Runcorn - Altrincham: Terrible fare that must be a mistake?

[rb124]

£52.30 for an anytime return from Runcorn to Altrincham!!! Haha. This must be a record breaker. Fare apparently set by transpennine which has flip all to do with it you would think. It's only about 15 miles and 15 or 20 mins tops in the car! Or £32 for off peak How do these weird anomalies slip in ? Stations North and South about half this fare. The only positive I suppose is that sometimes these crazy anomalies work in your favour.....

 

[Watershed]

The railway is generally only used by people who can't drive (either through lack of a licence or car) or by those who can for journeys where driving is unattractive (e.g. due to journey time or congestion). So the cost of driving isn't seen as a major factor when deciding rail fares, which have been market-based rather than mileage-based since the 1960s.

This is far from the only example of a fare that is priced unreasonably for the distance covered, but it isn't really possible to see how else it could be priced given the ability to break your journey on most rail fares (and the inability to effectively enforce restrictions on break of journey).

It's priced by TPE because it permits travel via Liverpool and Manchester. They set the fares for most longer journeys involving the Liverpool-Manchester route since they run the majority of 'express' services on it (all of them via Chat Moss and half of those via the CLC).

Tickets from Runcorn East are much more reasonably priced because it's assumed you'll go via Warrington, which is only 'half' of the Liverpool-Manchester route - though in fact the only valid route is via Chester.

 

[Krokodil]

It's only about 15 miles

How far is it by train? How far was it by train before the Halton Curve opened (because I doubt that the fare was updated at the time).

 

[rb124]

The railway is generally only used by people who can't drive (either through lack of a licence or car) or by those who can for journeys where driving is unattractive (e.g. due to journey time or congestion). So the cost of driving isn't seen as a major factor when deciding rail fares, which have been market-based rather than mileage-based since the 1960s.

This is far from the only example of a fare that is priced unreasonably for the distance covered, but it isn't really possible to see how else it could be priced given the ability to break your journey on most rail fares (and the inability to effectively enforce restrictions on break of journey).

It's priced by TPE because it permits travel via Liverpool and Manchester. They set the fares for most longer journeys involving the Liverpool-Manchester route since they run the majority of 'express' services on it (all of them via Chat Moss and half of those via the CLC).

Tickets from Runcorn East are much more reasonably priced because it's assumed you'll go via Warrington, which is only 'half' of the Liverpool-Manchester route - though in fact the only valid route is via Chester.

Nice try, but this one's just a mistake. Acton bridge is the next station south with arguably even more convoluted routing by rail geography but the fare is less than half! (And also much more in line with every other station within 10 miles).

 

[JonathanH]

Nice try, but this one's just a mistake. Acton bridge is the next station south with arguably even more convoluted routing by rail geography but the fare is less than half! (And also much more in line with every other station within 10 miles).

Same fare from Acton Bridge to Altrincham as from Crewe to Altrincham, priced by Northern. Change at Crewe and Stockport.

How realistic is walking from Hartford to Greenbank?

 

[mickey]

How realistic is walking from Hartford to Greenbank?

Very, it’s exactly a mile and an easy walk along a single road. Obviously this applies for the able-bodied, not everyone is so fortunate.

 

[Tester]

How realistic is walking from Hartford to Greenbank?

I have done it without difficulty.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

£52.30 for an anytime return from Runcorn to Altrincham!!!

That's an Anytime Day Return, isn't it?

Could one legitimately use a £24.00 Anytime Day Return from Liverpool South Parkway to/from Altrincham, and start short at Runcorn if travelling via Chester, or pay an extra £6.50 to get from Runcorn to Liverpool South Parkway to continue from there?

 

[Watershed]

Nice try, but this one's just a mistake.

If you're so sure it's a mistake, why bother creating a thread to ask what others think? I've shared what the rationale within the industry will be. It sounds like you don't want to accept it because you don't like the answer.

The fares are clearly extortionate, but they are in keeping with how industry pricing works more widely. So they're very unlikely to be a mistake.

Acton bridge is the next station south with arguably even more convoluted routing by rail geography but the fare is less than half! (And also much more in line with every other station within 10 miles).

Because from Acton Bridge it's assumed you will travel via Crewe and Stockport, which attracts a lesser premium than travelling on the Liverpool-Manchester route.

Walking from Hartford to Greenbank is not a realistic prospect for those with mobility issues or heavy luggage, to name just two categories. A walking link should arguably still be in the industry data so that it is presented as an option, but at that sort of distance you can kind of understand why it's not.

Realistically the number of people who would take advantage of fares routed via the walking link would be miniscule.

 

[rb124]

If you're so sure it's a mistake, why bother creating a thread to ask what others think? I've shared what the rationale within the industry will be. It sounds like you don't want to accept it because you don't like the answer.

The fares are clearly extortionate, but they are in keeping with how industry pricing works more widely. So they're very unlikely to be a mistake.


Because from Acton Bridge it's assumed you will travel via Crewe and Stockport, which attracts a lesser premium than travelling on the Liverpool-Manchester route.

Walking from Hartford to Greenbank is not a realistic prospect for those with mobility issues or heavy luggage, to name just two categories. A walking link should arguably still be in the industry data so that it is presented as an option, but at that sort of distance you can kind of understand why it's not.

Realistically the number of people who would take advantage of fares routed via the walking link would be min

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Dec 2025 ==

So why bother replying? This place is hilarious sometimes. If it's not a mistake then it's a malicious grudge against any poor soul from runcorn who wants to actually attempt the journey! I thought it was mildly interesting to have found an anomaly that is this bad. Hey maybe a revenue manager might even decide to reprice it seeing how they love hunting for too cheap anomalies here!

 

[realemil]

If it's not a mistake then it's a malicious grudge against any poor soul from runcorn who wants to actually attempt the journey! I thought it was mildly interesting to have found an anomaly that is this bad.

I’m not sure how this is a mistake or an anomaly, it’s clearly intentional, and it’s been explained why it is.

There are many fares similar to this on the railway. You cannot compare train cost and car mileage as they’re not priced identically.

This will not be repriced (at least not in the near future), as I’m sure that Manchester <> Liverpool brings enough revenue to TPE, so why would they make this ticket cheaper, and allow travel on that route? Unless Northern decide to step in and make a cheap “via X”, then you’re out of luck.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

The 'sensible' option, of course, would be Runcorn East to Manchester Piccadilly (£16.40 Anytime Day Return) and Metrolink to Altrincham (£7.10 Anytime Day Travelcard All Zones).

There is also a through fare to Altrincham from Runcorn East (£19.20 Anytime Day Return).

 

[soccermad]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Dec 2025 ==

So why bother replying? This place is hilarious sometimes. If it's not a mistake then it's a malicious grudge against any poor soul from runcorn who wants to actually attempt the journey! I thought it was mildly interesting to have found an anomaly that is this bad. Hey maybe a revenue manager might even decide to reprice it seeing how they love hunting for too cheap anomalies here!

You got a number of civil replys pointing out your erroneous assumptions from well qualified and experienced forum members who actually know what they are talking about !

If you don't like the answers you are getting then please stop commenting in your arrogant manner

 

[rb124]

Arrogant!? Really?! Lovely stuff. Liverpool South parkway to Altrincham is £24 for an anytime return (priced by East Midlands). South parkway to Runcorn is £6.50 for an anytime return (priced by west midlands). Yet the flow in question is priced at a handsome £52 by a different toc. Here is a challenge - how far away from Runcorn can you get before you pay more than £52 for a return to Altrincham?! Because from a quick check it's cheaper from Lancaster! Cheaper from Stafford! Cheaper from Llandudno! and cheaper from Leeds!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2025 ==

That's an Anytime Day Return, isn't it?

Could one legitimately use a £24.00 Anytime Day Return from Liverpool South Parkway to/from Altrincham, and start short at Runcorn if travelling via Chester, or pay an extra £6.50 to get from Runcorn to Liverpool South Parkway to continue from there?

Yes. That is a valid routing.

 

[Watershed]

Liverpool South parkway to Altrincham is £24 for an anytime return (priced by East Midlands). South parkway to Runcorn is £6.50 for an anytime return (priced by west midlands). Yet the flow in question is priced at a handsome £52 by a different toc.

Split tickets being cheaper is nothing new. London to Manchester is £386 for an Anytime Return, whilst London to Stafford is £246 for an Anytime Return and Stafford to Manchester is £36.80 for an Anytime Return.

Presumably you will be telling us this means the London to Manchester Anytime Return must also be a mistake?

Here is a challenge - how far away from Runcorn can you get before you pay more than £52 for a return to Altrincham?! Because from a quick check it's cheaper from Lancaster! Cheaper from Stafford! Cheaper from Llandudno! and cheaper from Leeds!

I don't know what you are trying to achieve by quoting these examples. We all agree that the fare to Altrincham is disproportionately expensive.

The point you appear completely unwilling to take in (which is, perhaps, why some people are calling you arrogant) is that TPE will not see their £52 fare as a mistake. It's an unregulated fare which they are free to price as they see fit. They have decided to price it quite highly; that is their prerogative.

 

[daodao]

Why bother using rail for this convoluted journey that is likely to take about 2 hours with several changes, when using bus services, with 1 change in Warrington, won't take longer and will be much cheaper? Alternatively, there is a direct rail service from Runcorn East to Warrington Bank Quay, from where bus route 5 takes one direct to Altrincham.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Buy a Cheshire Day Ranger (£31.20, travel after 0900, cheaper with a railcard) and take any route you like except Metrolink.

GB RAIL ROVER GUIDE - Cheshire Day Ranger

How to find rail rover and ranger tickets on the national rail network. Rover and ranger tickets are cheap tickets for rail travel

www.railrover.org

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Why bother using rail for this convoluted journey that is likely to take about 2 hours with several changes, when using bus services, with 1 change in Warrington, won't take longer and will be much cheaper?

Runcorn to Altrincham can be done fairly straightforwardly in under two hours with just a single change needed at Chester.

Buy a Cheshire Day Ranger (£31.20, travel after 0900, cheaper with a railcard) and take any route you like except Metrolink.

GB RAIL ROVER GUIDE - Cheshire Day Ranger

How to find rail rover and ranger tickets on the national rail network. Rover and ranger tickets are cheap tickets for rail travel

www.railrover.org

Using the Metrolink would cost an additional £4.90 on top of the Cheshire Day Ranger if travelling to Altrincham from Manchester City Centre via Sale. Not needed if travelling on heavy rail to Altrincham via Stockport/Navigation Road or via Knutsford.

 

[Sealink]

£52.30 for an anytime return from Runcorn to Altrincham!!! Haha. This must be a record breaker. Fare apparently set by transpennine which has flip all to do with it you would think. It's only about 15 miles and 15 or 20 mins tops in the car! Or £32 for off peak How do these weird anomalies slip in ? Stations North and South about half this fare. The only positive I suppose is that sometimes these crazy anomalies work in your favour.....

It's worse, that's an Anytime Day Return!

Two Anytime singles comes to £67.00!

I did a test booking on a split ticket site and the first ticket was to Acton Bridge.

 

[markymark2000]

£52.30 for an anytime return from Runcorn to Altrincham!!! Haha. This must be a record breaker. Fare apparently set by transpennine which has flip all to do with it you would think. It's only about 15 miles and 15 or 20 mins tops in the car! Or £32 for off peak How do these weird anomalies slip in ? Stations North and South about half this fare. The only positive I suppose is that sometimes these crazy anomalies work in your favour.....

While the fare admittedly isn't cheap, tickets between Plumley and Runcorn are priced by Northern are £32. It's only stations between Knutsford and Navigation Road (inclusive) which come under TPE and the £52 fare.

Something that is fun to note though is that if you were to pick Altrincham to Runcorn East, the return fare is £16.30 and the fare is set by Northern, so depending on where you are going in Runcorn and what times, it may be easier to instead go to Runcorn East then get the bus from there?

It's priced by TPE because it permits travel via Liverpool and Manchester. They set the fares for most longer journeys involving the Liverpool-Manchester route since they run the majority of 'express' services on it (all of them via Chat Moss and half of those via the CLC).

Journey planners fail if you try to route via Manchester, and the routing guide routing points thing shows to use Stockport, which then returns maps OC and CV which forces you to go via Crewe. The options shown are via Chester, or via Stockport and Crewe.