Basingstoke to Old Trafford

Booking for journey on Sunday 8th September.
A friend has a ticket for the 5th day of the 4th Ashes test at Old Trafford on Sunday 8th September. It is highly likely that he won't know whether there is cricket on that day or whether it will be worth going until 19.00 on Saturday 7th September so this limits options for advance booking. He doesn't mind paying for a ticket now if it can be cancelled relatively cheaply - basically prepared to "waste" up to £20 if it enables cheaper tickets to be accessed.

He is prepared to drive part of the way before making the rest of the journey by train or bus. He has free parking near London Victoria or could park in Birmingham for £5 but would need to factor in fuel costs of £13 or £30 respectively. No railcard. Happy enough if it's bus one way, train the other etc. Doesn't mind overnight journeys in one or both directions.

Wants to be at Old Trafford by 11.00 and wouldn't want to commit to leaving there before 19.00.

Any suggestions welcomed please.

An Off Peak Return from London Terminals to Manchester is £89.60 and can be purchased on the day of travel. This is a flexible ticket which allows any train to be taken, subject to the off peak time restrictions (there are none at weekends).

You can book Advance tickets and might be able to get a cheaper price if you can book ahead but you are limited to the booked train only. Advance tickets cannot be cancelled but the date and time of travel can be changed (but not the origin or destination) on payment of the difference in fare plus a £10 admin fee per ticket.

Hadders said:

An Off Peak Return from London Terminals to Manchester is £89.60 and can be purchased on the day of travel. This is a flexible ticket which allows any train to be taken, subject to the off peak time restrictions (there are none at weekends).

You can book Advance tickets and might be able to get a cheaper price if you can book ahead but you are limited to the booked train only. Advance tickets cannot be cancelled but the date and time of travel can be changed (but not the origin or destination) on payment of the difference in fare plus a £10 admin fee per ticket.

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First train from London to reach Manchester is the 08:10 and that doesn't get to Piccadilly until 10:53 so won't be at Old Trafford by 11am. Starting in Birmingham doesn't get you into Manchester until 10:38

Kite159 said:

First train from London to reach Manchester is the 08:10 and that doesn't get to Piccadilly until 10:53 so won't be at Old Trafford by 11am. Starting in Birmingham doesn't get you into Manchester until 10:38

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Checking Basingstoke to Manchester on National Rail enquiries suggests a journey time of 4 and a half to five hours. Trains start late Sunday morning, so whether via London or Reading, it cannot be done. Perhaps it would be necessary to drive as far north as somewhere that has a service that can reach Old Trafford before 11 am. Motorways are unlikely to be congested early Sunday mornings. Perhaps drive to Crewe?

Crewe/Sandbach/Holmes Chapel are good shouts, possibly Stoke/Kidsgrove could work too as that is the start/end of Northern services into Manchester.

Driving to Birchwood could work but is a bit all around the houses from the M6.

Knutsford on a Sunday perhaps but don't think the trains are hourly on that line yet.

Think anywhere further North or South on a Sunday would be not worth attempting.

I wouldn't recommend this as anything other than a last resort, as overnight coaches are hell on earth, but if they can make their way to London, there is a 1am Megabus departure from Victoria coach station arriving Manchester 7am on Sunday 8th September which is currently priced at £14.

Gathursty said:

Crewe/Sandbach/Holmes Chapel are good shouts, possibly Stoke/Kidsgrove could work too as that is the start/end of Northern services into Manchester.

Driving to Birchwood could work but is a bit all around the houses from the M6.

Knutsford on a Sunday perhaps but don't think the trains are hourly on that line yet.

Think anywhere further North or South on a Sunday would be not worth attempting.

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Definitely don’t bother with Knutsford, trains only every 2 hours on Sundays, and when there is an event on at Manchester there is every likelihood you won’t even get on the train as rammed by Knutsford, the Sunday ‘service ‘ is a joke!

Kite159 said:

First train from London to reach Manchester is the 08:10 and that doesn't get to Piccadilly until 10:53 so won't be at Old Trafford by 11am. Starting in Birmingham doesn't get you into Manchester until 10:38

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If there is enough play to make the journey worthwhile then missing a couple of overs isn't too big an issue IMO.
Another option is Milton Keynes Central, whence the Saver is £69 but I assume parking is payable. Two trains to MAN within 10 min!
Googlemaps suggests a Basingstoke-Heathrow bus (NX coach?) at 0525, tube and train.