Commuting Lymm to Manchester every day

[Blown2CV]

What's the best way? Clearly this is PH, and on paper it does look less painful in many ways to drive, especially as using the metrolink would require a drive to an available stop, and the train requires going into warrington. Any tips?

[LadfromManc]

Used to do Altrincham - St Ann's square in the car. Generally before 7.30am, Chester Road was quickest. After 7.30am, M56 and the Parkway.
I'd take the hit personally, drive to Birchwood and get the train!

[EvoBarry]

As above, if I had to commute into Manc I'd be doing it v. early or getting the tram from Alty. Going to Warrington just seems like going out of your way surely?

[Blown2CV]

It's all a trade off really. I don't mind going in early as I'm Sheffield and back every day at the mo and in for just after 8am. I guess it could be 40min drive if early, or 1hr 10m or even longer to drive, tram. Warrington is the wrong way but you can park all day for £2! It's all expenses though so not a factor I guess.

Where to park at alty though, ice rink? I could do with machine that takes card as I can't be doing with finding exact change every day. I've heard there's a massive car park at sale water park on the new airport line...

[Atommad]

Another option, if you leave early enough, is to drive through Partington towards Sale, pick up the spur road into the A56. There are some reasonably pleasant stretches of road that way leading into and out of Partington. Like all thee routes, you'll get traffic unless you're early.

[JimmyConwayNW]

I would head in early and it's lot so bad.

I usually de tour off and run parallel to parkway through withington, fallowfield, moss side and rusholme as rush hour doesn't seem to be as bad there.

Alty can be pretty horrendous for traffic because of all the schools there so I try to avoid .
If m56 is blocked at entry off Lymm/bowdon roundabout you can head out on direction of m6 on a556 then make the first left towards rostherne/tatton park and end up back out at the airport tunnels.

[CRB14]

Blown2CV said:

It's all a trade off really. I don't mind going in early as I'm Sheffield and back every day at the mo and in for just after 8am. I guess it could be 40min drive if early, or 1hr 10m or even longer to drive, tram. Warrington is the wrong way but you can park all day for £2! It's all expenses though so not a factor I guess.

Where to park at alty though, ice rink? I could do with machine that takes card as I can't be doing with finding exact change every day. I've heard there's a massive car park at sale water park on the new airport line...

A few options I'd be considering;

Metrolink from Navigation Road, Alty (has a park and ride apparently)
Train from Hale (has parking)
Train from Flixton (has parking).

[Blown2CV]

good shouts, particularly hale... it's a bit of a small car park though so i wonder how early i'd have to get there! I guess the only things i am after are likelihood of a space and no fannying around with coins to pay.

[bromers2]

Trans Pennine trail on a push bike

Check it out, quicker than driving ?

[FraMac]

Blown2CV said:

good shouts, particularly hale... it's a bit of a small car park though so i wonder how early i'd have to get there! I guess the only things i am after are likelihood of a space and no fannying around with coins to pay.

Plenty of (free) parking very close to Hale station on residential streets.

[rdodger]

I would drive to Flixton (10-15 mins) and train into Manchester (15-20 mins) The train gets you into Deansgate.

[Blown2CV]

i've explored a few options on the GMPTE journey planner and i've honed my options a bit as train from flixton and hale both end up at piccadilly and that means a 20min walk at the end to my place of work! Not an issue so much, but it has a bearing on choice. The met from alty gets me less than 5min walk away, so that could work.

All roads seem to lead back (no pun intended) to just getting up early and driving in though. Timed right it could mean 35min instead of 50min-1hr, and less arsing around with multiple steps, receipts for expenses etc.

[CRB14]

You're probably right on the driving aspect. Chester Road never used to be that bad. I'd say your biggest issue would be getting to it.

[Davel]

Motorbike?

[themanwithnoname]

Blown2CV said:

i've explored a few options on the GMPTE journey planner and i've honed my options a bit as train from flixton and hale both end up at piccadilly and that means a 20min walk at the end to my place of work! Not an issue so much, but it has a bearing on choice. The met from alty gets me less than 5min walk away, so that could work.

All roads seem to lead back (no pun intended) to just getting up early and driving in though. Timed right it could mean 35min instead of 50min-1hr, and less arsing around with multiple steps, receipts for expenses etc.

Flixton drops at Deansgate and Oxford road, however the cattle wagon they send is routinely late, cancelled, half sized or full to the extent of passing platforms without stopping by Birchwood.

The Met is OK, so long as you're there early to get a parking space, and get the tram out from Piccadilly gardens otherwise its sardine time

These days we have an NCP spot at Sackville St. which is about the same as an annual season ticket, and it takes around 50 minutes from Lymm to Portland Tower/The National Express depot where the lovely FF is usually parked.

Minshull St. is slightly cheaper for a season ticket if you need city centre.

[Blown2CV]

Oh bugger I forgot the tram does that weird stop at Piccadilly.

[themanwithnoname]

Yeah, if you're planning on getting on at St. Peters or whatever they're calling GMex these days then you'll need to do your paper Mario impersonation. Driving is by far the best option, especially on expenses!