Quote ninearches="ninearches"Does anyone know if the club are putting rail specials on this year ?'"
Plenty of cheap tickets still available on the train, particularly if you don't mind going via Crewe and splitting your tickets. If you and a friend or spouse regularly travel together, it may be worth investing in a 'two together' railcard. Two or three away trips together each year and you'll soon make your money back.
The train direct from WBQ only takes around 1h45. From there you can take the tube and enjoy a few pub stops en route, or hop straight onto the Overground. Much quicker than the loco-hauled footex trains which tend to take odd routes and play second fiddle to scheduled services. If memory serves, the footex from Wigan a few years back was cancelled on the day, due to loco shortages!
I paid £48 for the train. I have had it much cheaper in the past, but at £3 more than the coach I mustn't grumble.