Port Vale, the same as Tranmere, doesn't actually exist!
The name Port Vale exists on maps pre-dating the 1876 formation of the club, and is a reference to a valley of ports on the Trent and Mersey Canal, associated with the city's pottery industry.
They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire, one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent.
So thanks to Wikipedia for the day's geography lesson, and to pass on that there are two stations you can aim for, the nearest being Longport, but the most popular one for getting to Vale Park is Stoke-on-Trent and then a bus or cab.
This is the last of the away fixtures where cheap fares will be a problem, but there is a mixed transport option, but first if you just want the train to take the strain.
For a cheaper option, and you have to go to www.londonmidland.com for these:
Outward (London Midland Trains Only)
London Euston 09.46 - Stoke-on-Trent 12.13 - £8.00
London Euston 10.46 - Stoke-on-Trent 13.13 - £8.00
London Euston 11.46 - Stoke-on-Trent 14.13 - £8.00 (Pushing your luck here!)
However, getting back to London on all 12/50 minutes past the hour Virgin trains back will cost £22.50, making a total of £30.50, still an improvement on the £57.70 day return!
Outward (London Midland Trains Only)
London Euston 09.46 - Stoke-on-Trent 12.13 - £8.00
London Euston 10.46 - Stoke-on-Trent 13.13 - £8.00
London Euston 11.46 - Stoke-on-Trent 14.13 - £8.00 (Pushing your luck here!)
However, getting back to London on all 12/50 minutes past the hour Virgin trains back will cost £22.50, making a total of £30.50, still an improvement on the £57.70 day return!
So, any alternative? Well, here's one that will total up to £22.00.
Get an £8 up from London, then stay on www.londonmidland.com and book a couple of these:
Inward
Stoke-on-Trent 17.44 - Birmingham New Street 18.38 - £8.00
Stoke-on-Trent 18.08 - Birmingham New Street 18.58 - £8.00
Stoke-on-Trent 18.44 - Birmingham New Street 19.33 - £6.50
Then;
Birmingham New Street 18.50 - London Euston 20.15 - £10.50
Birmingham New Street 19.10 - London Euston 20.55 - £19.00
Birmingham New Street 20.10 - London Euston 21.56 - £7.50
Yes, this would mean up to two hours in Birmingham, however ALL services from Stoke are £6.50-£8.00 so you could stay longer in Burslem, good drinking, or Stoke, a couple of good pubs by the station.
One other idea is a mixed transport one with National Express doing a Stoke-London run 18.35-22.30 which at the moment is £5.50, so if you grab the £8 train up that would be only £13.50!
The bus station is around a 15 minute walk from the train station.
To book that, go to; www.nationalexpress.com.
If you just want to go to Longport add the name to the search engine and the fares do go up, however, it is walkable from station to stadium saving on bus or cab fare.
If you just want to go to Longport add the name to the search engine and the fares do go up, however, it is walkable from station to stadium saving on bus or cab fare.
If you get to Stoke and can't be assed to get alternative transport it's only a 4 minute journey leaving at 27 minutes past the hour to Longport and 34 minutes back. £2.30 day return, £2 single.
After all that you might just get the supporters club coaches! (And we haven't even added the time and cost from Southend, good luck!)
Stations to Stadium
Longport station is the closest to the ground, but is a good 30 minute walk away and is not well served by trains as Stoke On Trent station is.
Therefore most fans end up at Stoke On Trent railway station, which is over four miles away and take a taxi, (about £8), up to the ground.
Directions & Bus information from Stoke station:
Come out of the main station doors at Stoke-on-Trent.Turn left past a bus stop and the taxi rank. Walk to the end of this road, which only takes a couple of minutes. Then on your left is a railway bridge, but cross over the road and turn right. Up towards a bus stop opposite Signal Radio.
Get the number 21, First is the bus company. Pay up to Burslem. Get off the bus outside a modern building called Ceramica, just after a big crossroads. If you sit on the door side of the bus, then you can see 'Ceramica' and 'Port Vale F.C.' road signs. And on the drivers side is 'Burslem Methodist Church'. These are signs to stand up to get off.
Once off the bus outside Ceramica. Cross over the road and turn left. Then an immediate right at Jenkins Street. This road leads into Hamil Road, which is then a 5 minute straight walk to Vale Park.
Get the number 21, First is the bus company. Pay up to Burslem. Get off the bus outside a modern building called Ceramica, just after a big crossroads. If you sit on the door side of the bus, then you can see 'Ceramica' and 'Port Vale F.C.' road signs. And on the drivers side is 'Burslem Methodist Church'. These are signs to stand up to get off.
Once off the bus outside Ceramica. Cross over the road and turn left. Then an immediate right at Jenkins Street. This road leads into Hamil Road, which is then a 5 minute straight walk to Vale Park.
Directions & information for Longport station:
Services run hourly from Crewe, Stoke & Derby to Longport. You should be able to walk to the ground in around 25 minutes without too much trouble.
Cross over the line (if travelling from Stoke/Derby) and walk along Station Street. At the mini-roundabout follow the main road round to the left going up the hill. After a couple of minutes take the first major left onto Newcastle Street (B5051).
Enter Burslem. Pass the Bull's Head pub at St. John's Square. Bear left onto Market Place. Shortly after cross main road onto Jenkins Street which becomes Hamil Road. The ground will soon be visible on the left. Turn left into Lorne Street.
Maps
(For a wider map, http://maps.google.co.uk/, search Port Vale FC)
Stoke-on-Trent Station: Top, blue blob. Taxi, outside station; Buses, see directions above.
Longport Station: Bottom left, blue blob. Get on Newcastle Street and then follow directions above, around a 25 minute walk depending how fit you are!
Vale Park Stadium: Top right, between Bycars Lane and Hamil Road.
N.B. Readers are reminded that the fixture list is still provisional and subject to change. Clubs have seven days to request any changes to the Football League. (I'm sure Southend will be looking at the odd Friday night and before you rush in for those early train fares, remember the Bradford City away change last season! You pays your money ect.)