Merseyrail network in a day from Selhurst?

[03_179]

Morning all,

I have a copy of the Merseyrail map and am trying to plan a trip from Selhurst to there.

Is it possible that getting to Chester(?) at about 10:15 to do the whole Merseyrail network in a day and get back to Selhurst before 8pm?

If so what would be the best route to do all the lines with maximum units and minimum fuss?

Open to all ideas at the moment.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Well... I've done it in a day from Epsom which is pretty much the same in practical terms, except I have always started via Lime Street.

Whether you start at Chester or Lime Street, I would say go for the track coverage first then collect your haulages on the busier central sections.

 

[03_179]

Thanks Peter.

Can you remember what route you did?

I'm not doing it just yet as I think Lime Street is undergoing some work.

 

[Kite159]

Starting/finishing at Chester is a sensible idea, assuming it be on a Saturday:

08:10 Euston - Chester Virgin service [or 07:35 Euston - Manchester service as far as Crewe, changing over to the Chester shuttle], then probably something like:
Chester - Hooton - Ellesmere Port - City Centre - Either New Brighton or West Kirkby - Birkenhead North - the other Wirral branch - Moorfields - head on the first northbound service to Kirkby - Rice Lane - Fast Walk to Walton - Ormskirk - Sandhills - Southport - Hunts Cross - Moorfields - Lime Street.

 

[03_179]

Cheers Kite.

Most likely a Saturday or if I take a day off work it'll be a Tuesday or a Thursday.

I have a loose plan written down but I hoped someone else had done it and could pass on any tips for getting the most out of it.

Looks like a good routing.

Neil.

 

[30907]

Just to add to Kite159's summary:
Walton to Rice Lane or vv is max 5min walk and a useful short cut.
You could also consider the 375/385 bus from Southport to Ormskirk to cut off a corner (but combining the two means you lose about 100m of track at Walton, if that's an issue).
Might also be worth checking Hunts Cross-Lime St direct.

 

[johnmoly]

Liverpool Lime Street mainline station is currently shut for the upgrade, but the Merseyrail underground station at Lime Street is operating normally.

Hunts Cross to Lime Street - you would have to change at Moorfields, after Liverpool Central, to go to Lime Street. Currently no trains are running from Hunts Cross until end of July due to the Lime Street mainline station upgrade, they are running from Liverpool South Parkway instead.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Likely to be pricey if you do it midweek due to Virgin's excessive Anytime fares in the morning peak.

 

[03_179]

Just to add to Kite159's summary:
Walton to Rice Lane or vv is max 5min walk and a useful short cut.
You could also consider the 375/385 bus from Southport to Ormskirk to cut off a corner (but combining the two means you lose about 100m of track at Walton, if that's an issue).
Might also be worth checking Hunts Cross-Lime St direct.

Couple good ideas there .. thanks

Liverpool Lime Street mainline station is currently shut for the upgrade, but the Merseyrail underground station at Lime Street is operating normally.

Hunts Cross to Lime Street - you would have to change at Moorfields, after Liverpool Central, to go to Lime Street. Currently no trains are running from Hunts Cross until end of July due to the Lime Street mainline station upgrade, they are running from Liverpool South Parkway instead.

Thanks, I am hoping to do this in either August or September

Likely to be pricey if you do it midweek due to Virgin's excessive Anytime fares in the morning peak.

I'm ok ticket wise.

 

[AntoniC]

If you want some company from someone local, drop me a PM

 

[03_179]

I may well do.

Decision to travel up will probably rather last minute (if I can get cover at work).

 

[AntoniC]

Ok mate

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Thanks Peter.

Can you remember what route you did?

Afraid not, sorry - it's a few years since my last trip there although of course once the new trains are in service...

 

[sgraIRL]

03_179

I am doing it in September. I have 36 trains down on the plan, but I have a little longer than you and I am not trying to cover 100% of the network.
Best of luck with your trip. I'll see how I get on! Might need a 2nd trip to bag the entire fleet, if I have time.

S

 

[03_179]

Afraid not, sorry - it's a few years since my last trip there although of course once the new trains are in service...

Thanks Peter.

03_179

I am doing it in September. I have 36 trains down on the plan, but I have a little longer than you and I am not trying to cover 100% of the network.
Best of luck with your trip. I'll see how I get on! Might need a 2nd trip to bag the entire fleet, if I have time.

S

I'm after the miles,the units and trying to cover all the lines. Let me know how you get on. I'd be interested to see your trip report.

When I've done mine I'll put it on my blog (see below) and here. September looks most likely for me too as I have a holiday in August and a trip to Swansea as well. I may try to squeeze in a smaller trip to get the rest of the 395s up to 20 miles each.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Just a suggestion, but why not play around with Real Time Trains to work out your most efficient way of covering all the track from either possible starting point? The quicker you can do that, the more time you'll have in the central area to crunch the haulages...

 

[03_179]

Hi Peter,

I have already had a play around with RTT.

Most units I want to complete a minimum of 5 or 10 miles on but I think with the MerseyRail units I'll just go with 1 mile.

 

[sgraIRL]

How does this look? I've put it as an image to keep it formatted. It's based on a Saturday

As far as I can see it gets you around every inch of the MerseyRail
Only issue is I cannot work out a way to achieve that goal and get you some 'shuttle' time to catch some different unit #'s
N.B. I have not exhaustive in checking it out, could be some errors!

The bit highlighted in yellow is the 'squeaky' bus to rail connection - could all go wrong there

 

[sgraIRL]

The start and finish are based on the travel planner recommended cross London transfer times, which are generous. Being local you will know that yourself best, so you could probably shave some time off the start and finish times. I think while Lime Street is closed going to Liverpool South Parkway is best, I could not make in and out from Chester work.

 

[03_179]

Looks good.

I may be on a train out of Euston a bit later as it depends on the a) family b) trains out of Selhurst running on time c) being able to get on the tube at Victoria (they close off entrances in the morning rush hour for over crowding).

 

[PeterY]

I've a few trips coming up but I may consider Liverpool for the Merseyrail network towards the end of September. I go for lines rather than units and so far only completed Chester to Liverpool.

I hope it all works out for you 03_179. I'd also like to read your report.

 

[johnmoly]

When are you thinking of doing this ??. Be aware that once Lime Street is finished at the end of July, Virgin will not be stopping at Liverpool South Parkway, they will go straight to Lime Street. LSP has a section of temporary platform added on to platform 4 to take the larger Virgin trains.

I suppose you could get off at Runcorn, and wait on the same platform for a following London North Western train which does stop at LSP.

 

[route101]

Looking at completing the Merseyrail network at somepoint too . Only done Southport - Liverpool and Chester - Liverpool.

 

[30907]

3 minutes at Ormskirk is according to Googlemaps impossible.
However, walking from Walton to Rice Lane inside 6 mins is comfortable, which would recoup the 15 mins lost at Ormskirk.
I note you've had to omit Ellesmere Port, but are doing Chester - Lpool - South Parkway twice.

 

[jamesst]

Also be aware that towards October times will change on the Chester line especially as a result of the leaf fall timetable