London to Manchester/Altrincham - May BH

[VauxhallandI]

Well my team have trundled into the play-offs so it looks like a home fixture in Altrincham on Saturday 3rd May.

I tend to stay over.

I see that Virgin is a no go as although I as willing to drive and park at Milton Keynes it would seem the train would only go to Rugby.

So option one is to drive to Rugby (from Cheshunt). Not sure on parking and you are almost half way there.

The alternatives thrown up by NRE seem to take 4hours? On the Sunday it is suggesting multiple changes. I am worried about connections and rubbish trains (pacers).

Go on convince me the car is not the best option

 

[cuccir]

First, you do realise that there's another round of matches left in the Conference North? (removed due to football-related confusion!) So I'd hold off booking anything yet!

With regards to planning - are you looking at staying over the night before? The night of the game? Or both?

 

[northwichcat]

You could, as an alternative to the routes NRE will give you, catch a train to Crewe, then one to Hartford, walk to Greenbank and then a train to Altrincham.

On Saturday 5th May the Knutsford Royal May Day and Fun Fair is on so hopefully they will do the Saturday strengthened diagrams on the Mid-Cheshire line, which should mean a very low chance of getting a 142 on it's own.

 

[VauxhallandI]

First, you do realise that there's another round of matches left in the Conference North? Presuming that you're a Hednesford fan (based on current league positions) you could still pass Alty if you get a better result against Barrow then they get against Histon. And if the mighty Bluebirds beat you and Guiseley win, there's a chance you could finish 5th and be looking at trip to either Telford or North Ferriby. So I'd hold off booking anything yet!

With regards to planning - are you looking at staying over the night before? The night of the game? Or both?

Possibly the worst insult I have ever received :cry:

I am an Altrincham supporter.

Now even in my permanent pessimistic state of mind I fancy us to win at Histon on Saturday. That said it is not a happy hunting ground and there is nothing like a relegated team playing "without fear" and tonking us.

I am looking to stay over the night of the game. The Altrincham Central Travelodge is very reasonable.
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You could, as an alternative to the routes NRE will give you, catch a train to Crewe, then one to Hartford, walk to Greenbank and then a train to Altrincham.

On Saturday 5th May the Knutsford Royal May Day and Fun Fair is on so hopefully they will do the Saturday strengthened diagrams on the Mid-Cheshire line, which should mean a very low chance of getting a 142 on it's own.

Sounds interesting, how would I get to Crewe though, I thought they went out from Euston too?

 

[cuccir]

Ah sorry, was just rereading this as you posted and realised that you said 'a home fixture in Altrincham'. But yes, if Hednesford get a better result than you on Saturday the order would be reversed!

With regards to routes - directly from Cheshunt, the booking engine is suggesting travelling to St Pancras and then on to Sheffield, Stockport and Altrincham as the quickest route.

Another option might be to drive to Luton Airport Parkway. An off-peak return to Altrincham is £68.90 from there and takes roughly 4 hours, travelling via Nottingham and Stockport.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Try Stevenage-Altrincham via Leeds and Manchester (EC and TP).
Roughly hourly.

Sat
Stevenage 0923
Leeds 1125/40
Manchester Pic 1236
Altrincham via Metrolink 1313-ish

Sun
Altrincham 1023 via Metrolink
Manchester Pic 1049/57
Leeds 1152/1205
Peterborough 1335/46
Stevenage 1435 (FCC)

Probably more comfortable than the MML options.
A "Not London" fare to Manchester should work out cheapest.
Northern trains between Altrincham and Manchester are only 2-hourly on Sundays, so you are best using Metrolink (hourly on Sat).

 

[VauxhallandI]

Try Stevenage-Altrincham via Leeds and Manchester (EC and TP).
Roughly hourly.

Sat
Stevenage 0923
Leeds 1125/40
Manchester Pic 1236
Altrincham via Metrolink 1313-ish

Sun
Altrincham 1023 via Metrolink
Manchester Pic 1049/57
Leeds 1152/1205
Peterborough 1335/46
Stevenage 1435 (FCC)

Probably more comfortable than the MML options.
A "Not London" fare to Manchester should work out cheapest.
Northern trains between Altrincham and Manchester are only 2-hourly on Sundays, so you are best using Metrolink (hourly on Sat).

Thanks however NRE is returning that at £381.....

 

[Hadders]

Don't buy the not via London fare from Stevenage to Manchester

The SVR route:+Any Permitted is £89.70
The SSR route:Not Via London is £90.90

There is also a SVR route: Not via London which is £145 which is useful on a weekday as it has reasonably generous time restrictions (but this is not an issue at weekends).

I'm not an expert on Metrolink through ticketing so it might be best to purchase an additional ticket for the Metrolink section.

Also worth noting that on the return it is possible to do Manchester-Stevenage in as little as 2h46m:

MAN dep 1520
DON arr 1635
DON dep 1647
SVG arr 1806

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I suspect the via London fare forces you to go via Rugby/Birmingham, with Chesterfield or Leeds not valid.
However the Not Via London fare should work via Leeds or Chesterfield (eg via Peterborough and EMT).
Via Leeds is much faster with good TP connections at Leeds.

You could start at an FCC local station and change at Stevenage but apart from the connections, the Manchester fare offered (eg from Potters Bar or Hertford North) is only the Via London fare.

 

[Hadders]

There isn't a 'via London' fare from Stevenage to Manchester, they're 'not via London' and '+Any Permitted.'

The '+Any Permitted' is valid via London and down the WCML but you are not forced to go that way. Any permitted route between Stevenage and Manchester may be used (of which there are many!).