Melksham to Manchester at a sensible price - ideas?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Next Sunday (17th Feb) - Melksham to Manchester, returning evening of Wednesday 20th, 17:30 onwards.

I'm getting 78.70 offpeak single, and 80.00 anytime single (big savings - NOT)
Returns at 79.70 offpeak, and 160.00 anytime return.

17:25 on Sunday (22:29 into MAN) shows as peak ... really?  On a Sunday??
20:27 on Wednesday back (06:28 into MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains)) shows as peak ... really?  Which of the services will be packed?

I'll probably leave a little earlier in both cases / get a lift or use bus or taxi as there's really nothing appropriate from / to Melksham station, and I suspect I can do it much cheaper. Is Club 55 running in Wales?  Split at Newport? Thoughts / other suggestions anyone?

[Andy W]

Some of these seem cheaper.

http://brfares.com/#fares?orig=MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains)&dest=0438&rlc=

[basset44]

Hi Grahame,

Club 55 still open cnat work out if they are day of period returns

http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/Club55/Buy/

^17.00 booked online

Basset

[JayMac]

Melksham/Chippenham - Droitwich Spa Off Peak Return (SVR) ^26.50*
Birmingham New Street - Stoke-on-Trent SVR ^16.50
Stoke-on-Trent - Manchester Piccadilly SVR ^15.40
Total: ^58.40
*Valid via Birmingham and for break of journey and starting/ending short.

If you're not comfortable using the Droitwich Spa loophole then:

Melksham/Chippenham - Cheltenham Spa SVR ^23.10
Cheltenham Spa - Birmingham New Street SVR ^23.20
Birmingham New Street - Stoke-on-Trent SVR ^16.50
Stoke-on-Trent - Manchester Piccadilly SVR ^15.40
Total: ^78.20 Minuscule saving on the through SVR fare.

Both combinations valid on the 1725 from Melksham on Sun 17th. Changing at Swindon, Gloucester, Birmingham. They are also valid on the return on Weds 20th after 0930 on the CrossCountry services from Manchester to Bristol, these all call at Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham New Street.

Much greater Savings by using Club 55 and travelling Newport to Manchester Piccadilly, although the last train from NWP-MAN on Sunday 17th is 1854 arriving Manchester 2219. But connecting into that from Melksham or Chippenham early evening isn't really possible. You need to be on the 1626 from Chippenham at the latest.

Melksham/Chippenham - Newport Anytime Return (SOR) ^19.80
Newport - Manchester Piccadiilly ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) Club 55 ^17.00 (online price. ^19 at the station)
Total: ^36.80 (^38.80)


If you're also after accommodation grahame, I can report back on the place I'm staying at in Manchester tomorrow. Ibis Budget, Pollard Street. Just ^21 a night (Advance) or ^28 (unrestricted). Continental buffet breakfast ^4.25. Free Wi-Fi and four sockets in each room!

Also just one stop from Piccadilly on the newly opened (today!) Metrolink East Manchester Line to Droylesden. Hotel is directly opposite the tram stop called New Islington.

[ChrisB]

Not sure its free wifi? Maybe only in public areas?

[TonyK]

Also just one stop from Piccadilly on the newly opened (today!) Metrolink East Manchester Line to Droylesden. Hotel is directly opposite the tram stop called New Islington.

Indeed so! Proof from another place:


3020 New Islington Metrolink East Manchester 027 by d33206hg, on Flickr

The metal box-looking thing is flats. It's called Chips, for no reason I can imagine.

I have asked.

[JayMac]

Not sure its free wifi? Maybe only in public areas?

Free in the rooms at the moment. Confirmed in a call to the hotel manager.

[thetrout]

BNM Please do let us know how the hotel is. I'm still in Wrexham so may put myself up in there on Wednesday to see other assorted family trouts for ^28

[chuffed]

Trout fishing for information again !

Slightly worried about what would have  happened if you'd been offered a fish course instead of the frozen mushroom wellington on an earlier thread....you do seem to have incredible life experiences on your journeys unlike the more mundane shuttling ...or should that be scuttling....of the rest of us!

[Kim]

My suggestion would be a return from Melksham to Cheltenham Spa, then split tickets from there up to Manchester. It would only be 1 change. You might get that down a bit if you went the Melksham - Trowbridge - Bristol TM^‡(resolve) route, but it would add 2 changes.

Standard return Melksham - Cheltenham is ^23.10. I'll look up the other prices in the 37 mins waiting for the Melksham train tonight.  

Your cheapest option is almost certainly the ^36.80 below though.

PS. 3 coaches on the TransWilts this morning!

[chuffed]

Can also recommend the Travelodge just over Blackfriars Bridge, over the Irwell and just inside the Salford boundary.
Great location for Victoria,Cathedral, Deansgate etc. Don't forget to make use of the FREE FOR EVERYONE Metroshuttle buses that buzz around the city centre 18 hours a day, especially if it's raining ! Recently upgraded to bigger more eco friendly buses (run by First!) with plenty of luggage/standing space. If only we had something similar in Bristol.....

[grahame]

I get ... slightly embarrased ... when plans change.    Return leg now has to include a London meeting on Thursday - morning until lunch time!  Based on some of the idea already mooted ... from Bradford-on-Avon to Chippenham, via Manchester (3 nights stop) and London (1 night stop) - 79.50 rail fare, and 103 pound for a total of 4 nights in hotels.  Booked as there are advanced element in there.