Moving to Manc - what is commuting like?

[Nifferrea101]

Hi. First time poster here. We're probably moving to Manchester before Xmas and are looking at areas. I've seen lots of threads on here about where to live so we have lots of ideas. Maybe on the tram line around Altrincham, Timperley, Didsbury if we can afford the latter. Or on the train line and further out such as Marple, New Mills, Stockport way. Or maybe north Manchester but we've never been up there! I'd love some opinions on what it is like to commute into central Manchester. I've heard the trains are slow and so over crowded. Is it really this bad?! Also what are the trams like? Partner's job will be right near Piccadilly station. Mine is tbc but I hope to be in central Manchester. We're not sure where to start so hope looking at best commuting options will help. As background we've got a 14 month old and will have less than £300k to buy a house with. Thanks all.

Yeah, no pollution from Trafford Park Slickster but they’re about to build a f@ck off massive incinerator in Urmston, right by the sewage works which will burn the most toxic solid waste Peel can get their hands on for the next 25 years. Thanks Eric Pickles.

OP, do yourself and your kid a favour and don’t buy in Urmston. Sorry, I do love it but the drawbacks are bigger than the advantages.

Also, I commute in rush hour but have to drive to town from Urmston because nursery opening times and train times (not to mention reliability) don’t match. I’m not sure where some of the travel times quoted here come from. They are only times I encounter when schools are on holidays. Traffic is hell and it takes me an hour door to door in the evening, a bit less in the mornings. My friend commutes very early to avoid the traffic but if she leaves her home later than 7:30am she gets stuck in it.

I’m afraid I don’t think there are places from which the commute into town is good in the whole of G Mcr, the infrastructure is a joke and can’t cope with the volume of people in public transport and cars.

Thanks for all the comments everyone. My partner will now be working in Warrington but on a bigger salary so hopefully we can afford more in the area. Seems Trafford will be the best place to base ourselves either so he can drive to the outskirts of Warrington or on the rain line between Manchester and Warrington. Lots to research!

In that case how about Lymm or Stockton Heath?

I’ll be working in central Manchester so I was worried about lymm not having a train station. I’ve heard Stockton heath is nice but I think it’s quite a walk or busy bus ride to Warrington station and therefore a long commute for me. Hard to find a balance!

If Didsbury is too pricey then look at the South of Withington. It's closer to town and can still be near bus, train and tram for commuting. I would suggest against going further out from Didsbury to Cheadle, everyone I know there has a horrendous commute even thought it's not many miles. Secondary schools around Didsbury are not as good as Trafford in OFSTED terms (ie good rather than outstanding) but they are comprehensive so depends on whether you want the grammar system or not.