TPE advice

[leonard]

Any advice or thoughts on using TPE on Saturday Sept 7th would be welcome for a trip from Chester to Durham. Are they reliable yet or am I being too hopeful? Not many alternatives if it goes wrong that weekend due to the LNER action.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@leonard. Welcome to the forum. Which way are you planning on travelling? Via York, or via Carlisle (the latter is possible with split tickets)? And what time do you need to be in Durham for on Saturday week?

 

[leonard]

Thanks for the welcome.

The forum ticket site is suggesting via Liverpool then TPE Liverpool to Durham direct.

I need to be in Durham for around midday.

Via Carlisle is a thought

 

[anothertyke]

Recent Train Times is a useful site for that sort of question. I would say TPE has greatly improved. However do not attempt to travel from Chester to Man Vic (or Warrington if you choose via Carlisle) with Northern. That is very risky at the moment.

 

[Segedunum]

TPE are significantly better than they used to be as the timetable was reduced down to a manageable level while they addressed staffing issues. 3/4hr gaps in service used to be normal on Newcastle-Liverpool but from experience, almost everything runs as intended now.

 

[30907]

OTOH, things can go wrong... if your arrival time in Durham is critical, allow for delays
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/transpennine-express-over-last-48hrs.272907/#post-6911044

 

[childwallblues]

I have returned to using TPE on my days out for the past few months. The Liverpool to Newcastle service is reliable and has the advantage of using Class 802 units.

 

[leonard]

Thank you your very helpful posts

 

[TheGrew]

I'm not sure of the precise timings but I would have thought Chester to Newton-le-Willows (where I live) or Manchester Victoria then change onwards to Durham on the TPE Liverpool - Newcastle Service. I tend to commute on the TPE service to Leeds once a week and have found it generally reliable.