Reading to Wigan without Avanti

[Mgameing123]

Hi. I'm trying to book a ticket from Reading to Wigan but I'm trying to avoid Avanti West Coast due to its issues. Does anybody know some ticket sites that allow you to avoid certain operators?

 

[Haywain]

Hi. I'm trying to book a ticket from Reading to Wigan but I'm trying to avoid Avanti West Coast due to its issues. Does anybody know some ticket sites that allow you to avoid certain operators?

The forum site allows this.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Hi. I'm trying to book a ticket from Reading to Wigan but I'm trying to avoid Avanti West Coast due to its issues. Does anybody know some ticket sites that allow you to avoid certain operators?

This link will set it up for you on the forum's site, change the time to fit whatever you need.

Reading > Wigan North Western or Wigan Wallgate - Search Results | RailUK Tickets

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tickets.railforums.co.uk

 

[ValleyLines142]

Reading to Birmingham with XC, Birmingham to Liverpool LNWR, Liverpool to Wigan Northern?

 

[JonathanH]

Reading to Birmingham with XC, Birmingham to Liverpool LNWR, Liverpool to Wigan Northern?

Surely Reading to Manchester on XC and Manchester to Wigan on Northern?

I don't think going via Liverpool is a permitted route for Reading to Wigan, although reaching Bryn that way is fine.

It could be argued that avoiding Avanti because of one set of issues opens the traveller up to different issues with CrossCountry.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I don't think going via Liverpool is a permitted route for Reading to Wigan, although reaching Bryn that way is fine.

Trainsplit offers it with 4 tickets, it'll probably change with different times as different off-peak/anytime limits adjust.
Via Manchester using a different set of splits that end up more expencive

 

[JonathanH]

Trainsplit offers it with 4 tickets, it'll probably change with different times as different off-peak/anytime limits adjust.
Via Manchester using a different set of splits that end up more expencive

Yes, Liverpool may work out cheaper when splitting.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, Liverpool may work out cheaper when splitting.

Cheapest way is probably Reading-London (GWR), London-Crewe/Birmingham (LNR), Crewe/Birmingham-Liverpool (LNR), Liverpool-Wigan (Northern).
Or alternatively (probably similar price) Reading-London (GWR), London-Crewe (LNR), Crewe-Manchester (TfW - there are through LNR+TfW tickets, or pay separately and use Northern), Manchester-Wigan (Northern) - the latter seems slightly less fraught with cancellations.

However the OP will probably find that the latter Northern service is likely to be far more unreliable than Avanti, which other than the planned Manchester cancellation isn't too bad at the moment.

Trainsplit/the Forum version should be able to work out the cheapest fare combinations for these, but there's a fair chance the LNR/LNR+TfW bit will have good value through tickets.

I'd not wish XC on my worst enemy unless they like tins of sardines, and it's not that cheap.

 

[Deafdoggie]

Personally, I think by trying to avoid one problem you're creating others.
Avanti have vastly improved in regards to last minute cancellations. Whereas Northern are getting far worse at it. And XC is likely to be a crowded journey & all routes will take longer.

 

[Statto]

Another way could be GWR Reading - Paddington (or EL Reading - Tottenham Court Road then change at Tottenham Court Road for the to tube for Euston), LNWR Euston - Liverpool changing at Crewe, then Northern Liverpool - Wigan.

You can get cheap tickets for LNWR for the Euston - Liverpool

As said AWC is more reliable, any AWC cancellations tends to be Preston - Scotland legs most of the time, with trains still running Euston - Preston.

 

[yorkie]

Surely Reading to Manchester on XC and Manchester to Wigan on Northern?

I don't think going via Liverpool is a permitted route for Reading to Wigan, although reaching Bryn that way is fine.

It could be argued that avoiding Avanti because of one set of issues opens the traveller up to different issues with CrossCountry.

You don't need to worry about permitted routes if you are happy to stick with any given itinerary.

What I would say is that if the OP wants an itinerary that avoids Avanti, but the flexibiity to take any permitted route (but not the flexibility to take a non-permitted route) and the ability to take any train, subject to any applicable time restrictions for the relevant ticket type, then use the forum's site, and in Advanced options the following could be selected:

• Avoid : Avanti
• Do not use splits
• Flexible

If it is a case of obtaining the cheapest itinerary avoiding Avanti, and being happy to stick to an itinerary, then simply choose to avoid Avanti. It's worth checking out itineraries shown when selecting the Fast/Value/Cheap tabs as these may differ.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Personally, I think by trying to avoid one problem you're creating others.
Avanti have vastly improved in regards to last minute cancellations. Whereas Northern are getting far worse at it. And XC is likely to be a crowded journey & all routes will take longer.

Agree with this. Avanti is not too bad at the moment. If you plan in the slack for one cancellation, say, you'll be fine (and get some of your fare back in delay repay). And it'll probably still be quicker than going via half the world.

If it's just about doing it cheaply, using LNR for Euston-Crewe and separate tickets for Reading-Paddington and Crewe-Wigan (the latter using Avanti) is probably going to be it. LNR's dedicated fares are so cheap that it's incredibly rare for anything else to undercut them, particularly if there are Advances going.

 

[gray1404]

I would second this advice. I would be more included to avoid XC then Avanti. You might also get a decent Advance fare Euston to Wigan.

If you prepared to go round the houses then you might as well take advantage of LNR Advances and then just put up with Avanti between Crewe and Wigan.

 

[Mgameing123]

Cheapest way is probably Reading-London (GWR), London-Crewe/Birmingham (LNR), Crewe/Birmingham-Liverpool (LNR), Liverpool-Wigan (Northern).
Or alternatively (probably similar price) Reading-London (GWR), London-Crewe (LNR), Crewe-Manchester (TfW - there are through LNR+TfW tickets, or pay separately and use Northern), Manchester-Wigan (Northern) - the latter seems slightly less fraught with cancellations.

However the OP will probably find that the latter Northern service is likely to be far more unreliable than Avanti, which other than the planned Manchester cancellation isn't too bad at the moment.

Trainsplit/the Forum version should be able to work out the cheapest fare combinations for these, but there's a fair chance the LNR/LNR+TfW bit will have good value through tickets.

I'd not wish XC on my worst enemy unless they like tins of sardines, and it's not that cheap.

Rather tins of sardines on a XC than tins of sardines on a Avanti train.

 

[Deafdoggie]

Avanti are unlikely to be like sardines. XC is unlikely not to be. But you've made your mind up you don't like Avanti, so it will cost you more, either in time or money or both & you're likely to suffer Northern cancellations. But if that is what you'd rather, then, of course, it's up to you.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Rather tins of sardines on a XC than tins of sardines on a Avanti train.

I have had a seat on pretty much every Avanti train I've ever used - it only gets silly when football is on, and even then XC would be worse. And Crewe to Wigan is fairly quiet generally, people get off at Crewe from London/Brum, relatively few get on and the mob doesn't descend until Preston.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Assuming a return journey is required:
Reading > Oxford > Hereford (GWR)
Hereford > Chester (TFW)
Chester > Moorfields > Headbolt Lane (Merseyrail)
Headbolt Lane > Wigan Wallgate (Northern)

Avoids Avanti and Cross Country. Use a Heart of England Rover for the Oxford to Chester bit.

Or possibly:
Reading > Paddington (GWR)
Paddington > Kings Cross (H&C tube)
Kings Cross > Halifax (GC)
Halifax > Preston (Northern)
Preston > Wigan (whatever turns up first)

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Halifax > Preston (Northern)
Preston > Wigan (whatever turns up first)

Halifax - Preston is 1tph
Preston - Wigan is 1tph Northern, 2tph Avanti (which aren't wanted), and 2tpd TPE

much better would be:
Halifax - Manchester Victoria (2tph)
Manchester Victoria - Wigan (3tph + peak extras)