Any Ideas?

[voyagerdude220]

Hi all,

I was wondering If anyone has any ideas, on where I could go for a day trip,when I have the time to do so in the future?

I was thinking of getting a SOR, and using it in FC on VT.

I'm going to be going up to the Manchester area in a few weeks, to see what it's like since I "abandened it", and will probably go from the Manchester, or if there's a good reason to do so, Bolton/Wigan/Preston.

I have a budget, in the region of £50, and may have the ability to book in advance if needed.

I would like to go on some 185s (preferbly with an Advance First ticket) or alternatively a 220/221/390

Thanks for any ideas

 

[Ascot]

Get a Cheshire Day Ranger or something like that as for £9.90 that covers alot of area's.

Or on TPE and use the Night Services to the best

 

[me123]

You're 30 and have a YPrailcard?!?

Anyway, if you haven't been to Scotland, in particular Glasgow, I would recommend you give it a go. You can probably travel from Manchester for £37.75 saver return (changing at Preston, so you get TPE and Virgin) and spend a good bit of the day in Glasgow. From here, local services run thoughout the day and are relatively cheap, there are great views from Platform 11a and although there is not much variety in rolling stock, Glasgow is the only place where you can see 314s, 318s and 334s.

 

[Ascot]

Oh one last thing i forgot was the Birmingham Area

Get most of that done in a day from Stoke on Trent a Ranger is very cheap for most if not all the midlands out of New Street and other places... Plus connections are easy to get with the services...

 

[Max]

What about a Manchester Rail Day Rover, or a Wayfarer? Both are great value and cover pretty decent areas! Visit www.gmpte.com for more information. If you'd like some decent 185 bashing, visit TPE's website and look at the information about the 'Student Getaway' tickets, which give up to 50% off adult prices for advance purchase tickets with a YP railcard. And, if you make it over to West Yorkshire, you could get a Metro Day Rover which for a minimal cost allows you to explore all of West Yorkshire's railways.

There's a few ideas anyway

 

[voyagerdude220]

You're 30 and have a YPrailcard?!?

Anyway, if you haven't been to Scotland, in particular Glasgow, I would recommend you give it a go. You can probably travel from Manchester for £37.75 saver return (changing at Preston, so you get TPE and Virgin) and spend a good bit of the day in Glasgow. From here, local services run thoughout the day and are relatively cheap, there are great views from Platform 11a and although there is not much variety in rolling stock, Glasgow is the only place where you can see 314s, 318s and 334s.

Oops !!

Original post edited, thanks me123 for pointing that out.

I have been to Glasgow before, and enjoyed being around the station for around an hour, before my S&C double set Voyagers returned. (Story about it is in the story forum)

Many thanks Ascot for mentioning the rovers, I will look them up
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

What about a Manchester Rail Day Rover, or a Wayfarer? Both are great value and cover pretty decent areas! Visit www.gmpte.com for more information. If you'd like some decent 185 bashing, visit TPE's website and look at the information about the 'Student Getaway' tickets, which give up to 50% off adult prices for advance purchase tickets with a YP railcard. And, if you make it over to West Yorkshire, you could get a Metro Day Rover which for a minimal cost allows you to explore all of West Yorkshire's railways.

There's a few ideas anyway

The Student Getaway tickets appear to be very good, but I would probably be tempted by an Advance First return.

What's FC like on 185's anyway.. Is it worth upgrading?

Are the getaway tickets valid with the £6 weekend first upgrade?

The wayfarer looks great, and I had planned to do one a while ago, but didn't get around to it.

 

[Max]

The Student Getaway tickets appear to be very good, but I would probably be tempted by an Advance First return.

What's FC like on 185's anyway.. Is it worth upgrading?

Are the getaway tickets valid with the £6 weekend first upgrade?

The wayfarer looks great, and I had planned to do one a while ago, but didn't get around to it.

First class on a 185 is pretty good - the seat's are much larger with a nice bit of 'cushion' padding behind your seat, and recline too. The first class section tends to be nice and quiet too, and when a trolley is onboard, you're entitled to some free refreshments (not sure quite what though!). If you can get first for a minimal extra cost it's probably worth it, but probably not worth getting a FOS or anything! However, many journeys on TPE offer cheap First Day Singles which are probably worth having a look at.

I doubt the weekend first upgrade is available with a TPE advance, as normally only passengers with walk on fares are entitled to these. You could probably buy combo CDRs then upgrade though! (But you'd have to check this obviously).

If you're going from Manchester to Newcastle (a long journey) then £6 is pretty reasonable. Not quite as good for short-hops though!

EDIT: Tip though, you can do TPE first class for nothing on the 170s which operate the Hull route. Just go right to the opposite end of the train from where first class is, and you can sit in declassified first class seats for no extra! Great value, because when you think about it, first class customers at the other end of the train are paying more for exactly the same, with perhaps only a coffee and chocolate bar thrown in!