Fewest changes required: BDA to FBY

[W230]

Evening all. Elderly family members need to make this return journey later this month. We're trying to sort the fewest changes possible but are struggling to get anything remotely sensible from the search engines.

The option I think that would be easiest is:
Brundall - Norwich
Norwich - Liverpool South Parkway
Liverpool South Parkway - Formby

I'm wondering if I may need to look at getting off peak tickets rather than an AP as it's a real faff to get the right times across locations and most journeys are showing via London or via Leeds (either 5 or 6 changes which is a non-starter). Can this be completed easily enough via a TOC website etc, should I go to a station or just save the hassle and get a more flexible ticket?

While getting the best value is always a bonus I think it may end up being less hassle to pay more and not losing them in the network!

Any tips/advice appreciate here. Dates of travel are outward Tuesday 28th January to Thursday 30th January.

TIA

 

[A S Leib]

Elderly family members need to make this return journey later this month

Before anything else, I'm guessing they're eligible for Senior Railcards? Super off-peak not via London returns from Norwich to Liverpool South Parkway are £145 without senior railcards or £97 with them, so easily a net saving for that journey alone unless there's advance tickets available under ~£90 return if deciding to use advance tickets.

 

[AndyPJG]

National Rail Journey planner Brundall to Formby avoiding London Liverpool St comes up with 3 changes, Norwich, Liverpool Parkway and Sandhills.

 

[gray1404]

Unfortunately services from Formby are only running to Liverpool Central at the moment. The Ormskirk services are running to Liverpool South Parkway.

 

[W230]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Unfortunately services from Formby are only running to Liverpool Central at the moment. The Ormskirk services are running to Liverpool South Parkway.

I hadn't realised this, seems changing additionally at Sandhills may be the only/best option.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Thanks for the advice guys.



I hadn't realised this, seems changing additionally at Sandhills may be the only/best option.

How committed are the travellers to doing the whole journey by train, and how critical is cost?

I ask because it might be easier - but almost certainly more expensive - to ride the EMR train to its destination at Liverpool Lime Street and take a taxi to Formby. Or there's the cheaper (£2 or ENCTS pass) but slow option of getting a 47 or X2 bus from Queen Square bus station (a five minute walk from Lime Street station) to Formby.

 

[gray1404]

Depending on the time of day and where in Formby the final destination is. The bus can be just as quick as the train overall once you factor in walking to and from the station.

 

[30907]

I don't think you can beat that - South Parkway is a bit of a trek but Sandhills is same platform.

A valid alternative would be to change at Piccadilly and Southport but it involves a long wait at Piccy.

PS the forum's ticketing site suggests a good split at Peterborough.

 

[JBuchananGB]

It is a trek at Liverpool South Parkway, but there's no need to rush, as the trains from there to Sandhills run every 15 minutes, and at Sandhills you just step off one train, wait there and board the next Southport train, which is the next train on same platform. Members of my family have done that Norwich to Liverpool once. Just settle down and watch the world go by, I suppose.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It is a trek at Liverpool South Parkway, but there's no need to rush, as the trains from there to Sandhills run every 15 minutes, and at Sandhills you just step off one train, wait there and board the next Southport train, which is the next train on same platform. Members of my family have done that Norwich to Liverpool once. Just settle down and watch the world go by, I suppose.

Probably more walking involved if you were to stay on the EMR to Lime Street and use the loop to access the Northern Line. Though in inclement weather I'd probably change for Southport at Moorfields rather than Sandhills- it's still a same platform change but is underground so offers a bit more shelter.

 

[Statto]

I would change to the Southport train at Liverpool Central rather than Sandhills, they both stop on the same platform at Liverpool Central, plus Southport trains are often heaving so your more likely chance of getting a seat changing at Liverpool Central than Sandhills.

Also Liverpool Central is underground, were as Sandhills is elevated, & open to that bitter wind coming off the Mersey, yeah i know Sandhills does have indoor waiting rooms now but still wouldn't fancy changing at Sandhills.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I would change to the Southport train at Liverpool Central rather than Sandhills, they both stop on the same platform at Liverpool Central, plus Southport trains are often heaving so your more likely chance of getting a seat changing at Liverpool Central than Sandhills.

Also Liverpool Central is underground, were as Sandhills is elevated, & open to that bitter wind coming off the Mersey, yeah i know Sandhills does have indoor waiting rooms now but still wouldn't fancy changing at Sandhills.

Is it now pretty reliable which platform is used for turnbacks at Central? Back when I was using Merseyrail regularly (admittedly a long time ago now) the Ormskirks, which the Southports are presumably mirroring currently, could depart from either platform.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is it now pretty reliable which platform is used for turnbacks at Central? Back when I was using Merseyrail regularly (admittedly a long time ago now) the Ormskirks, which the Southports are presumably mirroring currently, could depart from either platform.

If that's a huge concern change at Moorfields. Sandhills is bleak at this time of year, big coat definitely needed.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

If that's a huge concern change at Moorfields. Sandhills is bleak at this time of year, big coat definitely needed.

I suggested Moorfields in #10. Was just querying the "same platform" point about Central in post #11. Though that post does raise a good point about crowding. Suppose it depends whether the passengers involved would rather be certain of a seat or not.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Will the Rail Sale make a difference?
We'll soon know - prices and booking should open tomorrow (Tue 14th).
No railcard discount, however.

If you are looking at Off Peak Return Fares (with Senior Railcard):
The £109.25 (not via London) fare is the same whether you book from Brundall (BDA) to Liverpool South Parkway (LPY), Lime St (LIV) or Formby (FBY).
So the best value is Brundall-Formby.
This is valid after 0900 in both directions.

There is a cheaper Off Peak Return ticket at £106.25 from Norwich (NRW) to Liverpool, but EMR will want £2.90 for BDA-NRW and Merseyrail will want £4.80 for LPY-FBY (single fares).
So this fare is poorer value for the throughout journey.

There is a Super Off Peak Return fare from Norwich to Liverpool (LPY or LIV) at £95.85, valid after 0930 each way.
This would still need the add-ons at each end amounting to £15.40, so the through Off Peak fare is still better value.

Looking at train times after 0900, the 0925 from Brundall would connect with the 0956 Norwich-Liverpool on the Off Peak ticket.
There's an 0937 valid with the Super Off Peak ticket, but only 6 minutes to connect at Norwich.

EMR trains return to Norwich at xx51 from Lime St and xx02 from Parkway.
The connection from Formby via LPY would be at xx52 an hour earlier, with 19 minutes to change at LPY.
The first valid train from Formby would be 0952 on the through Off Peak ticket.

 

[A S Leib]

Rail Sale fares for Norwich to Liverpool South Parkway are in BR Fares, with a placeholder price.

 

[Statto]

Is it now pretty reliable which platform is used for turnbacks at Central? Back when I was using Merseyrail regularly (admittedly a long time ago now) the Ormskirks, which the Southports are presumably mirroring currently, could depart from either platform.

Yep, Realtime Trains showing is Southport trains most of the day are terminating on P1 then going ECS using the turnback siding to depart to Southport from P2, it's what Ormskirk trains did before the revision.

Oh just to mention, if your not happy about changing at Liverpool Central then you could change at Moorfields, all Northbound Northern Line trains call same platform, still underground so your not open to the elements like Sandhills, but your not guaranteed to get a seat though.