Is it feasible to travel to Blackpool by train during the illuminations?

Ok so i am hoping to go for a day/evening out with ones family in blackpool, can anyone tell me if it is a good idea to travel by train. Apparently First Transpennine Express has relatively cheap fares to Blackpool from Manchester (where i live) and im not keen on the idea of the M6/M55 at half term. Does anyone know how bad the motorway gets and if trains are not completely packed, the last thing I want is to be stuck for hours waiting for a train back to Manchester in the dark on Blackpool station. I would prefer to go by train because its less stressful, we have a railcard and its usually faster. Many thanks, Kofi.