Sunderland - Blackpool 22/01/2011

[spoony]

Can anyone help with this please?

Me and the Mrs are determined to get to Blackpool for the match and would prefer to do it by train if possible. I thought this would be an easy journey to plan but its actually turning into quite a nightmare.

We would be looking to arrive around 1pm and depart around 5.30pm. To add to complications there appears to be something happening to the ECML that day as a lot of services are listed as being bus between Newcastle and Darlington (however some strangely are trains running directly to York).

So far I have come up with either going via Carlisle, Preston then onto Blackpool. My alternative route is singles Sunderland - Thornaby, Man Piccadilly, Blackpool North outwards then Blackpool North - Man Piccadilly, Thirsk-Sunderland on the return. My problem with this the connection time at Thirsk is only 10 minutes and I don't want to risk being stranded as there is nothing afterwards that can get me back to Sunderland.

A more preferable option would be to go the Carlisle route but on the way back we just miss the 1945 Carlisle to Newcastle by 4 minutes. There is a wait till 2114 for the next train meaning I wont get back till around 2350 which is a bit late.

What would be ideal is a ticket into Blackpool that allows you to use either North or South stations. Does such a thing exist? I doubt it

Apologies for the length of this post but is there any other route I can try as Im a bit stumped?

 

[Neilandrewhall]

Metro from Sunderland to Newcastle(Metro)
Newcastle 09:24NT
Carlisle10:46
Carlisle 11:09VT
Preston (Lancs)12:15
Preston (Lancs) 12:34NT
Blackpool North13:00

Blackpool North 17:37NT
Preston (Lancs)18:02
Preston (Lancs) 18:47TP

Manchester Piccadilly19:27
Manchester Piccadilly 19:42TP
Northallerton21:36
Northallerton 21:44GC
Sunderland22:51

Thats the best one mate

 

[spoony]

Metro from Sunderland to Newcastle(Metro)
Newcastle 09:24NT
Carlisle10:46
Carlisle 11:09VT
Preston (Lancs)12:15
Preston (Lancs) 12:34NT
Blackpool North13:00

Blackpool North 17:37NT
Preston (Lancs)18:02
Preston (Lancs) 18:47TP

Manchester Piccadilly19:27
Manchester Piccadilly 19:42TP
Northallerton21:36
Northallerton 21:44GC
Sunderland22:51

Thats the best one mate

Cheers, its just the 8 minutes at Northallerton at not leaving much room for a late runner. The gap is scheduled as 10 minutes if you change the same trains at Thirsk. Any idea what would happen if this was missed, would I be well and truly up the creek?

 

[Neilandrewhall]

TP are normally OK for getting in on time, But Basically your 2144 from Northallerton is your last one..

 

[spoony]

TP are normally OK for getting in on time, But Basically your 2144 from Northallerton is your last one..

If thats the case then, it will either be a return journey via Carlisle or a trip on a supporters coach. Thanks for helping. Mind if I got it and it was late could always ask to stay on to Thornaby and blag a lift from the Mrs parents back to theirs in Darlington

 

[Neilandrewhall]

if you could get to Blackpool North, at 17:20 you've got the Carlisle option?

 

[spoony]

if you could get to Blackpool North, at 17:20 you've got the Carlisle option?

I've looked into it I reckon if the match finishes at 1650ish I have 20 minutes to get there which looks doable on google earth but I don't know how long it takes in reality.

 

[Chapeltom]

Blackpool North from the ground for 1720 would surely be pushing it? 1730 onwards is going realistic

 

[Neilandrewhall]

how fast can you walk ?

 

[spoony]

how fast can you walk ?

Fast enough, but not knowing the area, I would prefer to give myself some leeway. If I do this by train I think it will have to be the 17.37 from BPN and to hell with the wait in Carlisle ill just go to the pub!

 

[MikeWh]

Fast enough, but not knowing the area, I would prefer to give myself some leeway. If I do this by train I think it will have to be the 17.37 from BPN and to hell with the wait in Carlisle ill just go to the pub!

I'd imagine quite a few people will be heading back to the station so you shouldn't get lost. But I really wouldn't tie myself to anything that requires a football match to finish before 5pm. Also, how definite is it that the time will be a normal kick-off? Have TV fixtures been announced yet?

 

[Chapeltom]

Yes, TV has been sorted. Wolves v Liverpool and Aston Villa v Manchester City on TV that day.

10 minutes to Blackpool South station, but the next train after the game is 1739 I think.
2 miles to Blackpool North station, that's 30 minutes walk. 1720 may be achievable after all.


As for not knowing the area don't let that worry you! I've walked up to 4 miles from stations to grounds and back through places I've never been to!

 

[YorkshireRider]

I suppose if Blackpool are 3-0 up with 10 mins to go, u could leave early

 

[MikeWh]

Yes, TV has been sorted. Wolves v Liverpool and Aston Villa v Manchester City on TV that day.

That's good. Let's hope nothing makes them have to change plans.

10 minutes to Blackpool South station, but the next train after the game is 1739 I think.
2 miles to Blackpool North station, that's 30 minutes walk. 1720 may be achievable after all.

As a long-term season ticket holder at a championship club which has been in the PL before, I would advise forgetting anything before 1730 at the absolute earliest. Depending on where you are in the ground it might take 5 minutes to actually get out. 1650 is pretty much the earliest any PL match finishes, most will be a few minutes after that. Reckon to be out of the ground by 1700 and if it's earlier that's a bonus. If you're at the wrong end to the station that'll add another couple of minutes to the walk.

 

[Failed Unit]

Cheers, its just the 8 minutes at Northallerton at not leaving much room for a late runner. The gap is scheduled as 10 minutes if you change the same trains at Thirsk. Any idea what would happen if this was missed, would I be well and truly up the creek?

What time is the last Metro from Newcastle, if you got of the train at York (if it was running late) you could catch 2151 XC service to Newcastle which should get in at 2306. Would you make the Metro safely from that?

 

[spoony]

I suppose if Blackpool are 3-0 up with 10 mins to go, u could leave early

Ill have been long gone if its that bad
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That's good. Let's hope nothing makes them have to change plans.

Had my fingers burned with late changes before. I had managed to book 2 x Sunderland to Portsmouth returns for a Saturday kick off 2 years ago costing around £60 each which was quite good I thought. Four weeks before the match, Setanta Sports moved the match to a Monday night. ended up getting the Monday and Tuesday off work and travelling down on the outward portion and stopping at the Travelodge. Paid £11 on the Mega bus back on Tuesday from Portsmouth - Sunderland!

Im not ashamed to say it, I had a smile to myself when they went under.

 

[142094]

I've just looked at the East Coast front page and can't see any alterations for the 22nd.

EDIT: However the booking engine does show enginering work. Wonder if they are being diverted via the Durham Coast, or just not stopping at Darlo?

FUTHER EDIT

Last updated Details
Engineering work between Darlington and Durham on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 January 2011 15:55 - 11/11/2010
Start date22/01/2011 .
End date23/01/2011 .
Route affectedDownload map of route affected - map London Kings Cross / Birmingham New Street, Doncaster, York, Darlington, Durham, Chester-le-Street, Newcastle and Edinburgh; also Manchester Airport, Huddersfield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Durham and Newcastle
.Train operators affectedCrossCountry , East Coast , First TransPennine Express , Northern Rail .
DescriptionCross Country

Buses replace trains between Darlington and Newcastle

East Coast

Details have not yet been confirmed

First TransPennine Express

Buses replace trains between Darlington and Newcastle

Northern Rail

Saturday

06:24 and 07:17 Saltburn to Newcastle services will not call at Eaglescliffe, Allens West, Dinsdale, Darlington, Durham and Chester-le-Street. Buses will run for passengers for these stations.

21:50 Newcastle to Middlesbrough service will be replaced by a bus between Durham and Middlesbrough.

Sunday

21:06 Newcastle to Saltburn will not call at Chester-le-Street, Durham, Darlington and Eaglescliffe. A bus will run for passengers for these stations.



Planning your Journey

Details of revised timetables have not yet been confirmed, please check back nearer the time of travel.

 

[spoony]

I've just looked at the East Coast front page and can't see any alterations for the 22nd.

Try Newcastle - York around 8am on the 22/01/11 and every other train seems to be listed as a bus service to Darlo taking an hour, It looks really strange as you have normal services listed as well.

 

[142094]

Silly me, I bet they are running via the Stillington Branch, seems to be the same timings as when I did it the last time. Explains the bus to Darlo.

 

[spoony]

Silly me, I bet they are running via the Stillington Branch, seems to be the same timings as when I did it the last time. Explains the bus to Darlo.

Your probably right as GC services seem unaffected. Im awaiting permission to book the train via Carlisle
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well thats it sorted. Tickets purchased from Carlisle to Blackpool North. Just need to buy a Northern Duo ticket on the day and were laughing!