In order to head West, trains from Sheffield have first to head south through Dore, then through the Totley tunnel and the Hope Valley. They then continue to Manchester, terminating at Manchester Piccadilly or going through to Liverpool. Note Manchester Airport services have been suspended – change at Piccadilly for the airport.
The stopping train to Manchester via the Hope Valley is very useful for cyclists who are heading to and from the Peak District.
Cycle Carriage info: based on typical daytime service. Times and platforms may vary, contact National Rail for updates.
xx:11 Liverpool Lime Street via Manchester Piccadilly Trans-Pennine Express. Generally busy, mostly 5-Car loco-hauled trains, 4 bikes per train , you must reserve up to 10 minutes in advance. There should be a bike symbol by the appropriate door.
xx:14 Manchester Piccadilly via New Mills Central and the Hope Valley. Your lifeline to the Peak District National Park and the wide-open spaces. Access NCN6 at Hope, or the Pennine Cycleway at New Mills, or NCN55 at Romiley, heading south to Macclesfield and beyond. Northern stopping train, 2 Bikes per train non-reservable but can be flexible at off-peak times. You can also board this train at Dore. Avoid the peak-hour trains if you have a bike, but off-peak trains are usually OK. Busy on Summer Saturday and Sundays. Normally leaves from Platform 2c but sometimes from 7 or 8 – in both cases these are a bit of a trek from the concourse so leave yourself enough time to get over the bridge – and remember the early cyclist gets the bike space! The 19:14 service also becomes the Folk Train once a month which can be very busy. Thse trains have been extra busy because of the frequent cancellations of the express trains but we hope this situation will get better with the new timetable.
xx:43 Liverpool Lime Street. East Midlands Trains. Mostly a four-car train with 2 bike spaces in the middle of each two-car unit. Reservations are not compulsory on these services.
A journey a lot of people seem to make is to Ormskirk, to visit Edge Hill University. If you look it up on the Journey Planner you will be routed via Preston or Liverpool, with the journey taking 3 hours. However, if you take a bike you can change at Stockport and go to Burscough taking just over 2 hours, and either transfer to Burscough Junction for a 7 minute journey to Ormskirk, or just cycle it, taking about half an hour.
Going to South or West Wales? Transport for Wales run a service from Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven. Officially 2 bikes per train but you see more than that on it – reservations recommended but not essential. Change at Stockport from the Trans-Pennine or East Midland Railway services.