Cuddington to the Trafford Centre?

[AndyLandy]

What's the best way to make this journey? As far as I can ascertain, the most obvious direct route is rail from Cuddington to either Altrincham or Navigation Road, switch to Metrolink to Stretford, then get the ML1 bus from Stretford to the Trafford Centre.

Thing is, that's three different modes of transport, so I'm unlikely to get a fully-integrated ticket. So, my question is what ticket(s) should I buy to make this journey? And does it make any difference whether I change at ALT or NAV?

Thanks in advance!

 

[yorkie]

It's surely too subjective to say what the "best" way to make the journey is, which will vary depending on discount entitlements, mobility requirements, and the relative importance of journey time vs cost.

The same difficulty comes when suggesting the "best" ticket(s). What ticket options have you found so far?
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You could get a Cuddington - Altrincham CDR (£9.40) and a System One Bus & Tram for £6.40, but I cannot guarantee that is the "best" way to do the journey or the "best" tickets to get!

 

[AndyLandy]

It's surely too subjective to say what the "best" way to make the journey is, which will vary depending on discount entitlements, mobility requirements, and the relative importance of journey time vs cost.

The same difficulty comes when suggesting the "best" ticket. What ticket options have you found so far?

So, I have no particular mobility requirements or any discount entitlements (that I'm aware of), I don't hold a suitable Railcard for example.

I'm primarily looking for the cheapest way of making this specific journey. Should I get a combined rail/metro fare or a combined metro/bus fare, assuming these ticket types exist? Does changing at ALT or NAV make any difference to pricing?

That said, if someone can recommend a cheaper and/or faster route, I'd be interested to hear about it. I'm fairly well-versed with rail fares, but I've never used Metrolink before, so that part is all new to me.

Essentially, I'm just looking for advice/recommendations. How would you do that journey if you needed to make it, and why?

Has that explained it any better?

 

[185]

Cuddington - Stretford MTLK
Adult £10.30 day return,
And ML1 bus from the station car park- about £2-3ish, takes 5 mins.

other option.... valid if two are travelling together
Northern Rail Duo > 2 Adults £14.10 Return to Altrincham
Then buy two £3.50ish returns from Altrincham to Trafford Centre on the platform ticket machine.
Family return options are also available on the machine.

Effectively no difference if you change at Altrincham or Nav Road - easier access at Nav Road due to there not being a footbridge.


BE AWARE THE LAST BUS BACK IS NOW AT 18:15, NOT 22:15.

 

[AndyLandy]

BE AWARE THE LAST BUS BACK IS NOW AT 18:15, NOT 22:15.

Hmm. That's worth knowing. I think that rather changes things. It sounds like a rail/metro combined fare from Cuddington to Stretford might be the answer, with a single bus fare and either a taxi or a lift back.

Thanks for the insight guys. It's appreciated.

 

[185]

Taxi is about £6 max. Don't get ripped off

 

[Josie]

ML1 stops early but there are other ordinary service buses from the Trafford Centre to Stretford Metrolink all evening on the 22/23/23A, with the last buses on the 22 being after midnight (although the last train will be before that!)

Timetable for bus 22
Timetable for buses 23/23A

 

[northwichcat]

That said, if someone can recommend a cheaper and/or faster route, I'd be interested to hear about it. I'm fairly well-versed with rail fares, but I've never used Metrolink before, so that part is all new to me.

Direct bus from Altrincham Interchange takes around 55 minutes to the Trafford Centre. Not sure if it's part of the £3.50 Altrincham 'Plusbus' though.
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easier access at Nav Road due to there not being a footbridge.

Might take longer to change at Nav Road though. The signallers are known to sometimes keep the level crossing barriers down for over 5 minutes at a time.

Also there is step free access between platforms 3 and 1 at Altrincham but not between platforms 1 and 4.

And ML1 bus from the station car park- about £2-3ish, takes 5 mins.

Takes 15 minutes according to Arriva's own timetable.

Then buy two £3.50ish returns from Altrincham to Trafford Centre on the platform ticket machine.

That's inaccurate information. It's probably in excess of £5 by now for an off-peak return - Altrincham to Stretford off-peak return without the bus add-on is £3.60. I still have an Altrincham - Trafford Centre off-peak return ticket from 2007 and that shows £4.10!

 

[sonic2009]

Direct bus from Altrincham Interchange takes around 55 minutes to the Trafford Centre. Not sure if it's part of the £3.50 Altrincham 'Plusbus' though.

Altrincham Plusbus allows

An Altrincham PLUSBUS ticket gives you unlimited bus travel on participating operators’ services, around the whole urban area of Altrincham (as defined by the zone map - see PDF below) and Greater Manchester region.

http://www.plusbus.info/altrincham-plusbus-greater-manchester

http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/serviceInformation.aspx?id=2926

Bus 18 is the service

 

[323235]

ML1 stops early but there are other ordinary service buses from the Trafford Centre to Stretford Metrolink all evening on the 22/23/23A, with the last buses on the 22 being after midnight (although the last train will be before that!)

Timetable for bus 22
Timetable for buses 23/23A

They leave from the bus stop just across the road from Stretford station, no more than a minute walk from the car park where ML1 departs from.