bus/train travel

[Lindsey]

Hello all! I'm flying into Manchester Sunday morning, and plan to take a train from there to York... then a bus to the university. I've never travelled by train in the UK, though I have by bus a couple of times-- still not very comfortable with it. Does anyone have any words of wisdom or tips? I'd like to be prepared for whatever. Thanks!

[kateb]

Hi Lindsey. Manchester Airport to York is quite an easy journey. Manchester airport station is right next to the station (naturally) and it is well signposted. The train is quite small and often crowded with luggage and I would make sure you can see your luggage while you are on the train - it is extremely unusual for luggage to be stolen but it has happened. The train has a trolley service were they sell the most digusting over priced coffee (avoid). Some trains stop more than others it depends, if you get a quick one you should only have five stops before you are in at York station - you don't need to change which is good. There are lifts at York if you want to avoid the steps and the university bus goes from just outside the front of station. It is one of the easier train journey's you can take. Hope you have a good journey.

[Lindsey]

Thanks kate! this was very helpful... one more question. should I get train tickets ahead of time online, or at the train station upon my arrival?

[kateb]

You might as well wait. There is a 24 hour ticket office at the station anyway and it will be no more expensive to get a ticket on the day (it is about £30 return). If you booked on-line it would not gain anything as I don't think there are any fast ticket collection machines and even if there is you may not want to be fiddling with codes when you have just got off an aeroplane anyway. You can look on-line at sites like www.thetrainline.com for details of times and ticket prices, but I wouldn't bother booking.

[fee]

The bus for the university is the number 4 First Bus service leaving from a stand just in front of the railway station in York - on the same side of the raod as the station. At the time of day you are likely to be arriving it will be big, bendy and purple; really hard to miss!! Bus tickets can be bought on board; I think a single is about £1.40; you'll want the last stop that the bus makes, then it's maybe a 10 min walk to the accommodation (I presume you've been sent a bus route map thingy, and other maps showing the location of the accommodation)

I hope this makes sense.

fee

[Gill T]

You might like to consider taking a taxi from the station (I'd guess at around £6-£7, but could be wrong!) as it is so much easier on a first visit to be taken to your destination! If you go by bus you will need coins for the fare as there is a machine which does not give change (that's if it's working) - it cost £1.50 recently.

[Paul]

What Gill T said, Taxi may be better for the initial trip as it's also a bit of a walk from the bus stop to the accomodation if you are carting luggage.

[rowena]

the maps also dont show the shortcuts thru the village!

[Paul]

And if you're walking the short cut at night, remember the torch, otherwise the nettles and knee deep puddles get you every time.


/and this is why we make the really drunk one go in front, especially if they have short sleeves. hehehehe ;D
//still itches

[Lindsey]

Thank you everyone for being so helpful! I will avoid those nettles, I think... ;D