Been quite a few years since I had to use the train and unless plans change it will be my way of getting to the Shield game.

A few questions:

Is pre-booking advisable or do you think I'll be able to just jump on one on the day (worried that with 13,000 Blues going to Birmingham the trains could be full)?

As far as I can tell, Witton is the closest train station to Villa Park, is this where other Blues are getting off?

What times do you recommend getting on the train to avoid peak charges? I remember going to Carlisle once and paying a fortune because I got on at peak time.

Train will be fine but dear, there is no peak time on a sunday.

The train doesn't stop at Witton from Manchester to Birmingham, only New street.

It would mean a train from New Street to Witton which is £1.90 return.

We've pre booked our seats from Picc to Brum just because it's easier.

Book Picadilly to Stoke then Stoke to Birmingham.

Make sure you select all trains though and not virgin/cross country only.

You don't have to change then.

This, but I'm changing trains at Stoke. Combination of Virgin Trains only from Piccadilly to Stoke and a normal ticket from Stoke to New Street saved me a fiver.

I'd seriously consider pre-booking mate. There aren't that many trains to choose from that will get you there in good time for the 1.30PM kick-off and I'd imagine they will all be rammed. When we played Wolves away in April, even with an allocation of less than 3000 away fans the train I ended up on was packed so with 13,000-plus City fans expected to be in attendance that tells its own story.

As it happens, we're getting the Megabus down and a pre-booked train back to save a few quid.

There aren't many advance tickets left now, don't really save anything from the on the day fare. What I would do is split the train tickets Manchester-Stoke and Stoke-Witton (not New Street, means you're booked right through to the ground). Saves a few quid, and you can get them where you don't have to change trains. However, from Manchester-Stoke you can get a 'Virgin Trains only' ticket, which means you'd have to change at Stoke. Can get a Virgin train 10 minutes before at Piccadilly and pick up the same Crosscountry train to Birmingham you'd have been on anyway.

Sorry I'm probably in the wrong bit here, I don't use this at all!

Does anybody want to buy 3x return train tickets to Birmingham New Street for Sunday from me? I've got the tickets printed now & would be more than happy to drop them off to those in the Manchester area (Pref near to Gorton!)

The journey is:10:27am train out, arriving at 12pm. The 20.01pm back.

I'm more than happy to accept £60 for the three - more than what I paid but I'd love to get shot of them!