How to take a rail journey from Manchester to Chester

Final Destination: Chester

If the starting point is in Manchester city centre and you're heading off to Chester, this route is likely to be a good option.
It has a similar journey time to the Transport For Wales train (option 2), but the boarding of these trains at Manchester Victoria is more straightforward than taking that train from Manchester Piccadilly.
On Sundays, when the trains from Manchester Piccadilly (option 2) aren't available, they also offer the fastest option for a Manchester to Chester rail journey.

It also tends be cheaper than those trains from Piccadilly station - it similar ticket price to the slower service from Manchester Piccadilly (Option 3) and new, smarter trains, are typically used on this route from Manchester Victoria.

Book early and save: Yes

The train company Northern offers discounted Advance tickets on this route from weeks ahead of travel, but what's good to know is that they can still be booked online (and saved to a mobile device) up until shortly before departure.
You can save a few £s by booking ahead, though you will have to select a specific departure, but if you then subsequently change your travel plans, you can't claim a refund.

But if you book online on you travel date you won't risk this scenario and the price will still be cheaper than what you would pay when booking last minute at the station.

Final Destination Llandudno or Holyhead

These trains commence their journeys in the station at Manchester Airport and they offer the only direct train service from Manchester Oxford Road station to Chester.
So if the starting point of your journey is in the Oxford Road area they are the logical best option for a train journey to Chester.

However, they tend to be more expensive then the trains on the other routes, particularly if you will be buying tickets on the travel day.

Also worth keeping in mind is that at Manchester Piccadilly, these trains use the part of the station which is furthest away from its main entrance.

Book early and save: No

TFW Rail does not offer discounted Advance tickets on this route, so it's tickets can be a comparatively expensive option, they're typically more than twice the price than on the other two route options.

Final Destination: Chester

The option two journeys take a different and faster route between Manchester Piccadilly station and Chester, but if the starting point of your journey is convenient for Manchester Piccadilly, of if you will travelling on a Sunday when the Option 1 journeys from Manchester Piccadilly are not available, there are two good reasons for taking the trains on this slower route

1: Price; they typically cost more than 50% less than taking the trains on Option 2.
2. At Manchester Piccadilly, they depart from a more convenient part of the station, which is adjacent to the main concourse.

These trains also call at station in the Manchester suburbs called Navigation Road which offers a convenient transfer from Manchester Metrolink trams on the routes heading to Altringham.

Book early and save: Yes

The train company Northern offers discounted Advance tickets on this route from weeks ahead of travel, but what's good to know is that they can still be booked online (and saved to a mobile device) up until shortly before departure.
You can save a few £s by booking ahead, though you will have to select a specific departure, but if you then subsequently change your travel plans, you can't claim a refund.

But if you book online on you travel date you won't risk this scenario and the price will still be cheaper than what you would pay when booking last minute at the station.