[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=45183.msg1325867#msg1325867 date=1304423064]
[quote author=Delinquent link=topic=45183.msg1325852#msg1325852 date=1304422408]
I'll likely be heading in and out on the same day mate. Can't really afford to stop over. It does seem that the outbound journey is the problem though. There's only one change (Birmingham) on the return journey. I'll likely have to whiz off straight after the game, but at least I'll be about for a few jars before it.
I have a motorbike license and did consider hiring a bike for the day and driving. I would definitely need to stay over to do that though as I will want a few beers before the game. Bike hire would work out considerably more expensive than a train ticket though, so not really a viable option.
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Im proper bored at work so here's another stab
1 hour 40 mins is the journey time outgoing and its like 3 mins longer for the return.
You leave birmingham new street at 09 40 and depart liverpool at 6:30pm It's 21.40 with a rail card.
Which means all you need to do is sort out getting to birmingham - via train oxford to new street - it's 2 stops and costs £30 return (with rail card) and its 2 hours outgoing and 1 hour and 30 mins return.
So it works out marginally more expensive but quicker than the original route.
To be fair, I'd go for the £21 return from new street and hop on national express and get cheap bus tix to new street ( i would have a ganders but the national express site keeps crashing firefox on me)
National express Oxford -> New street
New street -> Oxford
Trainline New street - Liverpool - 2 hours departing 09:40
Liverpool - New street - under 2 hours departing 6:30pm = £21.40 (rail card)
So sort out a cheap bus and you'll do the above under £40 i'd imagine, all in.
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I think you might be on to a winner there, mate. It's £6 for a coach to Birmingham (although it leaves before 8am, so an early start), and I can get a train from there for £9. There's a number of options to choose from coming back, most of which are 1 change.
Thanks for a sterling service! Much appreciated.