Do they keep changing the map on the website?
Why does the red extend to Handforth, Styal, Disley and Birchwood?
And why does the line go out beyond Littleborough and Bromley Cross but not anywhere else? What happens between Patrifroft and Newton-le-Willows?
And also:
For stations / routes marked in green restrictions apply to/from these locations to Manchester / Salford stations.
Appears to be an untruth. The restrictions appear to apply from that station to Manchester or Salford and any intermediate stations that are within Greater Manchester.
Wilmslow - Manchester has evening peak restrictions, as do Wilmslow - Stockport and Wilmslow - Cheadle Hulme, but Wilmslow - Handforth. Interestingly, Wilmslow - Manchester Airport has been evening peak restricted too! And also Wilmslow - East Didsbury, even though it doesn't seem to be valid via Manchester.
Talk about blanketing restrictions!? It's almost no travel from anywhere to anywhere between those times. Looks like Manchester has been singled out for some of the harshest restrictions in the whole country.
Edit - I have downloaded the map from the website and attached it 'v4' eh!
Furthermore, can anyone help me with 'what happens if':
I start my journey in the affected area before 16.01 but have to change trains in the affected area after 16.01?
You can still travel on an off-peak ticket for the first part of your journey, but you will need to have an anytime fare or equivalent for the second leg of your journey.
I start my journey before 16.01 outside of the affected area and change trains after 16.01 in the affected area?
You can still travel on an off-peak ticket.
I'm struggling to see how this is reflected in the restriction codes.
And:
...to change these times would have meant a very complex message and inconsistency across the area.
Sounds like a pretty good description of the way they have chosen to do it to me actually.
Another poor show:
How do I know if my ticket is affected?
If you usually travel on an off-peak ticket in the affected areas in the evening peak then you will probably need to buy an anytime ticket or travel on an earlier or later train.
Alternatively, you can speak to a member of staff at one of our ticket offices who will be able to help.
'Probably'? What if your station doesn't have a ticket office? Or one with uselessly short hours? Why is there no reference to checking restriction codes?
To summarise:
We recognise that some people who use these type of tickets might not be regular customers, which is why our staff are on hand to help them make sure they have the right type of ticket for their journey.
Yes, I have
unwavering confidence in you and your staff to ensure I am getting the right deal after reading all that, and I am " fully aware of the changes that are happening, when and what it means for [me]".
