rodk Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Well, the Victorians laid down a great RailHopper lane from Warrington to St Helens. You can catch the direct train at 22mins after every hour and it will take just 17mins. Cost is just £2.95 return with a 16-25 railcard and you can even take your bicycle on board at no extra charge. Regards Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 £2.95 return and only takes 17 minutes ... blummin' heck that's actually very good Rod and cheaper than one way to Warrington Collegiate. Time to find out where the station is in relation to the test centre. There's a light at the end of the tunnel at last Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 The light has just gone out again. Rod you could have told me that the 16-25 railcard you mentioned actually costs £28 That aside to get from the station to the test centre it appears from google maps that you have to walk upto an island go down Shaw Street then along Corporation Street past the SH minor injuries unit up hall street down Bickerstaff Street up Claughton Street right into another road called claughton street in opposed to carrying on up to the left down the original claughton street (confused) where I did see mention of a building called Century House But century house is supposed to be on Hardshaw Street If he does go by bus or train I recon they should give him an immediate pass just for managing to get there successfully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodk Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Dizzy The full price of the ticket is £4.50 (not bad) and shows the sort of savings that one gets from a rail card. On long distance trains you get off peak prices even though you may be travelling at peak times. You can get a return to London leaving as early as you like for £24.50 going down and then by catch the 21:10 train back for just £7.90. I think that rail cards really open up the countryside for young people and can give them their own mobility to explore other the countrysdide and other towns and cities, etc. Regards Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Dizzy The full price of the ticket is £4.50 (not bad) and shows the sort of savings that one gets from a rail card. On long distance trains you get off peak prices even though you may be travelling at peak times. You can get a return to London leaving as early as you like for £24.50 going down and then by catch the 21:10 train back for just £7.90. I think that rail cards really open up the countryside for young people and can give them their own mobility to explore other the countrysdide and other towns and cities, etc. Regards Rod Hardly the point, considering all the lad wants to do is take a test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Interesting point that no-one seems to consider if most people use the train. I am old enough to remember going on holiday and visiting relations using the train. How many suitcases could you get on a train these days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Did you know that you can't go first class on a family railcard??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodk Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Peter That sounds a little grumpy. After all he has not even passed his written exam yet so the only way he can get any independent mobility is either through walking, cycling or public transport. Even if he does pass his written and practical driving test then the cost of motoring for teens is huge and he should certainly consider alternative ways of getting around. Best regards Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodk Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Baz Correct, but you can upgrade at weekends! "10.Discounted tickets are not valid for travel in First Class, except for Upgrades to First Class at weekends (subject to availability) upon payment of the appropriate supplement" However 16-25 Railcards can be used for advanced First Class tickets and Senior Railcards seems to be eligable on all Standard and First Class tickets. Regards Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Baz Correct, but you can upgrade at weekends! "10.Discounted tickets are not valid for travel in First Class, except for Upgrades to First Class at weekends (subject to availability) upon payment of the appropriate supplement" However 16-25 Railcards can be used for advanced First Class tickets and Senior Railcards seems to be eligable on all Standard and First Class tickets. Regards Rod The weekend upgrades are good.....used to be £10.00 but I think it is now £15.00 I love to travel by train, we did the train to Paris and then TGV out to Brittany a few years ago; you can't beat the mainline stuff..... breakfast, dinner, the all you can drink wine on the Eurostar!! But you would never in a million years get me to pay £3500 for a season ticket to travel on some tatty old branch line EMU into London like those soft Southern jessies do!! As for 16-25 railcards.... no more I'm afraid.... Senior railcards.......... no....not yet!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2012 At least you have the added benefit of having passed your driving test though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted January 14, 2012 Report Share Posted January 14, 2012 At least you have the added benefit of having passed your driving test though Stop upsetting the lycra man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2012 Eh ? Baz must have passed his test considering the beastie he drives Unless you are referring to Rod of course... but I presume he has passed his driving test too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodk Posted January 15, 2012 Report Share Posted January 15, 2012 Eh ? Baz must have passed his test considering the beastie he drives Unless you are referring to Rod of course... but I presume he has passed his driving test too Dizzy Can't be me. I passed my driving test many years ago. Mind you they only had a practical then. And besides on the occassion that I do cycle the I normally hop on my bike with normal clothes. Regards Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2012 There was only the practical when I passed too Rod and luckily that was done locally to. Why one earth they have to make things so complicated and awkward these days is beyond me. Some people on here do seen to have a strange obsession about other people wearing lycra though. Each to their own though I suppose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Believe they intend to open one at paddington house until April, unless Poulton with Fearnhead Parish Council succeed in blocking it. After which it is to move to orford day centre on festival avenue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I thought that was just going to be a driving 'practical' test centre but hey maybe it will be a theory one too. Good thinking, I need to try and find out more I read today that Poulton with Fearnhead Parish Council are opposing it due to the possibility of increased traffic. That really annoyed me. For years people have been battling to get a test centre returned to Warrington after the outrage when it was closed and now 'they' try and block it. The Paddington House location is only temporary for 3 months anyway and I very much doubt there will be a big inpact on traffic. It may also bring some new interest and added business to the Hotel as I seem to recall that just before christmas it went into administration (or similar). Do the PwFPC not realise the inconvenience, but more importantly the ADDITIONAL COSTS, that youngsters and others learning to drive around here are facing with having to do their practical tests in St Helens etc. It also causes problems for driving instructors as in an hours lesson they cannot reach their destination so they then rely on people being able to afford longer lessons. I'm not just saying all this because our lad is learning to drive and ready for his test as I would be saying the same regardless. If there were plans for a test centre on my doorstep I would welcome that too as it would be no big deal. I'm sure it would be very safe too as people undoubtably drive very carefully indeed with an instructor and/or examiner on board (apart from my mother-in-law who hit the back of a bus on her driving test but that was about 50 years ago) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boris1066 Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 There was only the practical when I passed too Rod and luckily that was done locally to. Why one earth they have to make things so complicated and awkward these days is beyond me. Some people on here do seen to have a strange obsession about other people wearing lycra though. Each to their own though I suppose Lycra might be shown less disdain if, you know who, were to do something really useful and lobby for the return of both the practical and theoretical driving tests to Warrington ? With contacts in the European Parliament he should find it to be a push over !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Sticking a driving test centre at the ODC which is slap bang in the middle of a 20mph residential area is a stupid and crazy idea...... So the council will probably go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 It's a good idea having it at St.Helens. It might reduce the number of teenagers on the roads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 No it wont as they will do it anyway if they can. There are many who feel that obtaining a full driving licence is a necessity and definate benfit for the old cv for possibly getting a job or apprenticeship (not that there are any available of course). If only life were that simple of course. Problem is they probably don't realise that if they get a job which involves driving to and from a place of work their minimum pay wages will all go on petrol and insurance to get there and back so I guess they may be better off just signing on and sticking to pushbikes, walking and busses after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 so I guess they may be better off just signing on and sticking to pushbikes are you suggesting only doleys should have bikes Dizzy???? Rod won't be happy with that slur!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Always used to make me laugh when i was signing on that you had to be willing to travel up to 1 1/2 hours to a place of work. I argued that was about eight miles. they argue that was about 30 miles and i politely pointed out that I could not afford the bus as I did not have a job and could not afford to run a car or motorbike for the same reason. I did not own a pedal cycle and would not feel safe riding one at my age so my only alternative was to walk and at a best speed of 4 mph that meant that eight miles to work was my limit. They didn't argue they just said that if I got a job I could afford it. I remember applying for one that stated that own transport was required as it was in an industrial estate and the nearest bus stop was three miles away and only ran every hour. from eight am to eight pm after that there was no bus service at all. Most jobs these days require that you have your own transport to get to and from the workplace and quite a few require a "clean" driving license. As for the paddington house centre, for a few months there will be an increase in traffic. Will it be more than the traffic that was caused by people using the hotel for meals, do's or accommodation ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 For anyone interested the planning application reference is 2011-19239 You can currently make comment in support of/or against the planning application via the councils website (as with all applications). These comments will be registerd and noted to be taken into account during decision making process (allegidely). Comment on application 2011-19239 (Proposed change of use of part of existing hotel to driving examiner's office) here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted January 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 YIPPEE... while it is not going to be a Theory Test Centre too (so his lordship and everyone else still has to go to St Helens/Wigan to sit at a computer and click buttons:-( ... at least Warrington has now got it's Practical Driving Test Centre back at long last Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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