Manchester Metrolink Railzone tickets

[Gadge]

One can travel from a tram stop to a train station within the GM System One area with their Railzone tickets, comprising Railzone 1 for stations near the city centre, Railzone 2, and Railzone 3 for stations near the edge of the System One area.
From mid-January 2019, the tram tickets are changing to a new tram zone scheme. Is the Railzone remaining, and following the tram zoning scheme?
The TFGM website has the tram stop to tram stop pricings; without going to every tram stop, is there a source for the Railzone costs?
Cheers, G

 

[Mathew S]

If you phone/email/tweet TfGM, Metrolink, or even Northern, they will give you the price. Unfortunately, point-to-point combined tram and train tickets for rail journeys to/from stations within Greater Manchester ticketing area are not available online so, in my experience, contacting them really is the easiest way.

I'm assuming prices will change when Metrolink switches to zonal fares. One interesting change, though, is that Cornbrook will be in Zone 1 meaning that it will be included in Manchester Central Zone rail tickets, which it is not currently.

There will be no change to the "Railzones" when zonal pricing comes in on Metrolink (though I think we can safely assume that's what TfGM want to do long term).

 

[185]

There is suggestion nothing is changing in terms of multimodal ticketing just yet.
>This will technically create THREE zonal fare schemes for Metrolink
Metrolink to Metrolink: Zones 1-4
Rail to Tram: Metrolink Zones A-S (from a GM station) or Metrolink named stop (from outside GM)
Tram to Rail: Railzones 1-3
TfGM = Bonkers.

 

[Mathew S]

There is suggestion nothing is changing in terms of multimodal ticketing just yet.
>This will technically create THREE zonal fare schemes for Metrolink
Metrolink to Metrolink: Zones 1-4
Rail to Tram: Metrolink Zones A-S (from a GM station) or Metrolink named stop (from outside GM)
Tram to Rail: Railzones 1-3
TfGM = Bonkers.

I *think* the plan is to scrap the lettered Met zones and tickets to named Met stops and sub in the Zones (like London travelcards); but we shall see, I guess.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I’ve had the brief from Northern but haven’t got around to reading it yet.

 

[185]

I *think* the plan is to scrap the lettered Met zones and tickets to named Met stops and sub in the Zones (like London travelcards); but we shall see, I guess.

Checked with an advance dated ticket dated after the next railway fares update - was still showing (Stockport-) Metrolink Zone A or (Euston-) BURY MTLK for Bury.. no other 'new' products shown.

 

[Mathew S]

Checked with an advance dated ticket dated after the next railway fares update - was still showing (Stockport-) Metrolink Zone A or (Euston-) BURY MTLK for Bury.. no other 'new' products shown.

I think you misunderstood. When I said I thought the plan was to switch to the new zones that's exactly what I meant, that it is what TfGM plan to do. Not that it will happen this Jan, just that the plan is for it to happen at some point.

 

[185]

I think you misunderstood. When I said I thought the plan was to switch to the new zones that's exactly what I meant, that it is what TfGM plan to do. Not that it will happen this Jan, just that the plan is for it to happen at some point.

Understood. My point is the usual way TfGM implement things, making a complete mess. No surprise Metrolink's new zonal fares are coming into play whilst the old (multimodal) ones are still unchanged, they could have approached ATOC (RDG) with an updated zone list when they made this decision & set a date back in summertime.

 

[js1000]

It's time Greater Manchester had an integrated zone system across trams, trains and buses. The implementation of bus franchise and additional pressure (probably through further devolution) on Northern to co-operate with such a scheme should help in this end goal.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's time Greater Manchester had an integrated zone system across trams, trains and buses. The implementation of bus franchise and additional pressure (probably through further devolution) on Northern to co-operate with such a scheme should help in this end goal.

I completely agree. Germany has had this right for years - even London hasn't quite managed it yet.

 

[Chester1]

I spoke at length to someone at Stockport Station who explained the changes and new cost. My monthly Stockport to Metrolink Zone H (Pomona to Eccles) for £117 will be replaced by a Stockport to Metrolink zones 1 + 2 for £123. The price rise takes place tomorrow so the new ticket from 13th January will be the same price but allow unlimited travel in Metrolink zones 1 and 2, which is a nice bonus. Stockport to Metrolink 1 + 2 + 3 will cost £153 and whole Metrolink network £177.

There is suggestion nothing is changing in terms of multimodal ticketing just yet.
>This will technically create THREE zonal fare schemes for Metrolink
Metrolink to Metrolink: Zones 1-4
Rail to Tram: Metrolink Zones A-S (from a GM station) or Metrolink named stop (from outside GM)
Tram to Rail: Railzones 1-3
TfGM = Bonkers.

The letter zones will go for new tickets on 13th January. It seems that the changes have not been launched sufficiently far in advance, so old letter tickets issued before 13th January will be valid but will not be available to purchase afterwards. It is the same for Metrolink season tickets.

I *think* the plan is to scrap the lettered Met zones and tickets to named Met stops and sub in the Zones (like London travelcards); but we shall see, I guess.

I think you misunderstood. When I said I thought the plan was to switch to the new zones that's exactly what I meant, that it is what TfGM plan to do. Not that it will happen this Jan, just that the plan is for it to happen at some point.

Metrolink stop to railway station tickets will stay the same i.e from the purchase stop to a railzone but there are not season tickets available for them. I don't know when this will be changed.

 

[Mathew S]

Thank you @Chester1 - very informative!

Metrolink stop to railway station tickets will stay the same i.e from the purchase stop to a railzone but there are not season tickets available for them. I don't know when this will be changed

Presumably, though, if someone wants a season ticket they can just buy the opposite e.g. Metrolink Zone 1-3 to Railzone 3 isn't available as a season, but Pemberton to Metrolink Zone 1-3 would be? Albeit obviously this would have to be bought at a ticket office, I'm assuming.

 

[Chester1]

Presumably, though, if someone wants a season ticket they can just buy the opposite e.g. Metrolink Zone 1-3 to Railzone 3 isn't available as a season, but Pemberton to Metrolink Zone 1-3 would be? Albeit obviously this would have to be bought at a ticket office, I'm assuming.

Yes that is the solution. It is another step towards having a London style system. Interestingly if you combine the county card (all trains and buses but only city centre trams) for £118 with a zones 2-4 Metrolink pass for £67 to be able to use all public transport in Greater Manchester for the rather expensive price of £185 per month.

 

[Mathew S]

Yes that is the solution. It is another step towards having a London style system. Interestingly if you combine the county card (all trains and buses but only city centre trams) for £118 with a zones 2-4 Metrolink pass for £67 to be able to use all public transport in Greater Manchester for the rather expensive price of £185 per month.

Believe me I am only too painfully aware. The Railcard (and Countycard) are quite good value but I do think charging quite so much on top to use the Met is daft. It certainly puts me off using the trams for anything outside (what will be) Zone 1, and I'm sure it's the same for others.

 

[radamfi]

Yes that is the solution. It is another step towards having a London style system. Interestingly if you combine the county card (all trains and buses but only city centre trams) for £118 with a zones 2-4 Metrolink pass for £67 to be able to use all public transport in Greater Manchester for the rather expensive price of £185 per month.

Is it valid to combine tickets in this way? Fine for routes via Cornbrook, as that is in both zones 1 and 2, but if you go from Victoria to Queens Road or Monsall, or from Piccadilly to New Islington, you go straight from zones 1 to 2 without a station in both zones.

 

[Chester1]

Is it valid to combine tickets in this way? Fine for routes via Cornbrook, as that is in both zones 1 and 2, but if you go from Victoria to Queens Road or Monsall, or from Piccadilly to New Islington, you go straight from zones 1 to 2 without a station in both zones.

That is a good point. You might need an all Metrolink pass, which as far as I know, will be new on 13th January for passed longer than the current weekend ticket.