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Metrolink "Early Bird" fare

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radamfi

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https://tfgm.com/earlybird

Interesting idea, but I can see arguments about delays meaning that the journey wasn't completed before the off-peak period ended. Other tickets tend to avoid the issue by dictating the time that the journey starts.

The ‘Early Bird’ and ‘Early Bird Plus’ are being trialled as part of the Mayor’s Congestion Deal, which encourages people to try and change their travel behaviour to reduce congestion across the city-region.

Available until Christmas Eve, all you need to do to benefit from these great value travelcards is travel outside the busiest times of the day…and you’ll be doing your bit to cut congestion too!

Simply buy your Early Bird travelcard before 7am on any weekday and choose from:

Early Bird - £1

Unlimited travel on all Metrolink tram services from start of service until 7.30am.

Early Bird Plus - £3

Unlimited travel on all Metrolink tram services from start of service until 7.30am PLUS unlimited travel between 1pm and 3.30pm and unlimited travel from 7pm until end of service.

Remember to make sure you plan your journeys, as you need to buy either ticket before 7am and travel must be completed by 7.30am in the morning and by 3.30pm if you’re travelling in the afternoon period.
 
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Clarky

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I assume they are carrot and stick-ing extra xmas related passengers out of the rush hour crush, it does seem particularly restrictive in its terms, perhaps an extended off peak rule something like pre-7am, 10am - 3pm and 7pm until end of service would work to get more people who can be flexible off the network at peak times? I cannot see it having a big impact in its current form.
 

Ianno87

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Previous experience with this sort of thing generally shows:
-The effect on people genuinely changing travel habits is relatively small. Most people will just pay to travel when they want to travel
-All that happens is people who were happy to travel at those times anyway just save some money

But no doubt does generate some goodwill from the people who do save.
 

Mojo

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Are these tickets valid at any time on weekends, or not at all?
 

AndyB28

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https://tfgm.com/earlybird

Interesting idea, but I can see arguments about delays meaning that the journey wasn't completed before the off-peak period ended. Other tickets tend to avoid the issue by dictating the time that the journey starts.

The time restrictions alone mean the scheme is useless for me but, if I understand it correctly, I need a 'smart' phone? Theoretically I have got one but it's Windows 8.1 and I need reading glasses to see the bloody screen anyway!!!
 

ooo

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I need a 'smart' phone
M tickets which you need a smart phone for are becoming more common if you want the cheapest tickets. For example on buses in Bristol the fares are cheapest if you get them in First's m ticket app.
 

radamfi

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29 Oct 2009
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The time restrictions alone mean the scheme is useless for me but, if I understand it correctly, I need a 'smart' phone? Theoretically I have got one but it's Windows 8.1 and I need reading glasses to see the bloody screen anyway!!!

Yes and only available to Android or Apple users.
 

AndyB28

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In all fairness Windows Mobile is dead, it is like someone moaning that the App isn't available for Blackberry.
Apologies, I'm probably guilty of wandering off topic by bringing up the issue of operating systems. My point was intended to be that, by restricting the availability to mobile phone users, TFGM are effectively excluding a certain demographic who aren't comfortable with the technology. Hardly fosters a nice warm feeling of inclusiveness!!! I suspect though that the time restrictions will be by far the main reason for minimal take-up of the offer.
 

Josie

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It's only a trial, I don't think the limited availability (and probably not very limited at that) is that much of an issue in this case. It does all seem a bit ill thought out though. Journeys having to be finished by the cutoff, and such an early cutoff, both seem completely daft to me. I wouldn't expect any permanent offer to come of it.
 
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