Birmingham visit - local tickets?

[railpigeon]

Hi, I’m planning a day trip to Birmingham and wonder whether anyone can help with the following questions (which are not adequately answered on the West Midlands Metro website):

Can I now buy an nNetwork Daytripper ticket from a machine at Grand Central?

Is an nNetwork Daytripper ticket valid on all trains between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton (including Avanti and CrossCountry trains)?

What is the difference between a 1 Day nNetwork ticket and an nNetwork Daytripper?

Thanks all.

 

[cool110]

Is an nNetwork Daytripper ticket valid on all trains between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton (including Avanti and CrossCountry trains)?

Yes, accepted on Avanti, Chiltern, XC, LNR/WMR, and TfW.

What is the difference between a 1 Day nNetwork ticket and an nNetwork Daytripper?

The 1 Day is anytime, the Daytripper is off-peak (after 9:30).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What is the difference between a 1 Day nNetwork ticket and an nNetwork Daytripper?

£10.50 vs £8.20?! Think the slightly cheaper (Off Peak) Daytripper ticket can actually be used from 0930 (M-F).

 

[Boff]

Can I now buy an nNetwork Daytripper ticket from a machine at Grand Central?

From what I found, you can't buy any nNetwork tickets from the ticket machines, but you can get one at the travel shop at New Street.

 

[railpigeon]

Thanks all - very helpful.

 

[trainJam]

I thought the Centro/Network travel centres all sadly closed around about Lockdown. I still have some old full sized map leaflets from them.

On the Metro (tram) I believe it is still possible to buy from the conductor.
On the buses you can buy from the driver as usual.
No change given or use contactless terminal.

Otherwise at Grand Central, there are Avanti TVMs which have a 'Local Area Rovers' page iirc, or go to the Avanti ticket office who will issue the proper blue daytripper stock card tickets.

WMR TVMs (not at New St) also have the ability to issue daytrippers.

 

[birchesgreen]

You can also use the My Metro app on your phone.

Do TVMs issue daytrippers now? Thats good to know.

 

[High Dyke]

Not certain about the ticket machines / office in New Street station, but the machines at the tram stop outside were not working when I was there about two weeks ago. Suitable announcements were made to those waiting for the tram to obtain tickets on board the tram, which I did. I was purchasing the one day ticket.

 

[cool110]

...the machines at the tram stop outside were not working when I was there about two weeks ago.

Those haven't been rolled out yet, should have been activated in "autumn" but they've not said anything since.

 

[Kite159]

You can also use the My Metro app on your phone.

Do TVMs issue daytrippers now? Thats good to know.

When I looked at the My Metro app, it seems the only daily tickets you can purchase are for bus only & Bus + Tram only with longer season tickets available to include the trains. Unless I was missing something

 

[davetheguard]

Those haven't been rolled out yet, should have been activated in "autumn" but they've not said anything since.

I had a trip from New Street (sorry, Grand Central as they insist on caling it) to Wolverhampton on the tram yesterday.

The ticket machines at stops were still not working, so Conductors were still issuing tickets on board the trams.

 

[spp]

I had a trip from New Street (sorry, Grand Central as they insist on caling it) to Wolverhampton on the tram yesterday.

The ticket machines at stops were still not working, so Conductors were still issuing tickets on board the trams.

Officially opened Wednesday so the day after your trip. Seems for the time being at least you’ll be able to pay onboard still.

All the official press releases I’ve seen seem to be quite coy on if/when the rules will be changed to you need to buy a ticket in advance.

I’m wondering if this is down to the new lines opening. Conductors will be re labelled ‘revenue protection’ and just be there to check tickets. Ie not one per tram so more spread out rather than them having to employ more people.

Not sure if they remember but it never really worked like that when first opened. The ticket machines were vandalised.

 

[TheTallOne]

I had a trip from New Street (sorry, Grand Central as they insist on caling it) to Wolverhampton on the tram yesterday.

The ticket machines at stops were still not working, so Conductors were still issuing tickets on board the trams.

Grand Central is the shopping centre above the station. The station is still called Birmingham New Street.

 

[spp]

Grand Central is the shopping centre above the station. The station is still called Birmingham New Street.

The tram station (that sits adjacent to one entrance of the train station) is called Grand Central though

 

[TheTallOne]

The tram station (that sits adjacent to one entrance of the train station) is called Grand Central though

Sorry, missed the bit on it being a trip on the tram!

 

[bnsf734]

Avanti Ticket Machines sell the one day tickets. Not sure about the West Midlands Railway or Chiltern machines.

You can also buy them (and any other Rover/Ranger ticket) from any Northern machine!

 

[birchesgreen]

Avanti Ticket Machines sell the one day tickets. Not sure about the West Midlands Railway or Chiltern machines.

You can also buy them (and any other Rover/Ranger ticket) from any Northern machine!

You can get day trippers from WMR machines.

 

[Sprinter107]

The ticket machine on the Five Ways bound platform at the Grand Central tram stop was working the day before yesterday, because I used it. West Midlands Daytrippers were advertised on there.

 

[spp]

The ticket machine on the Five Ways bound platform at the Grand Central tram stop was working the day before yesterday, because I used it. West Midlands Daytrippers were advertised on there.

They started being used Wednesday so yes would have been. The earlier posters trip was Tuesday.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Feb 2025 ==

Sorry, missed the bit on it being a trip on the tram!

No worries to be fair I can see how it would confuse people in the first place. The tram station is actually closer to new street station than the shopping area above that but takes the name of the later.

Something completely different like ‘Birmingham Central’ would have been better in my opinion.

Same goes for the opposite end. The new tram stop just outside Wolverhampton rail station is called just ‘Wolverhampton Station’. Yet one stop before ‘Pipers Row’ serves the bus station so have seen/heard many non locals confused.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Mar 2025 ==


Edit below from Sunday morning (merged by mods)

Took a trip yesterday used the machines seemed to work fine but only one per station. I boarded at a small residential station and on a Saturday morning had to queue behind someone. Dread to think what it’ll be like at some of the more popular boarding points. If the tram comes most people will just board. Needs to be at least two at all stations 4-6 at town/city centre stations.

Most people were still ignoring the machines and paying on board anyway. If Midland Metro are to switch to a ‘must have ticket in advance’ system they’ll need a lot more widespread advertising of this/a long amnesty period.

 

[Sprinter107]

I also used one of those machines yesterday, at one of the intermediate stops. But I was the only one to do so. There mustve been about a dozen or so other passengers, and all ignored it, and just boarded the tram. One machine may be ok at a quiet stop, but if they want people to buy before boarding, they will certainly need to provide additional machines. Had I have had to queue, id have definitely missed the tram I managed to catch.

 

[spp]

I also used one of those machines yesterday, at one of the intermediate stops. But I was the only one to do so. There mustve been about a dozen or so other passengers, and all ignored it, and just boarded the tram. One machine may be ok at a quiet stop, but if they want people to buy before boarding, they will certainly need to provide additional machines. Had I have had to queue, id have definitely missed the tram I managed to catch.

I’m not sure one would be enough even at quiet stations like you say most people are ignoring them for now and I still had to queue. When everyone’s using them it will be a nightmare especially if Birmingham bound and Wolverhampton bound trams are due around the same time.

I won’t bother next time in all honesty until they clearly publicise you need to get one in advance I’ll just wait for the conductor to get to me.

On the plus side on passing Wednesbury it seemed there’s real progress on the line there towards Dudley, surely can’t be long now? Same in Birmingham City Centre with the Eastside extension.

 

[Sprinter107]

I notice some of the stops in the Dudley area are also nearing completion. So, hopefully not too long now.
But you are right, maybe at some of the quieter stops, one machine just won't be enough. Perhaps some passengers may have already bought tickets on their phones, I would imagine that facility exists.

 

[Kite159]

I would imagine when the time comes to switching to a 'buy before you board' style they will be pushing online tickets more. Or even invest in a metrolink style touch in/touch out system using contactless cards.

 

[MrJeeves]

You can get day trippers from WMR machines.

Has it changed since this picture from 2022 advertising a Centro One Day ticket rather than a nNetwork 1-day?

 

[AY1975]

The Transport for West Midlands website is somewhat misleading, as it lists the Daytripper Plus as a ticket type in its own right whereas my understanding has always been that the Daytripper Plus is a small supplement that you pay to be able to travel in an extended area beyond the normal Daytripper area if you already have a Daytripper, and it is (or used to be) issued as a separate ticket.

Likewise with the Daytripper Add-On, which no longer seems to be mentioned on the TfWM site, and the map linked from their site seems to suggest that tickets valid in zone 5 are also valid between Bloxwich North and Rugeley Trent Valley. I queried this with TfWM using the online form on their site, and they got back to me and told me that you do still need a Daytripper Add-On to travel to these stations. They sent me this link: https://ticketsearch.tfwm.org.uk/#/ticket/18039

This only gives the price for an adult Add-On but this link from the brfares.com site also gives the child and family prices: https://www.brfares.com/!fares?orig=BWN&dest=I194

There's a locked thread from October 2023 about the Daytripper Plus and Add-On: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/network-west-midlands-daytripper-add-on-plus-questions.256748/

 

[cool110]

Likewise with the Daytripper Add-On, which no longer seems to be mentioned on the TfWM site, and the map linked from their site seems to suggest that tickets valid in zone 5 are also valid between Bloxwich North and Rugeley Trent Valley.

It does say "ntrain" tickets for that area, but could be worded better to clarify that it means only those and not nnetwork as well

 

[Connacht]

Is there any update as to when the extension to Dudley might open?

I am thinking of making a return visit in late October 2025.

 

[P Binnersley]

According to a West Midland Combined Authority Investment Board paper, the current completion date for phase 1 (Wednesbury to Dudley) is 30th November 2025.

While the line in Dudley town centre looks largely complete, I was at Dudley Port on Saturday and there is only the foundations for the platforms and no track or ballast.

 

[Sprinter107]

I think there is also a problem in Dudley of the height of a road where the tracks will join, currently being at the wrong height. I believe it's somewhere near the bottom of Castle Hill. That's going to be an expensive mistake to rectify apparently.
Not sure how to provide a link to the story I'm afraid, but if you put it into a search engine, it should be easy enough to find. Think it msy have been in the Birmingham Mail.

 

[P Binnersley]

Dudley Council have allocated £100,000 for getting a road level wrong on the access to the VLR Centre.

Embarrassing, but but not too difficult to sort out.