside! Lovely shoreline walk with views across the estuary then out over Morecambe Bay. Several galleries and antique shops to browse, and 68/88 combos to photograph on the viaduct. I'd also recommend the coffee in the Jazz Cafe across the road from the station. Basically, that was my weekend!

If you like wildlife, explore Arnside Knott, fantastic for butterflies

stuart100100 · 30 Apr 2019

LCC106 said:
The pay and display machine used to give you free parking for so many hours by pressing a button. The machines have been replaced with new ones without the facility. Worth her double checking in case I’ve got it wrong.

It was still 3 hours free on Easter Monday (the carpark where Vue, F&B's etc is)

You only need to use the machines when leaving if staying over 3 hours

JBuchananGB · 30 Apr 2019

Please come to Southport by train from Skipton. 3 hours each way and 6 hours here:-
Leave Skipton 7.55, arrive Southport 11.03
Leave Southport 17.24, arrive Skipton 20.26

This is Saturday timetable using TPE between Leeds and Manchester.

randyrippley · 30 Apr 2019

JBuchananGB said:
Please come to Southport by train from Skipton. 3 hours each way and 6 hours here:-
Leave Skipton 7.55, arrive Southport 11.03
Leave Southport 17.24, arrive Skipton 20.26

This is Saturday timetable using TPE between Leeds and Manchester.

Saturday timetable..........
the chances of Northern actually running a service between Manchester and Southport are a bit thin

JBuchananGB · 30 Apr 2019

Now let’s not be cynical, the strike days are over. A glance at RTT for last Saturday shows a full service operated.

Mathew S · 30 Apr 2019

randyrippley said:
Saturday timetable..........
the chances of Northern actually running a service between Manchester and Southport are a bit thin

We should be fair to Northern, since the strikes finished Saturdays have been much, much better. Sundays are still a disaster zone, but Saturdays are much improved.

Bletchleyite · 30 Apr 2019

stuart100100 said:
It was still 3 hours free on Easter Monday (the carpark where Vue, F&B's etc is)

You only need to use the machines when leaving if staying over 3 hours

That's how it was when I last used it, ta.

Ken H · 1 May 2019

randyrippley said:
If you like wildlife, explore Arnside Knott, fantastic for butterflies

i fancied walking from arnside to silverdale (park @ silverdale, train to arnside, walk back)

JBuchananGB · 1 May 2019

I have found that a slightly (4 minutes) quicker, but much cheaper (according to trainsplit.com) journey exists via Lancaster.
depart Skipton 07.59 arrive Southport 11.03 (change at Lancaster and Wigan)
spend a whole 7 hours in Southport (could you take the excitement?) then
depart Southport 18.47 arrive Skipton 21.41 (change at Wigan, Preston and Lancaster)
Adult off-peak day return fare £33.50 splitting at Preston and Wigan.

Skie · 1 May 2019

You'd be best going via Lime Street. Southport is a shadow of what it used to be sadly, so going via Liverpool at least gives you the opportunity to visit Liverpool as well, which is a much better prospect.

Mathew S · 2 May 2019

Skie said:
You'd be best going via Lime Street. Southport is a shadow of what it used to be sadly, so going via Liverpool at least gives you the opportunity to visit Liverpool as well, which is a much better prospect.

Given that Skipton to Southport is 4 hours +, longer if you want to see anything of Liverpool outside Lime Street station (or the walk from Lime Street to Central), I'm not sure that's especially practical for a day out though?

deltic08 · 6 May 2019

JBuchananGB said:
I have found that a slightly (4 minutes) quicker, but much cheaper (according to trainsplit.com) journey exists via Lancaster.
depart Skipton 07.59 arrive Southport 11.03 (change at Lancaster and Wigan)
spend a whole 7 hours in Southport (could you take the excitement?) then
depart Southport 18.47 arrive Skipton 21.41 (change at Wigan, Preston and Lancaster)
Adult off-peak day return fare £33.50 splitting at Preston and Wigan.

That is a rip-off for only 50 miles as the crow flies. I recently travelled from Cardiff Queen Street to Bristol TM day return for £13.

Mutant Lemming · 6 May 2019

Cambus731 said:
I havent looked at the actual bus/train times, so Im not sure how well they would connect. But my instinct would be to get the X43 to Burnley Manchester Road stn. Then the train to Preston. Then the Stagecoach bus to Southport. I believe the bus can be caught from the vicinity of Preston station?

I would tend to agree and using this route it can actually be done in under 3 hours (based on going next Saturday as an example) :
- Witch Way bus dep Skipton 07:50 arrive Burnley Manchester Rd 08:57
- Train dep Burnley Manchester Rd 09:05 arrive Preston 09:43
- X2 dep Preston 09:54 arrive Southport 10:37
2 hours 47 minutes

Skipton to Southport in less than 3 hours (Northern Connect?)

Established Member

RailUK Forums

Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

On Moderation

Established Member

Member

Member

Established Member

On Moderation

Established Member

Established Member

On Moderation

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Member

Member

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

On Moderation

Member

Member

Established Member

On Moderation

Established Member