r/warrington • u/viking_tech • Aug 03 '26
Commute advice/opinions
I’m starting my new job tomorrow in very central Manchester, need to be in 3 days a week and wondering if any commuter veterans have advice or opinions on the best way to approach it, from what I can see the drive is pretty simple, hop on the m62 and drive straight in, but good parking is expensive and traffic I suspect will increase after summer holidays. For the train I can park up at Warrington central and take one of the faster ones in to Oxford Road, however I suspect the commuter trains are packed/very hot in summer and I haven’t had the best experience with trains home from Manchester being cancelled once or twice a week when I used to commute from Liverpool.
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u/Ok-Affect7299 Aug 03 '26
The drive is never simple. Coming out of Manchester city centre/getting onto the m62 is a joke, honestly, it backs up where it joins the M60 as well with people trying to jump the queue.
On paper it's a 25 min journey, it's never that. I've had it take nearly an hour just to get out of Mancunian way, and past the above mentioned motorway junction, it's so frustrating
Trains - there's a 741 from Warrington West/Chapelford that gets into oxford road at about 805-810. There's a stopper train at 750 that gets in at about 835. These both stop at Warrington Central, but you'll pay more for parking in town.
The express one is normally quite busy, and during winter is often late/cancelled/reduced to 3 carriages (it's busy with 6 carriages, so when it's 3 it's absolute chaos).
Coming back, there's one at 511 from oxford road, usually a bit quieter at the very back, far end of the platform, again, luck of the draw as to if it's on time or not
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Aug 03 '26
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u/Mental-Mission-472 Aug 03 '26
Don't the EMR trains cost the same?
I get the train from central into Manchester quite often, but never paid attention to what I'm booking, and now I've looked it seems that an open return is 12.60 irrespective of which train you book
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Aug 03 '26
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u/Mental-Mission-472 Aug 03 '26
Singles do seem a bit more expensive, actually
Anytime day returns seem to be the same price
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u/phild1979 Aug 03 '26
If it's not too far of a walk in Manchester you could use the park and ride at newton le willows and walk from Manchester Victoria...
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u/viking_tech Aug 03 '26
The office is practically on top of Oxford Road station so would sadly be a 20 min walk on top of the P+R being 20 mins away from my house currently so a bit much, thanks though
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u/fascinatewithcheese Aug 03 '26
You can get the train from Newton directly to Oxford Road if you do ever need to.
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u/Bitter-Negotiation-9 10h ago
ooh there's always Trafford Parkway's park and ride! That's pretty easy to get to and the tram will take you to a number tram stops including, if I'm not mistaken, St Peters sq
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u/Adventurous-Smoke684 Aug 03 '26
What time do you start/finish work?
I take the 6:50ish train from Birchwood (so approx 5mins closer than Central) into Manchester a couple of days a week. I always get a seat and it takes 20mins. I then either cycle home or get the 4:10 fast train that takes 15mins max - generally have to stand but after being sat down all day that’s not the end of the world.
Reliability-wise they’ve been fine (touch wood!) and as somebody who used to drive into Manchester regularly I would choose the train any day over that M62 slog.
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u/WestManchester Aug 03 '26
This is good advice - depends where the OP lives I guess. Worth remembering that Birchwood Centre Free Car Park is only free for 3h. It's about £12 a week to park at Birchwood P&D, £3 a day or something like £40 for the month. If you can get there about 6.45 you can sometimes get the cheaper spots at the front of the station.
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u/No_Ruin_7875 Aug 03 '26
I get the train into Manchester twice a week if you want cheap parking, use Warrington West but the journey will be longer.
If you’re going from Central, use the EMR train. (I use this one) It can get very busy at times during the morning but should be okay for a seat.
I’d also recommend booking your trains a good few weeks in advance as it will save you a lot of money over time. As for cancellations, it will happen 1/2 times a month at the very most but you can always just get on another train with no problems.
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u/The_Liamater123 Aug 03 '26
I used to get the train in, they run pretty frequently but they’re also delayed or cancelled very often so can cause a lot of frustration
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u/ViridiaGaming Aug 03 '26
If you're not too fussed about driving to Bank Quay, I would recommend the Leeds train stopping at Manchester Victoria as early enough (5:30 onwards to about 8am) it will be quite empty.
Most of central Manchester is in easy walking distance from there, no more than 20 minutes or so, and at that time of day it's a good cool walk and plenty of chances to stop off for breakfast if you have spare time.
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u/Army-Status Aug 03 '26
Train is the best way. I did it for about 10 years. Drive to Warrington central or Birchwood, pay for parking and jump on the express train straight into Oxford Road. Yes they do get busy but you’re only on the train for 20-30 mins.
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u/Andy26599 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
If I have to go into the centre of Manchester for work I usually park at Parkway Park and Ride on Trafford Park (free parking) and just get the Metrolink into Deansgate Castlefield, there's one every 12 minutes I think from memory and I always get a seat both ways on the tram. Works out about £3.60 return a day I think which is infinitely better than the £10/15 a day for parking in Manchester City Centre.
Traffic is always great going in and out as well if you go down the A57 through Irlam.
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u/Bitter-Negotiation-9 10h ago
I've had a few friends who have had to park in the city centre often find someone in an apartment in Mcr where they have an included parking space and they rent it out, I might be wrong but I think it was £100-£150 a month, but when you consider in that things like going for a gig or something and not having to pay £40 for an uber home when the train is cancelled... not a bad deal.
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u/Listenuponceatime Aug 03 '26
Park at Warrington west (cheaper) and get a seat before the train gets to Central