Cardiff to Manchester to Newcastle

[Willie Bee]

My wife and I are considering having a short trip to Cardiff from Newcastle for later in the year.

I realise train tickets are not available yet, but I have been looking at similar days to get an idea of routes.

We usually travel out on a Sunday, then return on a Wednesday or Thursday. It is quite far, so I thought about having a break of journey on the way home, at Manchester.

Looking at fares (see images) I was amazed (shocked) to see the whole journey (CDF-NCL) would be £58.40 but if we decide to stay at Manchester it would be £54 (just under a fiver less) plus £29.90 heading to Newcastle the following day.

These fares don't seem too bad .. or are there better options .. maybe travelling via Liverpool, Leeds or York .. any ideas please ??

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

These are Advance (and often split) fares which vary by day and train loading, so you can't get an exact answer without knowing the date and time of travel.
The fares via Manchester are very good, but will involve a change of station in Manchester (Piccadilly to Victoria) and is about a hour slower than the more direct route via Derby (where you still have to change).
The regular flexible ("off peak") fares are at least double what you have found.

I didn't realise until checking the fares you found that TfW have long-distance Advance fares with TPE, Northern and GWR connections.
They are certainly good value.
If you choose the right departure from Cardiff to Manchester (the 1053 is one), you could travel in Mk4 loco-hauled luxury.
There's also a 1st class option with restaurant car, though you will pay double.

 

[Willie Bee]

These are Advance (and often split) fares which vary by day and train loading, so you can't get an exact answer without knowing the date and time of travel.
The fares via Manchester are very good, but will involve a change of station in Manchester (Piccadilly to Victoria) and is about a hour slower than the more direct route via Derby (where you still have to change).
The regular flexible ("off peak") fares are at least double what you have found.

I didn't realise until checking the fares you found that TfW have long-distance Advance fares with TPE, Northern and GWR connections.
They are certainly good value.
If you choose the right departure from Cardiff to Manchester (the 1053 is one), you could travel in Mk4 loco-hauled luxury.
There's also a 1st class option with restaurant car, though you will pay double.

Thanks

After posting I saw there was a first-class option, for about £69 from Cardiff to Manchester which would be great I think

 

[30907]

The route via Manchester has not only the option of 1st class dining from Cardiff (paying extra, about £20 IIRC) but also 1st class food (inclusive) on TPE.
IMO the scenery is significantly better too from Leeds onwards, and worth using for that alone.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I was just looking at the connections across Manchester from TfW to TPE services onwards to York/Newcastle, on the cheap TfW Advance fares.
TfW will drop you at Piccadilly at xx13 or so, while TPE to Newcastle goes from Victoria at xx00.
47 minutes to cross Manchester is about right, either on foot or on Metrolink - there's also the free bus (green route 2) which goes round the houses every 10 mins.

Avoiding the change of stations, there are two direct services from Piccadilly to Huddersfield and beyond (to York and Redcar), but neither connects well into the Newcastle.
These services are at xx58 via Victoria, Huddersfield, Leeds and York to Redcar, and the xx00 to York via Guide Bridge, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Castleford.
Ironically both these trains, having left Piccadilly at almost the same time, run into York at practically the same time (xx35/36) on different lines.
If you catch either of these services, you will lose another hour on the Liverpool-Newcastle which precedes them over the Pennines, leaving York at xx20.
On flexible tickets, there will be other trains between York and Newcastle.