Well it worked out quite well in the end.
Bought a "split" ticket for the journey and it saved £25.00 for the one way trip - the train from Rhyl was one of the new Class 197 that Transport for Wales has spent money on, it was nearly 10 minutes late arriving and only had one functioning toilet. I have a decent bladder and the 2 hour trip to Manchester Oxford Road was comfortable enough. The Trans Pennine Express was a class 185 - it was clean and comfortable but seemed quite old. There was a trolley service and it advertised sandwiches but didn't stock them "not much call for them" said the trolley bloke ! Anyway it got me into Grimsby 3 minutes late which was ok. Had I known the trained ran to Cleethorpes I would have booked a hotel there. I had dithered about using the Spoons hotel just by the railway but opted for the Holiday Inn which cost fractionally more on the discounted rate I got it on a corporate discount card. The Spoons looked like a scene from a Western, security on the doors and packed with punters...It sounded pretty rough at tea time and lot worse later on when I was trying to hunt down an Indian (which as it turned out was opposite the Holiday Inn. The Spice of Life was actually superb, one of the best Indian meals I've had in ages. Early night watching telly for me. Town centre was er...rough. Would I make the same decisions again, yes of course. It was a pleasant enough adventure.
Oh and the TP express had one working bog. On advice of the conductor, seems it was best avoided.
Last edited by: R.P. on Sat 22 Apr 23 at 22:52
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Grimsby and trains. new
Grimsby and trains. new
