gordonthemoron
Established Member
I have tickets to Liverpool Stations, in three weeks time, I’ll be arriving into Lime Street. Are these tickets valid for onward travel to James Street, or do I need to buy additional tickets?
What ticket type have you got, and what's the price paid?I have tickets to Liverpool Stations, in three weeks time, I’ll be arriving into Lime Street. Are these tickets valid for onward travel to James Street, or do I need to buy additional tickets?
Yes it's valid. Your paper ticket should just open the barrier both ends, but if not just wave it at the staff member. They may ask where you're headed to, just to check you know where you're going.I have tickets to Liverpool Stations, in three weeks time, I’ll be arriving into Lime Street. Are these tickets valid for onward travel to James Street, or do I need to buy additional tickets?
There's barriers to exit James Street station, so would that present a problem?
No. The gateline will open to exit as it's Liverpool Stations. It'll also be fine entering with your ticket from Liverpool Stations on the way back, the gateline will open
As others have said, though, as long as it's not an e-ticket or m-ticket (or TOC specific) - whether they should or not, under no circumstances will you get through a Merseyrail gateline with anything other than a paper ticket.
I've certainly had them argue with me !Yes it's valid. Your paper ticket should just open the barrier both ends, but if not just wave it at the staff member. They may ask where you're headed to, just to check you know where you're going.
They will not argue. They know it's valid. I am a daily user.
James Street won't bat an eyelid.
I have any permitted e-tickets, haven’t used paper tickets in years, excepting London travelcards
In that case it's contractually valid - but good luck getting through the barriersI have any permitted e-tickets, haven’t used paper tickets in years, excepting London travelcards
Other than anecdotal remarks being made to a forum user, nobody seems to have reported actually being refused travel with an e-ticket on Merseyrail as far as I can tell.In that case it's contractually valid - but good luck getting through the barriers
Their conductors don't tend to inspect tickets much. The gateline staff are more likely to be the source of any difficulties.Booking websites won't sell you e-tickets if your journey includes any leg on Merseyrail. Their conductors don't have the equipment to scan such tickets.
Their conductors don't tend to inspect tickets much. The gateline staff are more likely to be the source of any difficulties.
Doesn't that mean that a ticket from anywhere to Liverpool stations should not be an e-ticket because it might be used to travel to James Street? In practice, such e-tickets are issued.Booking websites won't sell you e-tickets if your journey includes any leg on Merseyrail.
Doesn't that mean that a ticket from anywhere to Liverpool stations should not be an e-ticket because it might be used to travel to James Street? In practice, such e-tickets are issued.
Just done a little experiment. Booking a National Rail journey (i.e. not a Merseyrail only journey) to destination Lime Street offers e-tickets, presumably as it's a Northern operated station, but booking to Liverpool South Parkway, which is a Merseyrail station despite serving other operators too, offers ToD only.
Tickets are set up to allow fulfilment as eTickets depending on:It depends on the itinerary you choose. If you want a paper ticket so you can go onwards to James St without hassle, enter James St as the destination and you'll get a paper ticket (or on sites that let you choose, just choose one).
Very few people will use Merseyrail for onward travel within Liverpool city centre because it's tiny. Nowhere is more than about 20 minutes' walk from Lime St.
Much of central London is less than that distance from Euston, but many people prefer to use the tube. It's handy just to hop on a train to James Street, especially if it's raining, or you've got luggage, or just believe in getting your money's worth! Though it does depend on whether your destination is beyond James Street or on the Lime Street side of it - in which case it's probably a bit pointless.It depends on the itinerary you choose. If you want a paper ticket so you can go onwards to James St without hassle, enter James St as the destination and you'll get a paper ticket (or on sites that let you choose, just choose one).
Very few people will use Merseyrail for onward travel within Liverpool city centre because it's tiny. Nowhere is more than about 20 minutes' walk from Lime St.
Much of central London is less than that distance from Euston, but many people prefer to use the tube. It's handy just to hop on a train to James Street, especially if it's raining, or you've got luggage, or just believe in getting your money's worth! Though it does depend on whether your destination is beyond James Street or on the Lime Street side of it - in which case it's probably a bit pointless.
By the time you've got down the escalator at Lime Street, along the passageway, then through the Merseyrail gateline and down to the platform, you could just about be at James Street!
Tickets are set up to allow fulfilment as eTickets depending on:
- origin
- destination
- route code (e.g. any permitted)
- ticket type
It doesn't depend on the itinerary.
So a London Terminals to Liverpool Stations Off-Peak Single ticket will show as enabled for eTicket whether you go direct or via Chester, and whether you go to Liverpool Lime Street or to Liverpool James Street.
Before my local SWR station got more than one gate with e-ticket readers, staff were always happy to just read what was stated on the e-ticket! Why can't Merseyrail do the same? No fancy kit required.
It would also skewer their mini market style ticket office/shop concepts, it relies on people being there to buy a ticket initially, and picking up impulse buys.