Three hours we were waiting for trains. The info-boards just kept putting back the train time just as it was meant to arrive. Naively went to Deansgate first, then back to Oxford Road. Finally got on the "stopper" to Liverpool at 11:20. To compound matters, had a dodgy hot dog outside Old Traff and was suffering big time from half way through the second half and all the way home! Not happy. Sod the drink, will drive next time.

Took me 20 mins to drive there, parked for a fiver, 10 min walk to the ground and took me half hour to get home. As im not bothered about a drink if we get there again i'll drive again.

we got our minibus from the Kings Head at 12.30 and got dropped off at the Moon under the Water in Deansgate then went the pub a few doors down the rd then the tram to the ground saw the game didnt see any trouble and got our bus back from near Old Trafford cricket ground we were back in the Kings Head with in 30 mins of leaving the game.

We went on our usual coach with no hassle, We were thinking about using the train like we did for the Magic weekend but remembered how packed the trains were that weekend, so gave it a miss.
Must say I felt sorry for all the fans waiting outside central station.

I travelled from Warrington Central, We arrived to catch the 1458 to Trafford Park, on it's arrival we were not allowed to board as it was full, but we managed to catch another one 20 mins later.
From Stretford, we took the metrolink to Media City, this was quick and hassle-free.

After the game, the train service was absolutely diabolical!

We caught the metrolink from Old Trafford to Stretford and then a short walk to Trafford Park station where we arrived at 2025.

We managed to force our way onto the train that arrived at 2215 as all the others, (3 of them in total)with only 2 carriages, were absolutely crammed full of passengers who had managed to board at Piccadilly.

Also, what a waste of money, spending £14 for anytime return tickets, when other passengers on the train were blatantly boasting that they had no tickets.

So a big thanks to Northern Rail, for their pathetic attempt at running a public service!

You won't catch me on a train again.

I got the 9.38 from piccadily , people were left on the platform so nobody waiting at oxford road or deansgate could get on, we did manage to squeeze three attractive young ladies on at irlam though.

Why would anyone try and get the train from Trafford Park (or Oxford Road or Deansgate for that matter) knowing plenty of others will fill the train up at Piccadilly first?

Common sense dictates you go to Piccadilly where the train is likely to be empty when it arrives.

There was also no need whatsoever to use the tram after the game when you could get a train from the ground straight to Oxford Road in no time. As I mentioned earlier, most Warrington fans on the train I got from the ground will have been back in Warrington by 8.30pm.

You just need to use a bit of nouse.

Granted I'm more familiar with trains between Warrington and Manchester than most because I use them regularly, but for future reference anyone who had a nightmare getting one home last night should easily be able to learn from that experience.

got a wayfarer very good value for money at £10 which allowed travel throughout the northwest on trains, trams and buses for the day shame had to give up on getting a train home and got a taxi

I'm entitled to get a train from wherever I choose and so were the other 250 (approx.) fans that stood on the same platform with me!

Maybe, we wanted to avoid the city centre of Manchester, which is why we used the tram to get to Trafford Park and not the train from outside OT to get to Oxford Rd.

As for using a bit of nouse, trying using yours next time you reply to a message with a smart answer, when you know nothing about the poster's predicaments, disabilities or incapacities.

if everyone went to picaddily your still going to have the same problem? just people actualy fighting each other to get on lol

None of which changes the fact that if I was going to Warrington after the match I would have got there before you and possibly waved as my train went past you standing on the platform at Trafford Park.

If anyone wanted to be REALLY clever they could have gone to Stockport (five minutes from Piccadilly and loads of trains) and boarded the East Midlands train to Liverpool via Manchester and Warrington there, then sat comfortably in their seat as the battle for entry commenced back at Piccadilly!

Operated by the same people who regularily run two carriage trains between Liverpool and Manchester during the rush hour periods. A small sporting occassion aint going to change the c0ck-ups of a life time.

I would hope that you would be able to get there faster than a disabled person.

Knob!

Well for many of us that have never been to old trafford before yet alone a grand final, catching the train from Warrington, Padgate or Birchwood was the most direct route and should only have taken about 30 minutes.

It is wise having the foresight to know that was bad planning or like you who knows the train routes and times in and around Manchester not to make the mistake many of us made or were about to make

Next time and I hope it wont be too long I will revert to my Plan B as Saturday turned out, drive and park near the Lowry, home by 9.

Just maybe common sense would have dictated that the train companies would have put some extra capacity onto the rails. I spent 30 mins stood at Oxford road whilst the full trains just sat there at the platform unmoving.