Merseyrail Saveaway bash - queries

[Techniquest]

Hey gang,

As those of you following me on Twitter may have seen, I'm off to Liverpool next week to finish off my 10 days off from work. Not been up there for a proper session in absolutely ages, over 2 years if not longer, so booked it all and looking forward to some 507/508 cranking.

Any interesting moves available in the Saveaway area? Closest one I can remember is that one in the evening from Wigan North Western to Liverpool that takes in the curve near Newton-le-Willows, used to be 1821 off WNW but not sure if that still happens.

My last trip up there was mostly on single 507s/508s, are there pairs booked for any trains? Same query for anything with Northern, and I seem to recall there's very few if any trains with TPX that I can get on without going out of the Saveaway area.

Finally for now at least, it's the All Zones Saveaway I need for getting to Chester and Ellesmere Port, not to mention Southport etc, correct?

 

[burns20]

Wigan is not in the Saveaway area. Liverpool-Garswood and Newton-Liverpool are.

 

[razor89]

Yeah you need an all zone saveaway at £4.90. Not many exceptional passenger moves on Merseyrail, but many 6 car workings exist:

0928 SOP-HNX/ 1036 HNX-SOP (This often runs as a 3 car though)

1513, 1543, 1558, 1613, 1628, 1643 SOP-HNX

1621, 1651, 1706, 1721, 1736, 1751 HNX-SOP

1535, 1635, 1650, 1750, 1805, 1905, 1920 OMS-LVC

1555, 1610, 1710, 1725, 1825, 1840 LVC-OMS

1636, 1751 WKI-WKI

Hope that helps!

 

[Techniquest]

Wigan is not in the Saveaway area. Liverpool-Garswood and Newton-Liverpool are.

True, I meant to add that I'd add an additional ticket to cover the bit to Wigan.

Thanks for the 6-car workings razor89, I'll have to give them a go

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Closest one I can remember is that one in the evening from Wigan North Western to Liverpool that takes in the curve near Newton-le-Willows, used to be 1821 off WNW but not sure if that still happens.

Still happens, I did it two weeks ago.

 

[craig87034]

The ferries are rateable

 

[Techniquest]

Still happens, I did it two weeks ago.

Cheers, I'll have a proper look at it next week and see what the best and cheapest way of doing it is

 

[Eire Sprinter]

If time permits could I suggest a visit to the Overhead railway section in the Museum of Liverpool, at the Pier Head less than five minutes on foot from James Street station.

The museum has self-service lockers on the ground floor (need a £1 coin but it's returned at the end).

The Overhead railway carriage and exhibits are at first floor level.

The Saveaway can be bought in stations - will be issued on ordinary ticket stock. It can also be bought from some shops - these ones are scratchcard type. The Saveaways are also valid on many buses but only rail to Chester and Ormskirk.

Hope you have a brilliant escapade.

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks for the tip, I'll try and make time as it sounds well worth a visit

I hope it's a good trip too, it'll be detailed in a trip report no doubt

 

[Eire Sprinter]

No problem, I visited a few months ago and enjoyed it.

Look forward to reading the trip report in due course.

 

[fowler9]

There is the South Parkway to Blackpool service which uses Platform 4 at South Parkway, and very little else does. A reasonable number of London Midland services from Liverpool to Birmingham use platform 3 at South Parkway and again very little else does. When I say very little else I mean nothing at all apart from in exceptional circumstances. The 17:15 from South Parkway to Lime Street is pretty much nailed on to get humped over from the fast to the slow lines just after South Parkway, its Northern from Manchester Oxford Road so it could be pretty much anything they operate. It gets shoved on the slow because the 17:22 South Parkway to Lime Street is normally stuck behind it, East Midlands service, I had a 156 on it along with a 158 yesterday. Not long before that is the double headed 185 with the rear unit locked out of use if you fancy a change and don't mind standing. Quite an impressive number of people get off the train at South Parkway around this time.

To put it another way you can get a good mix of all kinds of stuff from South Parkway in to Liverpool including 507's and 508's. I may be correct in saying that there are no types of rolling stock regularly operating on Merseyside that don't go through there (Feel free to correct me, in fact I think there are some 86's which pop down to Garston freightliner terminal without going through). There is the occasional freight as well but more so at night.

Let me know if you want any tips on pubs, takeaways etc.in the area.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh yes, and from the bridge at South Parkway you can actually see the top of the Anglican Cathedral tower if you look towards the city.

 

[Techniquest]

Some very useful tips there, I'll have to note all of them so far in my notebook next week before I go!

A fuller reply will come in when I can next get some free WiFi and onto the laptop, I'm still en-route to civilisation on the bus so signal is not good!

 

[Crossover]

The Saveaway can be bought from any station in the country - you may just need to guide the clerk how to find them

The last one I had only a few weeks ago was successfully issued in Harrogate - that raised some eyebrows on Merseyside!!!

 

[AntoniC]

If you fancy company, let me know as I live in Merseyrail Land and have a Adult All Zones Trio.

 

[fowler9]

The Saveaway can be bought from any station in the country - you may just need to guide the clerk how to find them

The last one I had only a few weeks ago was successfully issued in Harrogate - that raised some eyebrows on Merseyside!!!

I would have turned you away at the border if I was on guard that day. Ha ha.

 

[Gathursty]

You should get in Rainford if you can. It is within the Merseyrail jurisdiction as is Meols Cop and it's a short drive from me. Also the pub and signal box are quaint. The only downside is changing at Kirkby. :P

 

[185]

Speaking of borders, a reminder that the All Zones saveaway is allowed by exception on Merseyrail Electrics to points outside the county, namely Ormskirk, Chester and Ellesmere Port. As mentioned before, the ferries are worth it, during the week they are on the hour from Liverpool Pier Head to 3pm then every half hour from 1615 & 45 etc to the end of the rush hour.

 

[razor89]

Saveaways can be used on the ferries but only on the commuter services, which operate at peak times only. They are not accepted on the cruise services.

 

[tony_mac]

That is not correct.

They are allowed for a single cross-river journey, just not to do the whole 'cruise' and return to your departure point.

Admittedly, the Merseytravel information is (deliberately?) vague on this point, but lots of people use Saveaways on the ferries at weekends.

 

[Crossover]

On the ferries thing, yes, I also think they are accepted on cruise services. I have twice (once weekday and once Saturday) used it for crossing from Woodside to Pier Head with a Saveaway and I think on both occasions we have been on the tourist services. I don't think there is anything stopping one from getting off, getting another ticket and getting the next one

In each case, on getting the boarding passes from the desk we have been told that "there is one arriving now" and to board it

 

[Techniquest]

I have been intending to reply to this thread before now, finally I'm doing so!

I'm intending to do this solo, just easier for me. Very nice for people to offer company, but I prefer going bashing on my own. Long story cut short, I've had ****e experiences with trips with other people in the past so I've learnt going on my own is normally the best way. Quite happy with that if I'm honest!

Not seeing much time to do the ferries to be honest, maybe I'll use them another time.