Merseyrail Wirral Line - quick question please

[trainophile]

Hi, I'm going home (Southport to Hereford) a new way tomorrow, for a cheaper fare (ticket booked before Club 55 announced ). I have to change at Moorfields and catch a connection to Lime Street.

Just wondering if someone could reassure me that ALL trains departing Moorfields on the Wirral Line do stop at Lime Street. I've checked quickly and they do seem to, but it would be just my luck to jump on the only one that doesn't!

I could stay on the first train and get off at Central but I'm not sure of the walking route to Lime Street so don't want to get myself lost, especially as I have to find the right platform for Stafford when I get there.

 

[sonic2009]

Yes all trains on the wirral line platforms at Moorfields stop at Liverpool Lime Street.

they go :

St James ~ Moorfields ~ Lime Street ~ Central ~ St James

 

[Polarbear]

As posted above, all Wirral line trains from Moorfields call at Lime Street.

However, it's almost as quick to walk from Central to Lime St, especially given the longish walk at Moorfields.

From Central, exit the station, past Sainsburys & turn right at the road. Head a short way uphill to the next road on your left (McDonalds opposite & Bella Italia restaurant on the corner), and turn left. Follow this road and bear right with the road & you will see Lime St station in front of you. It's only around 5 minutes to walk.

If you head up the right hand side of the station on the outside, you should enter the station by platforms 7-9, where the Stafford train is most likely to depart from.

 

[sonic2009]

Walking Directions on Google Maps for Polarbear's Directions

 

[trainophile]

Wow thank you all, that's brilliant. Yes it does seem to make sense to walk, and I know there are sign posts on all major junctions in Liverpool Central shopping area, so if I allow myself extra time I'll probably do that. It's not going to be raining tomorrow is it lol?

Just as an aside - I'm sure it's not against the rules (although you never can tell), but as my route as per ticket booking tells me to change at Moorfields, and I would effectively be going one stop further to Liverpool Central, could that be construed as deviating from the terms of my Advance ticket?

Mind you the route also tells me to get the 11.36 at Moorfields, having arrived at 11.25, and I know I can easily get to the Wirral line platform and catch the 11.31, so that's probably "officially" against the AP ticket rules too. I'd have to be very unlucky for anyone to notice or query it though. It's not as if it's a "timed train" part of the journey.

Edited to add: What I DON'T want to do is get mixed up in the departing Labour conference delegates! I think they finish at lunch time, so I should be well clear.

 

[Intermodal]

There is debate to as if you can take varied routes or non-specified trains on a "connections" part of an AP journey. I would say you would have no problems at all catching an earlier train - no ticket checks would usually be done between those two stations anyway (I've never seen it as a frequent traveller for years). As for going to Liverpool Central - I don't think there would be any problems with that either as it would be a permitted route to go via James St (doubling back permitted within group stations) and I would expect that the barrier would accept your ticket.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[trainophile]

Cheers Andrew, will do. Bump this thread if I forget!

 

[Gareth]

The Merseyrail system is essentially a commuter/metro system so trains stop at every station on the line, bar some of the Chester trains at Capenhurst, but that's only due to capacity/tight turnaround issues at Chester.

I'd also go with getting off at Central and walking. I doubt your ticket would cause any problems, as I think most, if not all, tickets, don' t distinguish between the likes of Moorfields & Central - i.e. the whole 'LIVERPOOL STNS' thing.

 

[ChrisTheRef]

There'll be no problem with your ticket using either route. Lots of people use Central and then walk for long distance connections.

If, for whatever reason, your ticket doesn't open the barrier in Liverpool Central, any member of staff will let you through

 

[First class]

If the ticket is routed Any Permitted, Crewe or ATW & RMS ONLY you will have no issues using the ATGs at Liverpool Central.

BUT

It will be easier to go Southport-Liverpool S Parkway, then to Crewe, then to Hereford. No walk involved, and you will probably get an earlier Birmingham bound train.

 

[trainophile]

If the ticket is routed Any Permitted, Crewe or ATW & RMS ONLY you will have no issues using the ATGs at Liverpool Central.

BUT

It will be easier to go Southport-Liverpool S Parkway, then to Crewe, then to Hereford. No walk involved, and you will probably get an earlier Birmingham bound train.

Sadly no, it's an Advance ticket with booked trains Lime St to Stafford and Stafford to BHM. For another £3 I could have got the route you describe (I've used it often) which would have saved about an hour's travel too. Sometimes I wonder if I'm TOO parsimonious!

It'll be an, erm, adventure!

 

[IanXC]

If the ticket is routed Any Permitted, Crewe or ATW & RMS ONLY you will have no issues using the ATGs at Liverpool Central.

Whats route RMS when its at home?

 

[ChrisTheRef]

Whats route RMS when its at home?

It's flows priced by Merseyrail. Can't remember what it stands for, but I'm sure First Class can tell you...

 

[IanXC]

It's flows priced by Merseyrail. Can't remember what it stands for, but I'm sure First Class can tell you...

Can a route actually have 2 restrictions? I remember having a discussion about how a route can only be specified by 1 criteria rather than multiple...

 

[trainophile]

Quick update as promised. I bottled it and changed at Moorfields. Apart from the possible ticket barrier complications, it really was too hot this morning to venture onto the street with two bags to carry - never thought I'd say I was pleased to be in the Moorfields all-year-round fridge! I got a New Brighton train for the one stop to Lime Street.

Quite enjoyed the journey, but what a palaver at Lime Street - we all had to stand in a queue for about 20 minutes before they opened the barriers to let us board the train. It was like checking in at an airport! I was wondering whether Mr Branson had got his vehicles mixed up lol. Apparently there was a problem with the train that they had to fix before we could board.

Much confusion with passengers without a reservation trying to find somewhere to sit, as coaches A, B & C were fully reserved, only coach E was a free-for-all. Was glad I'd got an automatic seat res. with my booked ticket.

The air conditioning was a bit OTT - from sweltering outside I had to put my fleece on. Also train was a couple of minutes late departing so I only had 5 mins connection time at Stafford, but as it happened it was pretty straightforward.

So yes I'll use that route again, it made a nice change. Lots of scope for watching trains too, especially at BHM. Great value too. Hope they don't withdraw it now I've drawn attention to it.

 

[First class]

RMS is Merseyrail (Derived from Regional Railways Merseyside)
RWB is ATW (Regional Railways Wales & Borders)

....and so on.

ATW & RMS therefore means Arriva & Merseyrail only. Plenty of multi-TOC routed tickets around, see Club 55 and various LM/XC tickets.

 

[xtradj]

all wirral line trains stopped at every station until very recently when extra services were introduced meaning stops such as bache and capenhurst are not always stopping stations

 

[plannerman]

all wirral line trains stopped at every station until very recently when extra services were introduced meaning stops such as bache and capenhurst are not always stopping stations

All trains stop at Bache, but every other service during the daytime misses Capenhurst

 

[nedchester]

All trains stop at Bache, but every other service during the daytime misses Capenhurst

Grrr! (Says he who lives near Capenhurst!)