Old Trafford to Hertfordshire?

[Class377]

I'm a Reading fan, and we have Man U away on March 16th. Problem is it's been picked for ESPN so it's been moved, meaning the game ends at 19:15 (let's call it 20 past for convenience).

I need to get back to Hertfordshire (I've identified Watford as the best station in terms of speed and convenience but I'll take any station around there, but not quite far north as Milton Keynes unfortunately) fairly quickly after full time.

I've identified the 20:35 train from Piccadilly (why do Virgin have a random 1 hour gap in their timetable about then? The rest of the evening there are half hourly services :roll which gets me to WFJ at 22:40 for £23.75 with a 16-25 Railcard. That's probably a bit too late to be ideal but the previous one is an hour earlier and I doubt getting to Piccadilly from Old Trafford by 19:35 (20 minutes after full time with 75,000 others) is even possible. Could potentially leave a bit early but even then it might be a squeeze.

So am I missing anything in the timetable? Another train/route that will get me back earlier? Is it even worth contemplating the East Coast Main Line with a midlands changeover for speed?

 

[bb21]

You won't have much to gain by crossing the Pennines to the other side. Don't forget that you will have to get back from London too.

You won't be able to make the last southbound MML service.

If I were you I would stick with the 2035.

 

[Class377]

Thanks

In my dawdling the standard ticket went up to £42.25 so I ended up going for a 1st class ticket at £25.10 (madly it's more than 40% off!), seems the cheapest deal?

 

[trickyvegas]

It's possible to walk from Old Trafford to Piccadilly in 45 minutes, if you're not confident with that with that there are numerous busses that stop outside the Ford dealership on Chester Road, the away end is happily in the corner of the ground closest so if you're on your toes you should get there before most.

 

[bb21]

Thanks

In my dawdling the standard ticket went up to £42.25 so I ended up going for a 1st class ticket at £25.10 (madly it's more than 40% off!), seems the cheapest deal?

Not bad, although you won't get much in terms of freebies. However considering that it is cheaper than the SVH, I think it is a pretty good deal.

 

[telstarbox]

And you won't have to sit with all the Man Utd fans going back down south in Standard if you win

 

[blue87]

The station directly behind the south stand is a good bet to get back to Piccadilly quickly. It's enterance is right opposite the away fans exit. Used it on several visits to OT.

 

[Anon Mouse]

Have you looked at National Express coaches? Have a few bevvies after the match and overnight it?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The station directly behind the south stand is a good bet to get back to Piccadilly quickly. It's enterance is right opposite the away fans exit. Used it on several visits to OT.

All depends how quick you are getting to the que. The last time I went to Old Trafford it took over half an hour to get onto the train.

 

[Max]

My friend who is a season ticket holder never bothers with the train after final whistle as the queues can be very long. My advice would be get out of the ground immediately after kick off and head swiftly onto Chester Road just to the south, where a convoy of buses waits to take fans to Piccadilly Gardens. If you are swift you should be in the city centre in no time.

 

[londonbridge]

Have you looked at National Express coaches? Have a few bevvies after the match and overnight it?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


All depends how quick you are getting to the que. The last time I went to Old Trafford it took over half an hour to get onto the train.

One year our away game at OT was moved to 5.30 same as the OP,was booked on the 20.35 from Piccadilly,came out the ground,queues already forming,could not get on the first train,next train was delayed as it was being strengthend,eventually got on a train and arrived at Piccadilly at nearly 20.50! Northern refused to help me after some discussion,by which time I wasn't in the mood to get into another discussion with Virgin staff,paid for a ticket on the overnight Nat X coach then contacted Virgin who refunded me the advance fare I'd paid for the 20.35.

 

[Lewisham2221]

My advice would be get out of the ground immediately after kick off

I don't think the OP was intending to leave quite that early