Just landed a job with the choice of working at the Chester (Kings Meadow) or Sheffield office and will be commuting daily from Stockport. Is it less hassle and stress to drive to Chester or take the train to Sheffield (40 min and 10 minute walk)? Anyone done either of these routes?
I regularly drive the M53/M56/M60 from Chester to Stockport and wouldn't like to do it at rush hour. Whenever the road is clear, it's an easy enough drive, but incredibly boring.
The problem areas on the drive are going to be the slip road from Cheadle until the M56 settles down, assuming the motorway is clear, you'll be OK until the M6 intersection and clear again until the Preston Brook/Widnes junctions. Having got through thatthe M53 junction is normally clear, but you'll have the Post House roundabout to deal with which is an absolute friggin nightmare and enough to put me off the journey on its own.
Or 40 mins to Sheffield and a 10 min walk?
Post House roundabout isn't so bad now they've changed the sliproad - but they have moved the congestion further towards Chester (took me 30 mins to travel about 1 mile from the Kings School to Handbridge the other day).
Train does seem easier though.
Not coming from Chrisleton it isn't. The traffic backs up along the slip road and the smart arses who try too jump the queue end up blocking both lanes, which can be as far back as Sainsbury's.
working in Sheffield offers far more post work ride opportunities with easy detours via the dark peak.
Train to Sheffield wins every time, I drive from Chorlton to Stockport (and back) every day at rush hour and the m60/56 junction is always hideous when I go past. The queue can stretch right back to the Pyramid sometimes in the evening!
Fair enough Capt! I only go down that route when I have to - last time was getting to Handridge for 8:50. Got to Kings in no time (slip road working great) but after that it was a 'mare.
I commute from Chester to Trafford Park. Fortunately I can displace my working hours to avoid the worst of the rush hour otherwise it would be a 1 and a quarter to one and a half hour trip v's the normal 40-45 mins. I would think the trip back from Chester to Stockport would be a nightmare as the M60 is quite often queued back from Stockport to the Princess Parkway exit and the M56 always seems to have a queue on it from the airport to M60 junction. A fast comfortable car that you wouldn't mind putting 25k miles a year on would be necessity too. I'm prepared to do it as I like Chester and hate Manchester and surrounding area but as you are there already then the train option to Sheffield sounds a lot better to me.
Should be a lot quieter soon around the buisness park as mbna has just been bought by lloyds and current fear is huge job loses which lloyds are known for and thus less traffic, but then theyre building 1200 houses on the road from Post house into chester over the next few years.
m53/ a55 are a nightmare both directions at the so called rush hours.
I only have to use the M56 about 4 times a month, form the Wirral to Manchester airport, but I really wouldn't want to do it every day. It's a depressing, unpredictable joirney. And it's only going to get worse.
Thanks all. I do have the option of starting work earlier which means I might avoid some of the traffic but I'm thinking is it less stressful to just sit on the train. Then again I hate the unpredictability of trains and public transport! I'd have one change to make from Heaton Chapel to Stockport so not a direct route.
Work in Sheffield then post work ride out to Grindleford (or Edale) station would be very doable FWIW.
No contest. I wouldn't want to do that drive, in comparison sitting in a train passing through the Hope Valley every morning seems quite attractive.
Should be a lot quieter soon around the buisness park as mbna has just been bought by lloyds and current fear is huge job loses which lloyds are known for and thus less traffic
Hopefully Lloyds will keep the MBNA building and move staff there from their other offices. Worrying times for the MBNA lot - I used to do a lot of work for them about 10 years ago .... happy days.
I'd do a trial run on both options to see how you get on, but personally I'd train it and maybe consider moving closer to Sheffield somewhere down the line if things work out.
I'd do a trial run on both options to see how you get on, but personally I'd train it and maybe consider moving closer to Sheffield somewhere down the line if things work out.
It's just a 9 month contract so moving is not really an option. Did a drive to Chester this morning and it took me an hour, although I didn't leave until 8.45am. However my colleague reminded me that there are still some people on Christmas holidays so it'd probably be alot worse next week. The trip back leaving at 4pm wasn't too bad either but again, holiday stragglers may have made a difference?
M56 was really quiet Tuesday, and traffic levels in and around Chester low by their usual standards yesterday. I'd recommend trying again Monday for the full on carnage.
Train to Sheffield sounds a better option.
Try on Tuesday next week, inset day on Monday so schools still not back. I predict 1:30 travel time.
Train. Journey time will be more predictable. Time is your own so you can read/sleep/work/browse the web. Avoids loads of mileage on the car.
