Commuting from Wrexham to Liverpool

[NorthWalian]

I am currently considering the possibility that I will be hired for a role that I am applying for based in Liverpool (near Moorfields and James St stations) and how I would get there.

As I have a car presently, what would be the best route that people here would advise that I use to get there as people have suggested relocating, simply getting the train from Wrexham and possibly driving to a Wirral Line station (Bache , Birkenhead North or Hooton for example)

Fortunately, I also have a 16-25 railcard and getting to Wrexham General would be easy though the role would require peak time commutes.

 

[Krokodil]

What how flexible are your times? There's a direct train at 06:15. The 07:03 would get you there for 08:30 with a change to Merseyrail at Chester.

Similar story coming back, either get the 17:47 direct or use Merseyrail and change at Chester.

 

[NorthWalian]

What how flexible are your times? There's a direct train at 06:15. The 07:03 would get you there for 08:30 with a change to Merseyrail at Chester.

Similar story coming back, either get the 17:47 direct or use Merseyrail and change at Chester.

Those are options too.

Problem of sorts though is I think that 06:15 is a little earlier than I'd like as I would be there very early.

That 07:03 is not a bad idea though I just wondered if people here would advise one of the less conventional options (or even relocating)

 

[Djgr]

If you don't need flexibility then either via Chester or the Borderlands line would be okay.

If you do need it then I would have thought joining the throngs at Hooton would be the answer. However, as this lies outside Liverpool City Region, there is a (small) daily car parking charge which could be avoided by continuing and driving to Eastham Rake.

 

[Farigiraf]

Currently, with the exception of the 06:15, driving to one of the Merseyrail station in Merseyside or changing at Bidston/Chester are the best options.
However, if you're planning on commuting for multiple years, there will eventually be direct frequent trains between Wrexham and Liverpool, either as an extension of the TFW Liverpool - Chester or the Wrexham - Bidston, so in the long term your options will considerably improve.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Presumably a minimum fare would apply for midweek travel for most of the year with a 16-25 railcard. So, £12.00 ordinarily if travelling from Wrexham, but £10.35 for an Anytime Day Return during July/August, which doesn't seem too bad for an 80+ mile round trip. Can't imagine the petrol cost would be any cheaper.

 

[NorthWalian]

If you don't need flexibility then either via Chester or the Borderlands line would be okay.

If you do need it then I would have thought joining the throngs at Hooton would be the answer. However, as this lies outside Liverpool City Region, there is a (small) daily car parking charge which could be avoided by continuing and driving to Eastham Rake.

I just need to get to Liverpool before 08:45 (8:30 ideally).

I am not too fussed with the way back if I have to wait 15 minutes or so for the train back.

Is driving to Hooton or Eastham Rake much of a hassle or not?

 

[jamesst]

I just need to get to Liverpool before 08:45 (8:30 ideally).

I am not too fussed with the way back if I have to wait 15 minutes or so for the train back.

Is driving to Hooton or Eastham Rake much of a hassle or not?

You'll always get a parking space at Hooton which is easy to get to. Small charge but a big car park.
Eastham however can and does often get full up.

 

[NorthWalian]

You'll always get a parking space at Hooton which is easy to get to. Small charge but a big car park.
Eastham however can and does often get full up.

Just have to decide whether it is better going from there or Wrexham General then. Or possibly Bromborough

 

[Djgr]

I just need to get to Liverpool before 08:45 (8:30 ideally).

I am not too fussed with the way back if I have to wait 15 minutes or so for the train back.

Is driving to Hooton or Eastham Rake much of a hassle or not?

There are some hairy bits such as where the A483 joins the North Wales Expressway (The Post House roundabout) and the M53 around Ellesmere Port. I would suggest that some trial and error would be required around the various options.

 

[NorthWalian]

There are some hairy bits such as where the A483 joins the North Wales Expressway (The Post House roundabout) and the M53 around Ellesmere Port. I would suggest that some trial and error would be required around the various options.

Posthouse roundabout is a mess during commuting hours.

 

[Polarbear]

In the absence of a through rail service, a car/rail combination is likely to be best-especially if using a Merseyrail station as the changeover point.

Agree with other posters about the Posthouse Roundabout-it can be especially bad when staff based on the Wrexham Road business park are going to/from work.

Would suggest either Hooton or Birkenhead North as railheads. Both have frequent service to Liverpool.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Hooton is a large, easy car park (£1.50 I think), card or contactless on departure, and you can't beat the 6tph into Liverpool.
There's an unsigned route (Heath Lane/Oakfield Rd) for the last mile to Hooton station, avoiding the A41 lights.
I come from Mold via Queensferry, and you can use that route via the A550 (Hope/Ewloe/Two Mills) as an alternative to the A483/M53.
On the return I go via Willaston and the A540 to Two Mills, avoiding right turns and lights.
Bache car park is free but tiny, and the Borderlands stations are also small and hard to access (Penyffordd is better).

 

[NorthWalian]

Hooton is a large, easy car park (£1.50 I think), card or contactless on departure, and you can't beat the 6tph into Liverpool.
There's an unsigned route (Heath Lane/Oakfield Rd) for the last mile to Hooton station, avoiding the A41 lights.
I come from Mold via Queensferry, and you can use that route via the A550 (Hope/Ewloe/Two Mills) as an alternative to the A483/M53.
On the return I go via Willaston and the A540 to Two Mills, avoiding right turns and lights.
Bache car park is free but tiny, and the Borderlands stations are also small and hard to access (Penyffordd is better).

Wouldn't be much use in parking at Penyffordd as Wrexham General is easy enough for me to get to.

That would make going through Mold a bit of a hassle too I think.

 

[Djgr]

Perhaps somebody can confirm that a Wrexham to Liverpool season ticket is valid a) via Halton curve b) via Hooton and also c) via Borderlands?

 

[NorthWalian]

Perhaps somebody can confirm that a Wrexham to Liverpool season ticket is valid a) via Halton curve b) via Hooton and also c) via Borderlands?

I won't always have to commute so a season ticket won't be worth it.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Perhaps somebody can confirm that a Wrexham to Liverpool season ticket is valid a) via Halton curve b) via Hooton and also c) via Borderlands?

Weekly season is £61.10, route ".", so Any Permitted.
There's a lower "via Runcorn" fare of £56, which would include the through TfW train.
My reading is that the higher fare would cover all three routes.
The Off Peak Return (effectively the Anytime fare as there are no time restrictions) is £23.10, so the weekly season is cheaper for 3 or more trips.
All fares set by TfW.
It's 20 stops via Shotton, 15/16 via Hooton, 5 via Runcorn.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Weekly season is £61.10, route ".", so Any Permitted.
There's a lower "via Runcorn" fare of £56, which would include the through TfW train.
My reading is that the higher fare would cover all three routes.
The Off Peak Return (effectively the Anytime fare as there are no time restrictions) is £23.10, so the weekly season is cheaper for 3 or more trips.
All fares set by TfW.

Why would Off Peak Returns be required unless not returning the same day? The OP also has a 16-25 railcard, so shouldn't ever need to pay the undiscounted fare for non-season tickets. Reckon Anytime Day Returns at £10.35 would be sufficient. (Likely need to pay the £12.00 minimum though, outside of July / August).

 

[Djgr]

Weekly season is £61.10, route ".", so Any Permitted.
There's a lower "via Runcorn" fare of £56, which would include the through TfW train.
My reading is that the higher fare would cover all three routes.
The Off Peak Return (effectively the Anytime fare as there are no time restrictions) is £23.10, so the weekly season is cheaper for 3 or more trips.
All fares set by TfW.
It's 20 stops via Shotton, 15/16 via Hooton, 5 via Runcorn.

Although to be pedantic, one of the stops on the Borderlands is request only!

 

[NorthWalian]

Why would Off Peak Returns be required unless not returning the same day? The OP also has a 16-25 railcard, so shouldn't ever need to pay the undiscounted fare for non-season tickets. Reckon Anytime Day Returns at £10.35 would be sufficient. (Likely need to pay the £12.00 minimum though, outside of July / August).

A little less than £10.35 via Penyffordd over the summer too

 

[Krokodil]

A little less than £10.35 via Penyffordd over the summer too

For which you'd have to rely on a very unreliable service

 

[NorthWalian]

For which you'd have to rely on a very unreliable service

Wouldn't I be able to just switch over to the other route if there are issues even if the ticket locks me in to that route?

 

[Krokodil]

The £15.60 (less any railcards) Anytime Day Return would allow you to use any reasonable route. I was thinking about the risk of being stuck mid-journey on the Borderlands

 

[jfollows]

Wouldn't I be able to just switch over to the other route if there are issues even if the ticket locks me in to that route?

Not as a right, no.

 

[jfollows]

Wrexham to Liverpool “any permitted” validity is shown on maps

• CH Chester & Hooton
• CP Shotton
• JO+CV Runcorn

at https://rgpp.iblocks.co.uk/maps

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Wouldn't I be able to just switch over to the other route if there are issues even if the ticket locks me in to that route?

Just to clarify, between which stations are you contemplating possible issues? Wrexham General and Shotton, via Penyffordd? Or Wrexham General -> Chester (direct)? Is that the "other route"?

 

[Djgr]

For which you'd have to rely on a very unreliable service

A lot better recently

 

[Djgr]

Wrexham to Liverpool “any permitted” validity is shown on maps

• CH Chester & Hooton
• CP Shotton
• JO+CV Runcorn

at https://rgpp.iblocks.co.uk/maps

I thought that Wrexham to Liverpool tickets were valid via all three of these routes?

If so, if there were "trouble" on one of these you would simply use one of the other options?

 

[jfollows]

I thought that Wrexham to Liverpool tickets were valid via all three of these routes?

If so, if there were "trouble" on one of these you would simply use one of the other options?

That’s what my post means, the maps show the routes over which “any permitted” tickets are allowed and I was confirming what others had surmised earlier in this thread and in answer to your post #15 (if “Borderlands“ means via Shotton, and it’s the “any permitted” season ticket). Armed with such a ticket, you use whichever of the routes you want to use.

 

[Djgr]

That’s what my post means, the maps show the routes over which “any permitted” tickets are allowed and I was confirming what others had surmised earlier in this thread and in answer to your post #15 (if “Borderlands“ means via Shotton, and it’s the “any permitted” season ticket). Armed with such a ticket, you use whichever of the routes you want to use.

Out of curiosity are Wrexham to Shotton tickets valid via Chester? Are there not direct trains via Chester?