FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast April 15th Manchester to Blackpool 2011

[Wobblers]

I only ask because Northern Rail (unlike the verité of CL and McSh) apparently operate a 'two bikes only' on that stretch on a strictly 'first come, first served' basis, which would screw things somewhat... if it were true, as NR would have one believe etc...

Both Northern and Transpennine Express seem to run trains back to Manchester. If the National Rail website is to be believed, apparently the Transpennine Express requires bike reservations. I'll probably get a Northern train back as it's cheaper (note to self: book tickets tonight!!). Virgin Crosscountry seemed to be fairly relaxed about bikes the one time I used them coming back from Manchester: no checking of bike reservations. Bizarrely, it seems cheaper for me to get an off-peak saver than and advanced ticket!?!

 

[User10119]

TPE over on this side of the country, on the right side of the pennines, are remarkably casual about bike bookings but on trains that are going to and from Manchester airport (I've used the trains on the Barrow line and on the Manchester to York line) you do tend to find that the bike space can be full of grumpy people with lots of luggage. Train managers seem to look more favourably on you if you have the magic bit of orange cardboard in these circumtances, but I've not been kicked off yet for the lack of one. You have to make the bike reservation at least 24 hours in advance, so whenever I've bought a walk-up ticket I've had to jut chance it and so far it's always been fine.

 

[StuAff]

Never mind checking them, Stu - buy the things before they get snaffled.

Done, £20 for the two.

 

[hillclimber]

Hi Simon, can you put me down for this one please. I have my tickets booked. All set and ready to go. Marilyn

 

[dellzeqq]

Marcus C
Susie F
Mick D
Claudine C
Andrew C
Andrew B
Adrian C
Kathryn C
Marilyn B
Clive B

 

[theclaud]

Done, £20 for the two.

Excellent work!

 

[StuAff]

Excellent work!

Yup, day off sorted already so I should be OK for that one.

 

[AndrewClark]

I've just been to the ticket office at the station and it's £15.50 for me to get back to Liverpool, irrespective of when I get the ticket, and apparently no requirement (or ability) to reserve a bike space. This being the case I may as well just buy a ticket on the day.

 

[dellzeqq]

I've just been to the ticket office at the station and it's £15.50 for me to get back to Liverpool, irrespective of when I get the ticket, and apparently no requirement (or ability) to reserve a bike space. This being the case I may as well just buy a ticket on the day.

and I got a return ticket from Blackpool to London for £14.50 - although it was for one of the recce rides, not for the day itself. Go figure.

 

[clivedb]

Me too, please - tickets booked. Must now look for tickets for Cardiff!

 

[Aperitif]

Me too, please - tickets booked. Must now look for tickets for Cardiff!

There can't be much paper left to use for tickets Clive - I just picked up seventeen pieces!

 

[User10119]

My plan to spend a couple of days riding home was met with Very Little Enthusiasm Indeed by my Dearly_Beloved, so I guess I'd better go to the station tomorrow and book some tickets to get me home. Admittedly, if I hang about til lunchtime-ish, I should be able to get the train back for about 12 quid so it's probably cheaper than the cafe bill would be for riding back....

 

[Crackle]

Well it would be rude not to go with it all being so close, so I'm in barring illness or accident.

I've just been to the ticket office at the station and it's £15.50 for me to get back to Liverpool, irrespective of when I get the ticket, and apparently no requirement (or ability) to reserve a bike space. This being the case I may as well just buy a ticket on the day.

Is that Blackpool to Liverpool Andrew and what about Liverpool to Manchester?

Any of you seasoned train travellers know a clever website that you can use to book bikes too? Or do I have to get my carcass to a ticket ofice or use the phone?

 

[AndrewClark]

Well it would be rude not to go with it all being so close, so I'm in barring illness or accident.




Is that Blackpool to Liverpool Andrew and what about Liverpool to Manchester?

Any of you seasoned train travellers know a clever website that you can use to book bikes too? Or do I have to get my carcass to a ticket ofice or use the phone?

That was Blackpool back to Liverpool. I don't think you need to book for a train from Liverpool to Manchester either. Just be prepared for the Friday night drunks and scallies..

 

[User10119]

Any of you seasoned train travellers know a clever website that you can use to book bikes too? Or do I have to get my carcass to a ticket ofice or use the phone?

The EastCoast website lets you do bike bookings at the same time too.

But I don't have a credit card (because getting one would involve paperwork and who can be doing with that) and therefore have to delegate online purchasing to my Dearly_Beloved, who wasn't very motivated. So I went to the ticket office and had an entertaining conversation with a pleasant and knowledgeable person who knew where to split the journey to save pennies, got me on to TPE services with bike reservations the whole way, made sure that my connection time on the way back allowed for carting a bike round the station AND getting a cuppa, and who was highly entertained by the idea of a midnight ride to the seaside.

I do like York ticket office staff.