Urmston to Chester - Valid routes?

[Mcr Warrior]

What valid routes could be used for different out and back itineraries in conjunction with a walk up Urmston -> Chester ticket?

Via Manchester Piccadilly and Northwich?

Via Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe?

Via Liverpool Lime Street and Birkenhead Central?

Via Warrington Central / Warrington Bank Quay?

Any others?

Or better to pay the extra for a 'Cheshire Day Ranger'?

 

[mangyiscute]

From what I can tell using the routeing guide, Urmston allows travel from both the Manchester group and the Warrington Group. The Warrington group gives travel only on the direct line from Bank Quay to Chester. The Manchester Group allows travel either via Warrington, via Newton-le-Willows and Warrington or via Northwich or via Crewe. So from that every route listed besides the liverpool route would be valid, plus I think you would be allowed to travel into Manchester and then out of Manchester on a train to Chester via Warrington, if you wished to travel that route but avoid having to walk between the stations in Warrington.
A Cheshire day ranger would just give the extra validity of via Liverpool, I can't see any other plausible routes it offers.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Thanks. So NOT via Liverpool Lime Street, and one change there for Chester, notwithstanding that 30 of the 70 trains that call at Urmston each weekday are direct to Lime Street?!

P.S. Another route option which I've not considered and I think might be o.k. is via Liverpool South Parkway (and onward direct to Chester with TfW).

 

[Haywain]

Another route option which I've not considered and I think might be o.k. is via Liverpool South Parkway

I can't see how that would be a permitted route, given what has already been stated about the routeing points and the routes they make available.

 

[mangyiscute]

If you want a simple one change journey, go to Manchester and change at Piccadilly or Oxford road for a train direct to Chester, either via Warrington or Northwich, which should be faster than through Liverpool too

 

[Watershed]

What valid routes could be used for different out and back itineraries in conjunction with a walk up Urmston -> Chester ticket?

Lots!

Via Manchester Piccadilly and Northwich?

Via Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe?

Via Liverpool Lime Street and Birkenhead Central?

Via Warrington Central / Warrington Bank Quay?

These are all permitted.

Any others?

• via Deansgate and optionally Manchester Oxford Rd and/or Victoria, then either
  • via Newton-le-Willows to Warrington Bank Quay, or
  • via (doubling back through) Urmston to Warrington Central,
  • then via Acton Grange to Chester.
• via Liverpool South Parkway and the Halton Curve to Chester

I can't see how that would be a permitted route, given what has already been stated about the routeing points and the routes they make available.

It's permitted by virtue of being within 3 miles of the shortest route.

 

[Haywain]

It's permitted by virtue of being within 3 miles of the shortest route.

I was just glancing at a map, which suggested to me that it would be a lot more than that!

 

[Watershed]

I was just glancing at a map, which suggested to me that it would be a lot more than that!

It's only within 3 miles because the shortest route is determined without considering walks between stations (e.g. between Warrington Central and Bank Quay in this case).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

So is via Liverpool Lime Street / Birkenhead Central a permitted route for the point to point ticket?

 

[Watershed]

So is via Liverpool Lime Street / Birkenhead Central a permitted route for the point to point ticket?

Yes.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Journey made today. Out via Liverpool South Parkway. Return via Warrington Bank Quay / Warrington Central. All trains ran to time. Ticket barrier at Chester retained outward ticket, so just as well that no delays encountered. Otherwise, all went straightforwardly and it didn't rain!

P.S. Is Helsby really Cheshire's "best kept station"?

 

[Alex365Dash]

P.S. Is Helsby really Cheshire's "best kept station"?

From what I recall correctly, Cheshire has a lot of best kept stations!

 

[northwichcat]

P.S. Is Helsby really Cheshire's "best kept station"?

From what I recall correctly, Cheshire has a lot of best kept stations!

There's different catergories and awards every year, so numerous stations have signs saying they won something in some year. Some of the awards are down to volunteers planting flowers or installing art projects - so nothing to do with the relevant train operator taking good care of the station!

2022 Winners

www.bestkeptstations.org.uk

Ticket barrier at Chester retained outward ticket, so just as well that no delays encountered.

That's always been the case since they've been installed. When they were first installed there was still the free city centre rail link. Up until the barriers being installed you needed to show your train ticket to travel for free, but once the barriers were installed staff told you that you could let the barriers eat your ticket as you don't need to show it on the bus anymore.