Quote:
Originally Posted by John_142
But it must be quicker to get the TPE 185 or the EMT 158 to Liverpool and then the Mersyrail 507/507 to Chester in fact come to think of it it is in actually jorney time by train only 90 Mins compared to the 97 Mins but with it being reduced to 89 Mins it's only a Minute different but yet would be more comfortable to go this route ie via Liverpool than the one train. especially if 142's are the norm.
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It wouldn't be quicker to go via Liverpool using 185s and 507/8s. Using TP Express you would leave Manchester Piccadilly at xx.07, arriving at Liverpool Lime Street at xx.58. You would then leave Lime Street at xx.28 and arrive at Chester at xx.11 Taking 2 hours 4 minutes and requiring two tickets to be purchased.
There's two routes between Chester and Manchester. The one through Altrincham (mentioned above) used to run express down what is now the Metrolink line between Altrincham and Manchester, it got diverted through Stockport since the line was prepared for Metrolink taking about 10 minutes longer.
The fastest way of getting between Chester and Manchester is to use the Manchester to Llandundno service which operates via Warrington. That takes 65 minutes between Manchester Piccadilly and Chester. However, both services between Manchester and Chester are hourly during the off-peak period so if you're travelling between Chester and Manchester and you've just missed a train that travels via Warrington then you would arrive 30 minutes quicker using the service via Altrincham (that departs both Manchester and Chester about 10 minutes after the service via Warrington), than waiting for the next service via Warrington.
It should also be noted that on the Manchester to Chester via Altrincham line Mouldsworth (the first station after Chester) to Manchester takes around 80 minutes, usually on a 142, and it would not be premitted to travel via Chester to Manchester without purchasing two tickets and possibly having a long wait at Chester. In the other direction Stockport to Chester takes 65-75 minutes, I think it's probably permitted to travel via Manchester on one ticket which would take 10-12 + 65 minutes + connection time, which may give you a more comfortable ride as usually 175s operate between Manchester and Llandundno. Between Stockport and Manchester you can catch 142s, 150s, 156s, 158s, 175s, 323s and Voyagers. Pendulino's do operate between Stockport and Manchester, although you can't catch them if you are making a local journey between Stockport and Manchester.