Birmingham to Sheffield avoiding XC strike on 9 Sept

[ashley84]

I have discovered Crosscountry have a strike on 9 September (appears to be only XC), and am trying to figure out if there is a feasible alternative route from Birmingham to Sheffield avoiding XC. We were intending to return the day after, so ideally with a ticketing option that would allow us to return via the normal route, but am guessing that isn't doable! Thank you for any suggestions!

 

[jfollows]

Birmingham to Chinley is valid via Manchester and via Sheffield, so you could use a Birmingham-Chinley ticket outbound and then immediately start your return journey, going via Sheffield and breaking your journey there. An off-peak return would work for this. Return via Derby the next day. You'd need to stop at Chinley, but not get off, so go Birmingham-Stafford-Manchester (via Crewe or Stoke) before the Hope Valley stopper.
Essentially Birmingham-Sheffield isn't valid via Stockport, and Birmingham-Stockport isn't valid via Sheffield, which is why you need to set your destination as Chinley.
Someone else will probably have a better idea.

Birmingham-Manchester can be using Avanti or LNWR to Stafford or Crewe, and there is now an hourly Avanti Stafford-Manchester via Crewe, as well as Northern and TfW services from Stoke and/or Crewe.

 

[ashley84]

Thank you, that's really helpful.

This XC dispute is supposedly 4 Saturdays, starting 19 Aug. However, RealTimeTrains seems to suggest the trains we were intending to catch on 9 Sept all ran as normal on 19 Aug. So this might not turn out to be necessary but good to have options!

Thanks again.

 

[jfollows]

The 16:43 and 17:43 fast services from Manchester call at Chinley also.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The 16:43 and 17:43 fast services from Manchester call at Chinley also.

Would changing at Stockport be permitted for these two East Midlands Railway services?

 

[jfollows]

Would changing at Stockport be permitted for these two East Midlands Railway services?

Yes, good point.