Greater Manchester tickets

[Mojo]

A question for anyone who knows. I can't stand the GMPTE and Metrolink websites as it doesn't just provide the information, it either offers a huge list of tickets or wants me to fill in a form where it will select the ticket for me!

Can anyone advise if there is an Off-peak ticket for:

• Tram
• Train AND Tram

and also how much they cost and where I should buy them from?

Thanks

 

[MidnightFlyer]

A question for anyone who knows. I can't stand the GMPTE and Metrolink websites as it doesn't just provide the information...

Without trying to sound clever, have you tried TfGM, seen as GMPTE is obsolete?

 

[WestCoast]

Well, GM ticketing is IMO more complex than London.

Train only - The GM Off-peak rail ranger is £4.40 - you can buy at ticket windows, and on-board trains (but obviously the buy before rules apply, but the guard would probably still sell it). It's not available from Virgin/Northern/TPE ticket machines in the GM area.

Train and Tram - This is the System One Daysaver Train & Tram is £6.50. Buy from rail ticket offices, metrolink ticket machines (the easiest way!) or onboard from train guards (again same rules).

Both valid after 9.30am Monday - Friday, weekends and bank holidays at any time.

 

[Mojo]

Without trying to sound clever, have you tried TfGM, seen as GMPTE is obsolete?

It's the same website...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Well, GM ticketing is far more complex than London.

The GM Off-peak rail ranger is £4.40 - you can buy at ticket windows, and on-board trains (but obviously the buy before rules apply, but the guard would probably still sell it). It's not available from Virgin/Northern/TPE ticket machines in the GM area.

Thanks, but this ticket is only valid on trams in the city centre and isn't what I'm looking for. I'm looking for either a tram only or a train and tram ticket.

 

[WestCoast]

Thanks, but this ticket is only valid on trams in the city centre and isn't what I'm looking for. I'm looking for either a tram only or a train and tram ticket.

All explained above. The easiest way to buy is Metrolink ticket machines, they won't take forever to look it up. Map of the train and tram routes are here.

If you want a tram only you'll need the Tram MetroMax DaySaver. You'll laugh at this, but the price varies depending on which tram stop you buy it from!

 

[WatcherZero]

This is the leaflet you want:
http://www.tfgm.com/upload/library/08_1441_Combi_leaflet_030309.pdf

All of these can be bought from a ticket office or conductor within Greater Manchester
Rail Ranger £4.40
Theres a Daysaver Train+Tram around £6.50 (but that might be pre-last rise price)
They also sell the tram travel as a extra to a single or return train ticket (£4.20)

In addition all day tram tickets can be bought from the Metrolink ticket machines after 9:30 for £4.20 in the city centre (varying the further you get from centre upto £2 less or something I think). You can also buy tickets to rail destination in Greater Manchester from a ticket machine outside the city centre which uses a three rail zone pricing structure.

 

[Mojo]

All explained above. The easiest way to buy is Metrolink ticket machines, they won't take forever to look it up. Map of the train and tram routes are here.

Basically I'm trying to compare the price difference between a Train and Tram and a Tram only ticket, but the Metrolink website wants me to fill in a form and the GMPTE website unhelpfully says "£2.90 to £4.00."

 

[Deerfold]

All explained above. The easiest way to buy is Metrolink ticket machines, they won't take forever to look it up. Map of the train and tram routes are here.

Indeed - Train and tram : http://www.systemonetravelcards.co.uk/travelcards/display.php?card=83

Although there's all sorts of Tram+X day tickets I don't think there's a tram only one. Cheapest if you don't need train is bus+ tram at £5.50:

http://www.systemonetravelcards.co.uk/travelcards/display.php?card=78
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Basically I'm trying to compare the price difference between a Train and Tram and a Tram only ticket, but the Metrolink website wants me to fill in a form and the GMPTE website unhelpfully says "£2.90 to £4.00."

It's a 2 question form!

 

[WestCoast]

Basically I'm trying to compare the price difference between a Train and Tram and a Tram only ticket, but the Metrolink website wants me to fill in a form and the GMPTE website unhelpfully says "£2.90 to £4.00."

Yes, it's actually up to £4.20. If you buy the ticket at Piccadilly it will cost you £4.20. If you were to buy the same ticket at Harbour City it would cost you £3.50. I've found this out through playing with the machines, TfGM won't tell you!

Hence why it says £2.90 to £4.00 (but it's actually £4.20 now).

 

[WatcherZero]

The tram day tickets are really great value if your making more than one return trip as they are the same price as the furthest distance return tickets.

 

[Mojo]

I am even more confused now. So the day ticket varies in price depending on where you buy it? Do Metrolink have a different definition of day ticket to everyone else? All I want is a Tram only ticket valid off peak on all trams as many times as I want.

 

[WestCoast]

I am even more confused now. So the day ticket varies in price depending on where you buy it? Do Metrolink have a different definition of day ticket to everyone else? All I want is a Tram only ticket valid off peak on all trams as many times as I want.

The day ticket is off-peak and yes, the stop where you buy it from dictates the price of the tram only day ticket. If you buy it from Piccadilly (or any city centre tram stop) it will cost you £4.20 and you can have unlimited rides anywhere on the tram network on that day.

However, at tram stops further out it is cheaper to buy, don't ask me why, WatcherZero might know!

All clear now?

 

[WatcherZero]

Its like a London Zonal ticket, increases in price the closer to the city centre you buy it. If just tram ticket your after then buy from a tram ticket machine and select 'Saver' at the bottom of the screen when it prompts you to type in a destination then enter the number of adults and children. The machines take coins, notes and cards with no minimum card price. At some stations theres two machines with one labelled 'Singles and Returns only' which you shouldnt use. The other will be labelled 'season tickets' or have no label at all.

 

[Mojo]

It's a 2 question form!

They are stupid questions though. It asks me for my origin and destination, which is irrelevant. If I select two random stations I am then asked if I want a single or return; I want neither!

I am still puzzled; are people saying a ticket bought out in the sticks with exactly the same validity costs less than the same ticket bought in the city centre? In which case that's not at all like the London fare zones. Imagine if TfL charged £8 for a Zone 1-6 Travelcard bought at Oxford Circus but only £6.50 for one bought at Camden Town!

 

[WestCoast]

I am still puzzled; are people saying a ticket bought out in the sticks with exactly the same validity costs more than the same ticket bought in the city centre? In which case that's not at all like the London fare zones. Imagine if TfL charged £8 for a Zone 1-6 Travelcard bought at Oxford Circus but only £6.50 for one bought at Camden Town!

Well that's Transport for Greater Manchester! It's a system like no-other!

A day ticket for the whole network bought further out is cheaper than the same ticket bought in the centre. It's price-discrimination based on what stop you buy it from. One explanation I can think of is that they are giving cheaper day-tickets to encourage those who live in places like Eccles or Sale to travel into Manchester.

In my opinion, it doesn't compare to London zones.

 

[transportphoto]

I am still puzzled; are people saying a ticket bought out in the sticks with exactly the same validity costs more than the same ticket bought in the city centre? In which case that's not at all like the London fare zones. Imagine if TfL charged £8 for a Zone 1-6 Travelcard bought at Oxford Circus but only £6.50 for one bought at Camden Town!

From what I gather - it is the other way round, if you bought in the city centre it will cost more than a ticket with exactly the same validity bought out in the sticks.

HTH TP

 

[Deerfold]

They are stupid questions though. It asks me for my origin and destination, which is irrelevant. If I select two random stations I am then asked if I want a single or return; I want neither!

Ah - you have a different questionnaire - I had this one:
http://www.systemonetravelcards.co.uk/travelcards.php
where it seems to pretend there are no tram only tickets,

 

[Mojo]

Just had a reply from Metrolink to whom I sent an Email earlier this evening

Hi xxxx

Thank you for your email. The cost of a day ticket for unlimited journeys anywhere on the network is £4.20. I am terribly sorry that you were unable to find this information on the website.

Kind regards
xxxx
Customer Experience Team

 

[WestCoast]

Just had a reply from Metrolink to whom I sent an Email earlier this evening

Very quick indeed, did you mention you were buying it from a city centre station?

 

[Mojo]

Very quick indeed, did you mention you were buying it from a city centre station?

No. I was deliberately vague. Perhaps the cheaper tickets are a mistake on their system? After all it makes absolutely no sense as if anything you would expect tickets FROM the centre to be cheaper (just how on a few routes (less common now) it is cheaper or more favourable to buy returns FROM London rather than TO London).

 

[WestCoast]

No. I was deliberately vague. Perhaps the cheaper tickets are a mistake on their system? After all it makes absolutely no sense as if anything you would expect tickets FROM the centre to be cheaper (just how on a few routes (less common now) it is cheaper or more favourable to buy returns FROM London rather than TO London).

They may have presumed. It's daft but the cheaper tickets are no mistake - I've bought them several times myself. It's been this way for a number of years! The metrolink can become rather quiet outside of peak periods further out and this could be to encourage passengers to use certain stops during those times?

Here's what the official FAQs say about it:

Question:

Why is the cost of MetroMax tickets not the same from all stops/stations?

Answer:

This was introduced to promote the ticket from selected stops

.

 

[Mojo]

I had seen this, but as the website makes no mention of this ''MetroMax'' ticket I did not know if this was the same thing. I will reply to them.

 

[12CSVT]

Yes, it's actually up to £4.20. If you buy the ticket at Piccadilly it will cost you £4.20. If you were to buy the same ticket at Harbour City it would cost you £3.50. I've found this out through playing with the machines, TfGM won't tell you!

Hence why it says £2.90 to £4.00 (but it's actually £4.20 now).

Interesting one. Now supposing I want a daysaver that covers the whole tram network. Would it be cheaper to buy it at Altrincham (or Navigation Road) than at Piccadilly or Victoria.

 

[WestCoast]

I had seen this, but as the website makes no mention of this ''MetroMax'' ticket I did not know if this was the same thing. I will reply to them.

Yes, TfGM don't make this clear - day/weekend tickets are usually promoted under the guise of MetroMax or they were up until very recently. It appears they've quietly changed this to "Saver" - without updating all the old info that refers to them as MetroMax.There's adult and family versions, although the family version which is just £5 at all stops (up to 2 adults/3 children) on Sat/Sun is very good value.

GM ticketing is so disjointed and unclear, when you add in the mash of inconsistent bus fares and day tickets, with none except the premium priced one being integrated it gets even more confusing and non user-friendly - people think Oyster is complex.....:-x
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Interesting one. Now supposing I want a daysaver that covers the whole tram network. Would it be cheaper to buy it at Altrincham (or Navigation Road) than at Piccadilly or Victoria.

I couldn't give you a definite answer. But next time I'm down that way, I will check the machine.

One thing to just mention is the metrolink doesn't have zonal day tickets - there's just one network wide version - priced from £2.90 up to £4.20. I've never come across anything similar on any other metro in the UK or abroad that I've been on - I think that's why we've had so much discussion about it.

 

[radamfi]

I wonder how many people actually buy the 'full monty' System One Day Saver including train, tram and bus? I wouldn't be surprised if many people decide to sacrifice one of these modes in order to save money even though their trip would ideally be made using all three modes.

It will be interesting to see if and how pricing changes when the expanded network goes into service, and what fares they charge for day tickets from each new stop.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Interesting one. Now supposing I want a daysaver that covers the whole tram network. Would it be cheaper to buy it at Altrincham (or Navigation Road) than at Piccadilly or Victoria.

Someone should compile a list of Metromax fares from each stop! It might exist at the SkyscraperCity site which seems to be the main place to talk about Metrolink and the extensions. I vaguely remember Altrincham being charged the highest price for the Metromax along with the city centre and Bury. I remember the Eccles line being cheaper as patronage isn't too high on that route whereas the Bury and Altrincham lines are overcrowded. So Eccles may be an option if your plan is to change onto Metrolink at a National Rail station.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Yes, the cheapest location to purchase a "Metromax" off peak all tram ticket is from any of the stations in Metrolink Zone C (Crumpsall, Bowker Vale, Woodlands Road, and Abraham Moss), Zone E (Trafford Bar, Old Trafford and Stretford) and/or Zone H (Eccles line stations).

It's most expensive when purchased in the City Zone, or from TVMs in Metrolink Zone A (Bury, Radcliffe and Whitefield) and/or Zone G (Altrincham, Navigation Road, and Timperley).

There's an intermediate price available when purchased at any of the other stations in Zones B and/or F.

Other than such a ticket purchased in the City Centre itself, they all seem to be priced at just a few pence more than the equivalent cost of an off peak return from the Metrolink stop in question into the City Centre.

 

[telstarbox]

What a palaver!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What a palaver!

I am happy to assist you. This word as used in Britain came from the Portuguese word PALAVRA, which means WORD.

When used as a noun, there are two definitions:-
(1) A prolonged and tedious discussion
(2) A parlay or improvised conference between two sides.

When used as a verb, it means to talk unnessarily at length
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Just had a reply from Metrolink to whom I sent an Email earlier this evening

At least the reply that you received genuinely expressed regret for the trouble that you had been caused. This is more than can be said for replies from most transport bodies who always lack humanity in their responses.