GMPTE Wayfarer

[strange6]

How come I can get to Parbold with the Wayfarer yet I can't with the day ranger? Parbold is out of GMPTE coverage according to their map

 

[northwichcat]

The Wayfarer is a GMPTE ticket but like the Evening Return it extends well beyond the Greater Manchester boundary. I'd guess the reason for that is to get more visitors in to Greater Manchester but then why not extend all GMPTE tickets outside the boundary?

 

[WestCoast]

I'd guess the reason for that is to get more visitors in to Greater Manchester but then why not extend all GMPTE tickets outside the boundary?

The price difference between, say the rail ranger and the wayfarer is the answer to that.

 

[trickyvegas]

It also allows use of trams and busses, the bus area stretches even further. I'm planning to use one for a trip to Crich Tramway museum, rail to Buxton then onwards by bus via Matlock.

 

[northwichcat]

The price difference between, say the rail ranger and the wayfarer is the answer to that.

But there isn't a rail only ticket that extends beyond the GM boundary. Wayfarer is all rail, all Metrolink and participating bus companies.

Sometimes the inclusions and exclusions of a Wayfarer are strange. There's a 2 hourly bus service from Altrincham-Knutsford-Northwich that's operated by Swans Travel (who are included in the Wayfarer scheme.) However, the Wayfarer is only valid on the Altrincham-Knutsford section BUT if you travel by train you can do Altrincham-Knutsford-Northwich on the Wayfarer.

 

[WestCoast]

But there isn't a rail only ticket that extends beyond the GM boundary. Wayfarer is all rail, all Metrolink and participating bus companies.

I know that but I just wouldn't expect the GM rail-only tickets to extend beyond boundaries given the price..

 

[strange6]

I know that but I just wouldn't expect the GM rail-only tickets to extend beyond boundaries given the price..

I bet it's a cock-up. I can't think of a reason why Parbold is included. It's only a very small village and Parbold station is never very busy at any time of day or night

 

[northwichcat]

I know that but I just wouldn't expect the GM rail-only tickets to extend beyond boundaries given the price..

There's nothing stopping GMPTE doing like many other areas, especially in Europe and having 3 zones then issuing tickets for one zone, two zones or all three zones.

Zone 1 could be basically the area enclosed by the M60, zone 2 could be the M60 to the GM boundary and zone 3 could be the area included within the Wayfarer not in GM.

It would be less confusing than the different boundaries GMPTE use for different tickets.

 

[WatcherZero]

There actually are three railzones in GM already used for pricing, I dont think they appear on a map anywhere (they used to be listed on Metrolink machines) but I believe it broke down into South of the county Rail Zone 1 (cheapest) north east Rail Zone 2 and north west (Wigan, Bolton) Rail Zone 3, most expensive.

 

[VideozVideoz]

I bet it's a cock-up. I can't think of a reason why Parbold is included. It's only a very small village and Parbold station is never very busy at any time of day or night

There's a very good reason for it not being busy... none of the GMPTE season/daysaver tickets are valid so everybody drives to Appley Bridge.

Regarding your original question, what you have got to remember is the GMPTE wayfarer is not valid on trains before 9.30am. The other tickets you mention are valid at peak times so I guess they don't mind making GMPTE wayfarers valid from Parbold as it won't be used by commuters

 

[northwichcat]

There actually are three railzones in GM already used for pricing, I dont think they appear on a map anywhere (they used to be listed on Metrolink machines) but I believe it broke down into South of the county Rail Zone 1 (cheapest) north east Rail Zone 2 and north west (Wigan, Bolton) Rail Zone 3, most expensive.

I don't think there's any ticket that's a ticket that covers all of GM and nothing else. Rail tickets always tend to include Glossop in Derbyshire while bus tickets tend to include Wilmslow in Cheshire. Although I've heard the latter is being changed.

They should do a bit like the Berlin transport system for Wigan and Bolton. On the Berlin system Potsdam is in zone C of the Berlin ticketing but also has it's own zonal ticketing for people not travelling to and from Berlin.

 

[Statto]

But there isn't a rail only ticket that extends beyond the GM boundary. Wayfarer is all rail, all Metrolink and participating bus companies.

Sometimes the inclusions and exclusions of a Wayfarer are strange. There's a 2 hourly bus service from Altrincham-Knutsford-Northwich that's operated by Swans Travel (who are included in the Wayfarer scheme.) However, the Wayfarer is only valid on the Altrincham-Knutsford section BUT if you travel by train you can do Altrincham-Knutsford-Northwich on the Wayfarer.

Is you can use Wayfarer ticket on the train to Earlstown but you cannot use it not on the bus to Earlstown.
Similar with using Merseyside PTE tickets, to Ormskirk/Ellesmere Port & Chester on the train but you cannot use them on the bus to those destinations.