Need help with booking a Train to Macclesfield

jaqui59

Hi everyone

My 17 year old son has to travel alone to Macclesfield this coming Saturday, and im fretting over the train booking, because I want to make sure I get it right for him ... Im looking for a train that is direct, as he is a little worried he might not find the second train if there is a change is involved.

We live in St Albans, and it seems as though he has to catch a train from Euston, as it looks as though this is the only station that has direct trains to Macclesfield.

Do you think I have got this right, or do you think there might be other options??

Any help gratefully received

dzug1

The other possible route is St Albans Abbey - Watford Junction - Macclesfield, but there's always a change on that route, normally in Birmingham or Stoke. Birmingham is not the easiest of changes but Stoke is simple - I think the same platform.

It looks as though it would be cheaper getting the Euston or Watford - Macclesfield tickets separately

Also consider a YP railcard - it won't pay for itself on this journey but if he is going to make any more trips in the next 12 months it could well do

hethmar

Use a train line journey planner, it will even tell you which platforms the trains will be on. At 17 he needs to do these things himself mum - tell him as long as he has a tongue he cant get lost xx

If he uses the St Albans/Euston route he will also have to use the tube wont he?.

WestonDave

You can make changing trains much easier if you can establish the final destination of the train he's getting on. By the looks of it, anything from the south calling at Macclesfield terminates at Manchester Pic - if he knows that and he knows the expected departure time from Stoke then it should be easy to find it on the screens which will tell him which platform to go to. He can then simply check with the "guard" that the train he is about to get on stops at Macclesfield.

Most rail employees are helpful (you get the odd grumpy one - just ask someone else!). At his age I was travelling from Bath to Eastbourne and back to escort my gran from her place to ours (or take her home) which was often up to 3 changes each way. Granted in those days you weren't restricted by advance booking discounts to being on the right train - quite often I'd grab a late running connection and get there early! It was all part of the fun of being young! Its also good practice for being at college and trying to get home for a weekend through engineering work etc!

dzug1

hethmar wrote: »

Use a train line journey planner, it will even tell you which platforms the trains will be on. At 17 he needs to do these things himself mum - tell him as long as he has a tongue he cant get lost xx

If he uses the St Albans/Euston route he will also have to use the tube wont he?.

Or walk - it's not far.

I do sometimes marvel (if that's the word) at how protected the young are these days. I made my first long train journey alone (with a change) at the age of 11. My aunt took me to the station at the far end, but I don't think my parents met me on arrival. They assumed I would get the bus.

10JH

Use thetrainline.com

It's easy to use and shows the journey time and where the stops are.

Though it is often cheaper to then book the ticket through the actual train companies web sites.

hethmar

dzug1 wrote: »

Or walk - it's not far.

I do sometimes marvel (if that's the word) at how protected the young are these days. I made my first long train journey alone (with a change) at the age of 11. My aunt took me to the station at the far end, but I don't think my parents met me on arrival. They assumed I would get the bus.

Those were the days eh? To get to school from the age of 11 I had to walk a mile to a rail station, catch a commuter train, get off at my stop, catch a bus and then another mile walk.

King_Weasel

Watford is the best starting point. But a quick glance at TheTrainLine shows there are no through trains. For one change you have to go via Birmingham or Euston. (In the latter case you might as well take a train to St Pancras, not Watford.) But the best option might be 2 changes - Milton Keynes and Stoke. Unlike New Street, neither station should present an insuperable intellectual challenge to a 17yo.