A really enjoyable rail day out!

[WestCoast]

I had a really great day out and set myself a personal challenge of riding as many different TOCs as possible! Just thought some of you might be interested. I'm not really into 'spotting' as such but riding trains is a different matter

Here's what I did:

*bus*
First TransPennine Express (185) Kirkham & Wesham - Preston
Virgin Voyager (221) Preston - Warrington Bank Quay
*walk*
Northern (142) Warrington Central - Liverpool Lime Street
London Midland (350) Liverpool Lime Street - Runcorn
*bus*
Arriva Trains Wales (175) Runcorn East - Chester
Merseyrail (507/8 not sure which) Chester - Liverpool Central
*walk*
East Midlands Trains (158) Liverpool Lime Street - Warrington Central
*walk*
Virgin Pendolino (390) Warrington Bank Quay - Preston
Northern (156) Preston - Kirkham & Wesham
*bus*

I planned it as I went on so it was a bit adhoc and roundabout at times (but it still was under £18 with YP railcard)

Favourite Journeys
London Midland 350 - quiet, comfortable and even a refreshment trolley on this short journey!
Virgin 390- got a whole table to myself in the quiet coach and the guard was chatty

Least Favourite Journeys -
Virgin 221 - no seats, hot and stood in a cramped vestibule
Northern 142 - loud gaggle of screaming kids and a screeching 142 : (hideous combination) with awfully cramped ex-Merseytravel bus seating. Plus, the journey seemed excruciatingly slow compared to the return journey on a decent EM 158

New TOCS - Arriva Trains Wales (their ex TPE/FNW 175 are very familiar to me though), Merseyrail (actually quite nice having a electric local service), London Midland (been on them in Silverlink/Central Trains guise but the 350 was new and I was impressed).

Just thought I'd share my thoughts on this trip, but I think I have covered all TOCS operating in the North West of England except Crosscountry?

 

[Dai.]

Sounds like a nice day out. What are the 142's like with Northern?
I've only ever used a 150 and I wasn't impressed!

 

[WestCoast]

What are the 142's like with Northern?

I'm not really a pacer fan but they are a mixed bunch..

I don't like the ex-First North Western and ex Merseytravel examples as they have terrible bus bench seating,.

The ex-Arriva Trains Northern ones are OK as they have better seating.

 

[CosherB]

I once used a Cheshire Day Ranger (£15) to do this:

Wilmslow - Crewe
Crewe - Liverpool
Liverpool - Manchester Piccadilly (L&M route)
Piccadilly - Chester via Warrington and Frodsham
Chester - Crewe
Crewe - Stoke on Trent
Stoke - Piccadilly
Piccadilly - Liverpool (CLC route)
Liverpool - Chester
Chester - Stockport (Mid Cheshire Line)
Stockport - Wilmslow

Started 8:40 finished about 18:00.

 

[route101]

Ive done this with the SPT Daytripper and Roundabout . The Roundabout is more restricted . Would be better if there was a TICKET extending eastwards to Edinburgh .

 

[37372]

Being withered by a Merseyrail pacer is never good!

How did you manage with the walk between Warrington stations? Me and a mate tried it earlier this year, took a wrong turn and got totally lost. Took us ages to find our way to Bank Quay, in the end we had to look for the detergent factory and head towards it which eventually lead us to the station.

 

[WestCoast]

Being withered by a Merseyrail pacer is never good!

How did you manage with the walk between Warrington stations? Me and a mate tried it earlier this year, took a wrong turn and got totally lost. Took us ages to find our way to Bank Quay, in the end we had to look for the detergent factory and head towards it which eventually lead us to the station.

Everyone knows that a Merseyrail pacer has the hardest seats and least legroom of practically any train! :roll:

The walk between Warington stations was OK, I have been there a few times before so I had a rough idea! From Bank Quay head to the shopping centre (I think it's called Eldon Square or something like that) down into the bus station and Central station is at the back of the bus station......

It's not signposted at all! And the signage at Central Station is extremely poor...

 

[Pumbaa]

Being withered by a Merseyrail pacer is never good!

How did you manage with the walk between Warrington stations? Me and a mate tried it earlier this year, took a wrong turn and got totally lost. Took us ages to find our way to Bank Quay, in the end we had to look for the detergent factory and head towards it which eventually lead us to the station.

To get to BQ from Central; turn right out of the station, past the bus station into the Pedestrian zone until you get to the central square. Turn right here (its signposted) and follow it out onto the road. Follow it until you look like you're coming to a main junction, take the first left before the junction and it brings you down into BQ. It's all signposted as well, albeit not very well once you're out of the pedestrianised zone.

 

[37372]

Thanks, I'll bear that in mind should I ever do such a move again!