Cheapest way to travel from Liverpool to Reading using train and free bus pass

[30907]

Traveline is sometimes pessimistic for longer journeys like that - I think it has a maximum number of changes or maximum journey time built into the system. I'm certain that it can be done, though rather inadvisable!

Good point. DB is similar, max 8 changes IIRC.

 

[Haywain]

Good point. DB is similar, max 8 changes IIRC.

Traveline is probably using current timetables which may just be a little more sparse than ‘normal’.

 

[Statto]

Virtually any journey can be done entirely using local bus services - for this journey you might change at Chester, Crewe, Hanley, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Coventry, Rugby, Daventry, Banbury, and Oxford, but there are obviously near enough infinitely many variations on that route.

However, the journey time would be incredibly long, making it very impractical even with a free pass. And I doubt you could do a journey of that length in a single day, given a few of those are hourly services.

I wouldn't go via Wolverhampton, it can be quicker Stafford-Cannock-Birmingham, & i think there's more buses via Cannock too, the X8 Wolverhampton-Birmingham takes about 90 minutes alone, although the X51 takes 80 minutes Cannock-Birmingham

The bus Stafford-Wolverhampton has been cut, NXWM don't seem operate the route anymore, & current operator only has a handful of through journey's Monday to Friday only, even then they can take 85-95 minutes

 

[gray1404]

So is Milton Keynes the best station to head to by train, given the good ticket price, for this journey before switching to my free bus pass? Or is there a better alternative?

 

[Statto]

How about train Liverpool-Hemel Hempstead instead, you can get some good deals on LNW, if you don't mind not using Avanti WC, then bus, Carousel, 1 Hemel-High Wycombe, & Arriva 800/850 High Wycombe-Reading

Carousel 1 timetable

https://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/cms_page_media/4122/Joint_One_Timetable_September_2020_V9_-_PRINT.pdf

Arriva 800/850 timetable

https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/4516397/800-850-arriva-temporary-timetable-january-2021.pdf

 

[gray1404]

How about train Liverpool-Hemel Hempstead instead, you can get some good deals on LNW, if you don't mind not using Avanti WC, then bus, Carousel, 1 Hemel-High Wycombe, & Arriva 800/850 High Wycombe-Reading

Carousel 1 timetable

https://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/cms_page_media/4122/Joint_One_Timetable_September_2020_V9_-_PRINT.pdf

Arriva 800/850 timetable

https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/4516397/800-850-arriva-temporary-timetable-january-2021.pdf

Thank you. I'll look into this. I'm actually torn between Hemel Hempstead or Watford Junction so I'll check if the onward connections from Watford are any better.

Thanks.