ValleyLines142
Established Member
Just thought I'd give a quick report of my trip to Manchester yesterday!
Turned up at Cardiff Central yesterday for the 0700 to Manchester, the daily Voyager service operated by CrossCountry. It was due to depart from platform 0, as the departure boards said, then at about 0650 there was a platform change and it went to platform 1. Not quite sure why though; it didn't seem to make sense as 175002 was at the front of platform 1 with 1W11 0650 to Manchester (ex-0504 from Carmarthen). For those of you who know the layout at Cardiff, getting from platform 0 to platform 1 involves walking back down the stairs, out of the Marks and Spencer store, through the main concourse, through the barriers and up. Not fun
Anyway, 221124 was our Voyager for the morning and we got on and found a good seat. Went to Bristol on a perfect run but remembered then that we change direction at Temple Meads. I'm not a good backwards traveller at all; I can barely go from Cardiff to Newport backwards without feeling slightly queasy so I'd asked my friend the day before if she wouldn't mind swapping as she is fine to go backwards. We swapped seats and proceeded northbound towards Bristol Parkway and up. We travelled very slowly on the stretch between Bromsgrove and Birmingham; admittedly this is probably due to the fact that it's a very busy section of line. Arrived into platform 7B at Birmingham and arrived at 0926, exactly on time! Good old CrossCountry; don't think I'd expect this from First Great Western!
New Street is currently undergoing a lot of work, and the conductor on the train when making the announcement into Birmingham did say this and also said that there would be staff on hand to help passengers who may get lost; I can see where he's coming from as it's a huge mixture of tracks under the Pallasades! Hopefully it's refurbishment will make it look a lot nicer
However, sod's law, our train reversed again; I only thought this happened at Bristol, so we had to swap again. We then passed through Smethwick, Dudley Port and Tipton on the way to Wolverhampton. Saw 390156 working 1B13 0945 to Euston; crikey moses I forget how long these 11-car Pendos are! The rear coach actually hung over the platform!
Onto Stafford next and Stoke-on-Trent, where a huge hen party got on ready for a weekend up in Manchester. It was quite busy on the train at this point. We then went through to Stockport and travelled on the brilliant high approach onto Piccadilly before arriving perfectly on time at 1059! A great journey, especially at only £11.90 for an Advance single (16-25 RC).
We then met up with our friend who had travelled on a First TransPennine service from Northallerton (I think she had travelled on 1P21 0743 from Newcastle, as she had just over a half hour wait for us, and 1P21 arrived at Manchester at 1018 so that sounds about right).
We then proceeded down to the Metrolink stop. We were going to get a Day Ticket for Bus/Tram use at £6.50 for an Adult, but we couldn't find the child option, which was somewhat annoying. They then purchased a Groupsave Ticket for four adults at £10.50, which I could have gone on, so I ended up wasting £6.50. I rang up Customer Services and asked if I could get a refund, but they said there was nothing I could do, which was fair enough. However, I then realised that I had the right ticket, as we needed to catch a bus later in the day.
We were going to catch a tram to Shudehill. Admittedly, it is only a fifteen minute walk, but the weather was absolutely horrendous in the morning in Manchester and I didn't have an umbrella. Two Altrincham services, two Eccles services, a Bury service (which we could have got, but we were trying to sort out the tickets in the machine) and a MediaCity UK service arrived, but of course these all go from Piccadilly out towards Moseley Street and Deansgate, instead of towards Market Street and Shudehill. Eventually, a M5000 (didn't catch the number!) arrived on a Bury service and we took the short journey to Shudehill. We then had a look in the centre of Manchester and in the Arndale Centre (where I bought a black umbrella in Poundland!) before deciding to go to the Trafford Centre.
We made our way back to Market Street tram stop where there was a pair of T68s on an Altrincham service, but we just missed it. We realised the next Altrincham service wasn't for another twelve minutes so we walked over to Piccadilly Gardens (it is a blessing having these two stations so close together!) where we realised there was an Altrincham service in three minutes. 3016 arrived and we made the fifteen minute journey to Stretford. I do like the journey to Stretford, particularly on the high stretch between St Peter's Square and Cornbrook, where it passes high over the Manchester skyline. We then got to Stretford and the ML1 shuttle bus to the Trafford Centre was on the stop. My friends had to pay £1 for the journey which wasn't too bad after.
We got to the Trafford Centre and hit the shops (this was my third visit and it's awe inspiring!) and grabbed lunch. We left four hours later and went to the Starbucks by the Asda (the Drive-Thru one). We then sat there for an hour or so before heading back towards the bus stop on Barton Drive. The 1703 bus must have ran quite early, as we didn't see it pass us at all. So we had to wait for the 1723 instead. We then got back to Stretford tram stop and 3031 arrived with a Piccadilly service but we wanted to go to Shudehill. 1017 and 1013 (I only worked out it was 1013 on the back because of the bend at Market Street going towards Shudehill!) arrived with a Bury service, where we were held at signals three times; once just after Stretford, once by the Metrolink depot and again by Trafford Bar waiting for a St Werburgh's service to pass. The driver apologised twice for the very short delay; barely less than sixty seconds which was very good of him. Having sat right behind the driver on 1017, it is really interesting to see what it is like to drive a tram! I must admit the T68s are looking rather tired
but they're a solid fleet, I must admit! I'd love to preserve one!
We then got off at Shudehill and had another quick look in the Arndale. We then made our way back to Market Street where there was a Droylsden service via Piccadilly in two minutes. 3025 arrived and we made our way to Piccadilly. Our friend had to catch her train back to Northallerton at 1857 so it was lucky a Droylsden service arrived soon. The drivers door on the M5000 fleet is so posh! Pure black and glass! We then got into Piccadilly where we were met by at least a dozen Metrolink staff all on Revenue Protection duties. I must admit, Metrolink are excellent when it comes to fare evasion. The fact that they have a policy where you buy from a machine on the platform makes you think you can get away with a free ride; clearly this is not the case. I forgot to mention a group of six youths were on 3016 on the Altrincham service earlier and thought that they get away with a journey from St Peter's Square, this wasn't the case as an inspector got on at Deansgate and also Cornbrook was rife with staff also. I was surprised to hear him say something along the lines of 'guys, I'd get off now if I was you as the next stop is full of inspectors' and they duly alighted. I thought he'd charge them all; I certainly would if I worked from Metrolink! I also love the Metrolink coats, the yellow and grey does surprisingly look quite stylish - if anyone has a spare or an old one, I'm more than happy to have it!
Anyway, back to the journey, before 3025 arrived at Piccadilly, an announcement came on (presumably from the driver) saying to get tickets and passes ready for inspection as there were staff at Piccadilly, and indeed they were! They were at least a dozen of them on the platform checking tickets as we went out.
Onto the main concourse, our friend's train, the 1857 to Middlesbrough, was departing from platform 2. 185129 arrived and departed on 1P58.
I also noticed 185126 on 1T55, which was the 1439 Edinburgh to Manchester via Newcastle. I didn't know the diversions via Newcastle were still running!
Our train back was 1V95, the 1930 to Cardiff. We had about half an hour to spare so we grabbed a coffee, some magazines and a panini in Uppercrust before boarding the train. Our train dpearted from platform 8; however, I nearly died of shock when I found 150260 sat in the platform and it's blind being changed to Cardiff. I was praying that there was a 158 attached behind; I originally couldn't see as 390043 was on platform 7 and I could just see the end of 150260. Luckily, 158818 was attached to the end, a sweet relief, as I think I would have died if I had 150260 on a three and a half hour journey. I have absolutely no idea why Arriva think it is suitable to put 150s on their long distance routes, it's so dire! Luckily, the refurbished 158s have plug sockets on them unlike the 175s so we were able to charge our phones! We did have a reservation in Coach A but we couldn't find them so we just sat in 158818 anyway!
At Crewe we got chatting with a student from Oldham who was in Cardiff uni travelling back which was quite nice; she was so shocked that a 158 had turned up and she said it's the nicest train Arriva have put on the route! We got chatting for the rest of the journey which was nice. We finally arrived back in Cardiff at 2254, almost sixteen hours since departing from platform 1 on 221124. All in all, a great day out!
One thing I have always wanted to do is to go on a Pendolino! I have only ever been on two, both from Crewe to Preston, which is only forty-five minutes, so I want to try one out for longer! When I go to Blackpool in September I may get an Advance from Cardiff to London, then a tube transfer to Euston and then get a Pendolino up north just for something new! Will be a good trip I think!
Turned up at Cardiff Central yesterday for the 0700 to Manchester, the daily Voyager service operated by CrossCountry. It was due to depart from platform 0, as the departure boards said, then at about 0650 there was a platform change and it went to platform 1. Not quite sure why though; it didn't seem to make sense as 175002 was at the front of platform 1 with 1W11 0650 to Manchester (ex-0504 from Carmarthen). For those of you who know the layout at Cardiff, getting from platform 0 to platform 1 involves walking back down the stairs, out of the Marks and Spencer store, through the main concourse, through the barriers and up. Not fun
Anyway, 221124 was our Voyager for the morning and we got on and found a good seat. Went to Bristol on a perfect run but remembered then that we change direction at Temple Meads. I'm not a good backwards traveller at all; I can barely go from Cardiff to Newport backwards without feeling slightly queasy so I'd asked my friend the day before if she wouldn't mind swapping as she is fine to go backwards. We swapped seats and proceeded northbound towards Bristol Parkway and up. We travelled very slowly on the stretch between Bromsgrove and Birmingham; admittedly this is probably due to the fact that it's a very busy section of line. Arrived into platform 7B at Birmingham and arrived at 0926, exactly on time! Good old CrossCountry; don't think I'd expect this from First Great Western!
New Street is currently undergoing a lot of work, and the conductor on the train when making the announcement into Birmingham did say this and also said that there would be staff on hand to help passengers who may get lost; I can see where he's coming from as it's a huge mixture of tracks under the Pallasades! Hopefully it's refurbishment will make it look a lot nicer
However, sod's law, our train reversed again; I only thought this happened at Bristol, so we had to swap again. We then passed through Smethwick, Dudley Port and Tipton on the way to Wolverhampton. Saw 390156 working 1B13 0945 to Euston; crikey moses I forget how long these 11-car Pendos are! The rear coach actually hung over the platform!
Onto Stafford next and Stoke-on-Trent, where a huge hen party got on ready for a weekend up in Manchester. It was quite busy on the train at this point. We then went through to Stockport and travelled on the brilliant high approach onto Piccadilly before arriving perfectly on time at 1059! A great journey, especially at only £11.90 for an Advance single (16-25 RC).
We then met up with our friend who had travelled on a First TransPennine service from Northallerton (I think she had travelled on 1P21 0743 from Newcastle, as she had just over a half hour wait for us, and 1P21 arrived at Manchester at 1018 so that sounds about right).
We then proceeded down to the Metrolink stop. We were going to get a Day Ticket for Bus/Tram use at £6.50 for an Adult, but we couldn't find the child option, which was somewhat annoying. They then purchased a Groupsave Ticket for four adults at £10.50, which I could have gone on, so I ended up wasting £6.50. I rang up Customer Services and asked if I could get a refund, but they said there was nothing I could do, which was fair enough. However, I then realised that I had the right ticket, as we needed to catch a bus later in the day.
We were going to catch a tram to Shudehill. Admittedly, it is only a fifteen minute walk, but the weather was absolutely horrendous in the morning in Manchester and I didn't have an umbrella. Two Altrincham services, two Eccles services, a Bury service (which we could have got, but we were trying to sort out the tickets in the machine) and a MediaCity UK service arrived, but of course these all go from Piccadilly out towards Moseley Street and Deansgate, instead of towards Market Street and Shudehill. Eventually, a M5000 (didn't catch the number!) arrived on a Bury service and we took the short journey to Shudehill. We then had a look in the centre of Manchester and in the Arndale Centre (where I bought a black umbrella in Poundland!
) before deciding to go to the Trafford Centre.We made our way back to Market Street tram stop where there was a pair of T68s on an Altrincham service, but we just missed it. We realised the next Altrincham service wasn't for another twelve minutes so we walked over to Piccadilly Gardens (it is a blessing having these two stations so close together!) where we realised there was an Altrincham service in three minutes. 3016 arrived and we made the fifteen minute journey to Stretford. I do like the journey to Stretford, particularly on the high stretch between St Peter's Square and Cornbrook, where it passes high over the Manchester skyline. We then got to Stretford and the ML1 shuttle bus to the Trafford Centre was on the stop. My friends had to pay £1 for the journey which wasn't too bad after.
We got to the Trafford Centre and hit the shops (this was my third visit and it's awe inspiring!) and grabbed lunch. We left four hours later and went to the Starbucks by the Asda (the Drive-Thru one). We then sat there for an hour or so before heading back towards the bus stop on Barton Drive. The 1703 bus must have ran quite early, as we didn't see it pass us at all. So we had to wait for the 1723 instead. We then got back to Stretford tram stop and 3031 arrived with a Piccadilly service but we wanted to go to Shudehill. 1017 and 1013 (I only worked out it was 1013 on the back because of the bend at Market Street going towards Shudehill!) arrived with a Bury service, where we were held at signals three times; once just after Stretford, once by the Metrolink depot and again by Trafford Bar waiting for a St Werburgh's service to pass. The driver apologised twice for the very short delay; barely less than sixty seconds which was very good of him. Having sat right behind the driver on 1017, it is really interesting to see what it is like to drive a tram! I must admit the T68s are looking rather tired
but they're a solid fleet, I must admit! I'd love to preserve one!We then got off at Shudehill and had another quick look in the Arndale. We then made our way back to Market Street where there was a Droylsden service via Piccadilly in two minutes. 3025 arrived and we made our way to Piccadilly. Our friend had to catch her train back to Northallerton at 1857 so it was lucky a Droylsden service arrived soon. The drivers door on the M5000 fleet is so posh! Pure black and glass! We then got into Piccadilly where we were met by at least a dozen Metrolink staff all on Revenue Protection duties. I must admit, Metrolink are excellent when it comes to fare evasion. The fact that they have a policy where you buy from a machine on the platform makes you think you can get away with a free ride; clearly this is not the case. I forgot to mention a group of six youths were on 3016 on the Altrincham service earlier and thought that they get away with a journey from St Peter's Square, this wasn't the case as an inspector got on at Deansgate and also Cornbrook was rife with staff also. I was surprised to hear him say something along the lines of 'guys, I'd get off now if I was you as the next stop is full of inspectors' and they duly alighted. I thought he'd charge them all; I certainly would if I worked from Metrolink! I also love the Metrolink coats, the yellow and grey does surprisingly look quite stylish - if anyone has a spare or an old one, I'm more than happy to have it!
Anyway, back to the journey, before 3025 arrived at Piccadilly, an announcement came on (presumably from the driver) saying to get tickets and passes ready for inspection as there were staff at Piccadilly, and indeed they were! They were at least a dozen of them on the platform checking tickets as we went out.
Onto the main concourse, our friend's train, the 1857 to Middlesbrough, was departing from platform 2. 185129 arrived and departed on 1P58.
I also noticed 185126 on 1T55, which was the 1439 Edinburgh to Manchester via Newcastle. I didn't know the diversions via Newcastle were still running!
Our train back was 1V95, the 1930 to Cardiff. We had about half an hour to spare so we grabbed a coffee, some magazines and a panini in Uppercrust before boarding the train. Our train dpearted from platform 8; however, I nearly died of shock when I found 150260 sat in the platform and it's blind being changed to Cardiff. I was praying that there was a 158 attached behind; I originally couldn't see as 390043 was on platform 7 and I could just see the end of 150260. Luckily, 158818 was attached to the end, a sweet relief, as I think I would have died if I had 150260 on a three and a half hour journey. I have absolutely no idea why Arriva think it is suitable to put 150s on their long distance routes, it's so dire! Luckily, the refurbished 158s have plug sockets on them unlike the 175s so we were able to charge our phones! We did have a reservation in Coach A but we couldn't find them so we just sat in 158818 anyway!
At Crewe we got chatting with a student from Oldham who was in Cardiff uni travelling back which was quite nice; she was so shocked that a 158 had turned up and she said it's the nicest train Arriva have put on the route! We got chatting for the rest of the journey which was nice. We finally arrived back in Cardiff at 2254, almost sixteen hours since departing from platform 1 on 221124. All in all, a great day out!
One thing I have always wanted to do is to go on a Pendolino! I have only ever been on two, both from Crewe to Preston, which is only forty-five minutes, so I want to try one out for longer! When I go to Blackpool in September I may get an Advance from Cardiff to London, then a tube transfer to Euston and then get a Pendolino up north just for something new! Will be a good trip I think!
