paul1609
Established Member
Ive split my journey at Crewe using the LNWR Trent Valley service for some years but normally buy an all operator ticket on the next leg because both the TFW and Northern services are inheritantly unreliable. Last Sunday my Manchester to Crewe northern service was just cancelled no reason given. The next Northern train was 17 mins late which threatened the connection to the Euston train the difference between the advance and the flexible fare isnt worth the hassle imho.I've noticed it as well on the Crewe - Manchester flow. Previously you could get tickets for £4-£5 each way. But looking at the first Sunday in June where tickets have been released and it's £10 each way* (so for anybody making a return they will be better off buying an off-peak day return so TfW gets less money, as whom will pay 10p less than any permitted for a 'TfW only ticket' when the saving was more like £5 it was worth restricting yourself to the hourly TfW service.
Prices like that will just push passengers to using the Northern stopper, longer journey time but a bigger saving.
*Even on the first train of the day from Crewe which in my experience is quite lightly loaded
I'm not sure that I regard the £115 "anytime" off peak return expensive for a 360 return trip (coincidentally almost the same as Paddington from Neath).