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Original poster

Anyone from Manchester around? How hellish would it be tomorrow?

48 replies

GuitarGeorgina · 15/12/2023 07:34

I need to visit family near Manchester tomorrow but can’t drive at the moment because of an injury.

I could come by train, but when I go to book tickets I get a pop up warning that the trains will be busier than usual because of the Christmas Market, and obviously a Saturday before Christmas would be busy anyway. I would be met from the station by a relative who would have to drive to get there.

is this perfectly feasible or madness? I would not be able to stand for the journey (2.5 hours) if the train was heaving, or to get public transport from the station.

I’ve not been on a train for many years and have only heard horror stories about packed carriages and people standing all the way, but maybe that’s related to train strikes.

OP posts:
Madat54 · 15/12/2023 07:36

Depends on whether early morning or midday. I caught the early morning train into Manchester and managed to get a seat.

HousedInMySoul · 15/12/2023 07:36

Surely if you're getting on a train 2.5 hours away from Manchester, you'll need to know what the trains are like wherever it is that you actually get on the train? Apologies if I've read ths wrong

Turmerictolly · 15/12/2023 07:38

Maybe book a seat if it's an intercity train.

ApolloandDaphne · 15/12/2023 07:39

Are you able to pre-book a seat?

ArchetypalBusyMum · 15/12/2023 07:39

I don't think the Xmas markets impact that much on the general goings on of the city.
Not sure about how the trains are usually, so hopefully someone can illuminate that. But having been too the Xmas markets for years, I'd say that the markets themselves can be heaving but you'd not particularly notice the effect beyond the immediate areas where they are. Being a city there is always something big going on, Manchester arena gigs (went to one last Saturday) for instance, 21,000 people departed all at the same time, soon dissipated and just part of 'general city busy-ness' in no time.

Tulipblank · 15/12/2023 07:40

Where are you travelling from?

RampantIvy · 15/12/2023 07:43

If you book a train for a long journey you usually get a seat allocated automatically. It's only local trains where you don't.

@GuitarGeorgina which train company are you using? If it is Trans Pennine "Express" I would stay at home as they are abysmally unreliable these days with many delays and cancellations, and the chances of you having to stand are high.

AndThatWasNY · 15/12/2023 07:43

I was on a train last weekend coming to Manchester and it was much busier than normal. The carparks and roads were mental though, my friend got stuck in gridlock near Deansgate. Your relative would be better going near a tram stop somewhere and parking up and getting a tram in.

NigelHarmansNewWife · 15/12/2023 07:47

I don't think the Xmas markets impact that much on the general goings on of the city.

Are you kidding? I was there on Monday evening and had to get from Piccadilly to the Corn Exchange. It was bedlam and I was carrying stuff. Bedlam = lots of people at the Christmas markets completely unaware others might need to get somewhere. Took me twice as long as usual and I knew exactly where I was going.

If you're going early and have a seat booked on the train you should be fine. Assuming you're going into Piccadilly, pre-arrange where to meet your lift - i.e. maybe they don't pick you up at the actual station.

Mabelface · 15/12/2023 07:47

Trains should be okay, albeit busy. Would agree with your relative parking up and getting a tram in as it'll be horrific to drive in the city centre. If you do need to wait when you get to Piccadilly, there's a shiny new space for this with disabilities/different needs that's quiet and nice. Just after platform 1.

Vickythevan63 · 15/12/2023 07:59

Where are you travelling from, and whereabouts do your relatives live? Would it be feasible to get off the train at an earlier stop and picked up there?

I doubt you would have to stand for a 2.5hr journey, but picking you up in Manchester might be busy for your relative.

Soontobe60 · 15/12/2023 08:02

NigelHarmansNewWife · 15/12/2023 07:47

I don't think the Xmas markets impact that much on the general goings on of the city.

Are you kidding? I was there on Monday evening and had to get from Piccadilly to the Corn Exchange. It was bedlam and I was carrying stuff. Bedlam = lots of people at the Christmas markets completely unaware others might need to get somewhere. Took me twice as long as usual and I knew exactly where I was going.

If you're going early and have a seat booked on the train you should be fine. Assuming you're going into Piccadilly, pre-arrange where to meet your lift - i.e. maybe they don't pick you up at the actual station.

I’d have jumped on a tram at Piccadilly

dunroamingfornow · 15/12/2023 08:07

I wouldn't do this journey if you really cannot stand up on the train. I've had pre booked seats and still had to stand. I wouldn't advise driving into the city centre. I got stuck in traffic last week, 45 minutes to go 3 miles!

Original poster
GuitarGeorgina · 15/12/2023 08:45

Travelling from Leicester, changing at Sheffield. It’s the Sheffield to Manchester leg of the journey that bothers me.

Relatives live near Rochdale but I’m struggling to find an alternative route that would take me to Rochdale, Oldham or Bury, all of which would suit them better. They don’t like driving in Manchester.

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 15/12/2023 09:00

It’s the Sheffield to Manchester leg of the journey that bothers me

You are right to be bothered. TPE are so unreliable. The problem is that when they cancel trains everyone tries to get on the next one. I have never travelled on an uncrowded train between Manchester and Sheffield.

I'll have a look at other options.

Aposterhasnoname · 15/12/2023 09:03

Don’t rely on booking a seat, if the train is busy someone will sit in it, and very often refuse to move. And staff won’t do a damn thing about it.

RampantIvy · 15/12/2023 09:04

@GuitarGeorgina I have just checked on my Trainline app, and some suggestions are to go via Birmingham, change there, train to Manchester Piccadilly. You would then need to get across to Manchester Victoria for a train to Rochdale.

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 15/12/2023 09:10

Don't even attempt the transfer between Piccadily and Victoria even first class is standing room only, its the airport train. At a quieter time of day you would have more luck going to Leeds and travelling to Rochdale that way. You could also look at perhaps Burnley from Leeds, i think you can book seats on that train and its not too far from Rochdale

Original poster
GuitarGeorgina · 15/12/2023 09:13

Thank you all.
I think I will stay at home!

OP posts:
NonSequentialRhubarb · 15/12/2023 09:14

There's a train from Sheffield to Stockport, which might be a better option if they can drive to collect you. Not as convenient for Rochdale as the other stations you mentioned, but still more convenient than driving into Piccadilly

Edit: Google maps says Rochdale to Stockport is approx the same time to drive as Rochdale to Piccadilly. But would obviously be better than city centre driving so close to Christmas.

troppibambini6 · 15/12/2023 09:15

Can't really help with the train situation but I can definitely tell you that the roads in Manchester City centre are total gridlock at the moment. As in a 20 min journey is taking an hour and a half.
I'm going in on Saturday for the afternoon/evening we would usually get a cab but will be getting the met.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 15/12/2023 09:16

You can train Leicester to Rochdale apparently, although with 2 changes.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 15/12/2023 09:30

I commute into Manchester, I find with Christmas markets the trains into Victoria are generally much for a muchness, picadilly is much busier.

grass67 · 15/12/2023 09:36

You can't do it without going into Piccadilly. You would have to cross to Victoria to get a train out to rochdale.
You could go to Piccadilly and then train out to guide bridge,(from Piccadilly ) only about 20min drive to rochdale.

Honestly though, it a crazy journey on one of the busiest days of the years in the city. Trains are unreliable too.

RampantIvy · 15/12/2023 10:00

There's a train from Sheffield to Stockport,

Which is always horrifically crowded. Last time I took that train I did have a seat booked and managed to get to it. I had to get up early to fight my way to the door because I might not have been able to get off the train in time. The train was too short as well and they left half the passengers on the platform in Sheffield. TPE is a disgrace.