Metrolink Manchester curious anomaly

[Mcr Warrior]

Given Manchester's free buses running in Zone 1, advertising 'Free travel around Manchester city centre', such free travel on other TfGM modes (e.g. tram) is something I would at least half expect...

In Manchester isn't the clue in the name? = "Free bus"?

 

[Haywain]

It's not hard at all, of course, but every system's different, so on first use it requires some research to understand what to do.

Doing research is what sensible people do before they travel, whether domestic or abroad. Of course some don't need to in England (or Scotland, or Wales, as applicable) because they can use buses for free.

Wasn't this some of the logic behind the ITSO card

No, it was simply about having a standard form of smartcard and that has been achieved. The implementation of that standard is, however, abysmal. But it was never about having a standard system of fares.

 

[John R]

Doing research is what sensible people do before they travel, whether domestic or abroad.

Exactly. And that’s exactly what I did. Took about three clicks…

 

[CharlieSpotted]

I too recently used the Manchester Metrolink for the first time as a visitor and, as others have said, researched how it worked before I got there, used contactless, easy enough.

However! The reason for the visit was a major concert, and after the event, there were literally thousands of people using the tram to get back into town. It proved very very difficult and stressful to tap out at the end of the journey amongst so many other people. I can't help thinking they need another solution for this, ie something like on TfL where if you can't tap out you get a maximum fare, query it, they already know that station X was super busy at 11.30pm because of an event, and they allow you to adjust it to the correct station / fare.

Perhaps something like this already exists? But if so, it wasn't communicated and should have been.

 

[shredder1]

Yes I have seen inspectors before in the city centre, seen the inspectors at both Manchester Picadillly and Manchester Victoria, also as well in the past have had Zone 1 tickets, even train tickets routed via metrolink, for example Rochdale to Stockport, plus Reddish North to Sale Metrolink tickets, Gm Railrovers, in the early to Mid Nineties, also in the mid Nineties. When coming back from Manchester Victoria to Manchester Picadillly on the tram in the evenings, tram inspectors was quite common on trams in the city centre.

Thats fine, but read posts above, cheers

 

[Starmill]

This doesnt really make sense, not sure how Crumpsall comes into this, I simply said a zone 1 ticket only doesnt appear on the machines at St Peter Square,

I think we're all in agreement now that the ticket machines do have tickets for zone 1 only available?

Sorry, I really have no idea what you are talking about ?? signs telling you that you can buy Zone 1 tickets ???

The signs tell you that you must buy a ticket or touch in before boarding. I'm not really sure what confusion there can be - how could you think it's free in zone 1 with signs like this one appearing at the entrance to every platform?

I think it's abundantly clear - not free.



The sign says:
Pay before you board

You must touch in and touch out at a smart reader at the start and end of every journey when using contactless, smart cards or concessionary passes.

You cannot buy tickets on the tram. Buy tickets or travelcards with cash or card at the ticket machine, or with our app.

If you travel without a valid ticket, or do not use the smart reader at the start and end of every journey, you may be charged a standard fare (penalty fare) of up to £120.

Metrolink byelaws apply at all times. beenetwork.com/pay

Doing research is what sensible people do before they travel, whether domestic or abroad. Of course some don't need to in England (or Scotland, or Wales, as applicable) because they can use buses for free.

This is absolutely true. Of course to those new to Metrolink, they will be able to get by even without doing research if they're comfortable using English and with their vision, hearing and mobility. It's pretty clearly laid out at the stops what you need to do. I accept these things won't be easy for everyone if they're disabled or don't have confidence in English.

 

[shredder1]

I think we're all in agreement now that the ticket machines do have tickets for zone 1 only available?


The signs tell you that you must buy a ticket or touch in before boarding. I'm not really sure what confusion there can be - how could you think it's free in zone 1 with signs like this one appearing at the entrance to every platform?

I think it's abundantly clear - not free.

View attachment 162567

The sign says:
Pay before you board

You must touch in and touch out at a smart reader at the start and end of every journey when using contactless, smart cards or concessionary passes.

You cannot buy tickets on the tram. Buy tickets or travelcards with cash or card at the ticket machine, or with our app.

If you travel without a valid ticket, or do not use the smart reader at the start and end of every journey, you may be charged a standard fare (penalty fare) of up to £120.

Metrolink byelaws apply at all times. beenetwork.com/pay


This is absolutely true. Of course to those new to Metrolink, they will be able to get by even without doing research if they're comfortable using English and with their vision, hearing and mobility. It's pretty clearly laid out at the stops what you need to do. I accept these things won't be easy for everyone if they're disabled or don't have confidence in English.

You know, I was going to reply to you, but to be honest I just cant be bothered, You seem to be bringing all sorts of things into the debate now, outside the context of the thread, besides, you are a far better debater than me, a real master at it, so Ill leave you to it, Im sure you are right fellow

 

[Starmill]

You know, I was going to reply to you, but to be honest I just cant be bothered, You seem to be bringing all sorts of things into the debate now, outside the context of the thread, besides, you are a far better debater than me, a real master at it, so Ill leave you to it, Im sure you are right fellow

You asked a member of staff a question, and they gave you the correct answer. There's nothing more to it than that.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Out of idle curiosity, where are the smart readers on Metrolink? Are they at the stops, or on the trams themselves?

 

[jfollows]

Out of idle curiosity, where are the smart readers on Metrolink? Are they at the stops, or on the trams themselves?

The things you use to tap in and out? On the platforms.

 

[hexagon789]

Out of idle curiosity, where are the smart readers on Metrolink? Are they at the stops, or on the trams themselves?

At the stops, on the platform. Not on the Trams themselves.

 

[Haywain]

Out of idle curiosity, where are the smart readers on Metrolink? Are they at the stops, or on the trams themselves?

They tend to be towards the platform ends or at the entry/exit point if that's elsewhere.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

At the stops, on the platform. Not on the Trams themselves.

A card reader on the tram itself wouldn't really work as Metrolink is essentially operated as a "pay before you commence your journey" system.

 

[hexagon789]

A card reader on the tram itself wouldn't really work as Metrolink is essentially operated as a "pay before you commence your journey" system.

True in this case, but some trams elsewhere have readers on the actual vehicles and depending where people live/have been, they may be more familiar with that arrangement.

Though I am thinking of various cities on the continent, I'm not sure if any UK systems have readers on-board the trams themselves.

 

[Bungle965]

I thought I’d have a quick look at the machines at St Peter’s Square and Zone 1 was there and it would happily sell you a ticket.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I thought I’d have a quick look at the machines at St Peter’s Square and Zone 1 was there and it would happily sell you a ticket.

Indeed. What you can't do, however, is buy a Zone 1 only ticket from any Metrolink TVMs located outwith Zone 1.

 

[John R]

I thought I’d have a quick look at the machines at St Peter’s Square and Zone 1 was there and it would happily sell you a ticket.

Well that seems fairly straightforward. And with contactless as an option too, I do wonder what the original fuss was all about.

Indeed. What you can't do, however, is buy a Zone 1 only ticket from Metrolink station TVMs located outwith Zone 1.

Which makes a lot of sense, as it wouldn’t be valid from that station!

 

[Cloud Strife]

At the stops, on the platform. Not on the Trams themselves.

Aha! Well, certainly quite easy to use in that case. In the case of Poznań, Wrocław and Prague (the three tram systems I use most often), they're all pay on board. Poznań has a touch on/touch off system, the others just sell tickets.

 

[hexagon789]

Aha! Well, certainly quite easy to use in that case. In the case of Poznań, Wrocław and Prague (the three tram systems I use most often), they're all pay on board. Poznań has a touch on/touch off system, the others just sell tickets.

Amsterdam and Brussels, of which I've used both of within the past year, are both touch-on, touch-off.

 

[shredder1]

I thought I’d have a quick look at the machines at St Peter’s Square and Zone 1 was there and it would happily sell you a ticket.

Thanks for that Im glad its been rectified, cheers.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Thanks for that Im glad its been rectified, cheers.

Think we got there in the end, although not entirely convinced that anything was actually wrong with one (or more) of the St. Peter's Square TVMs and so did need any rectification.

 

[shredder1]

Think we got there in the end, although not entirely convinced that anything was actually wrong with one (or more) of the St. Peter's Square TVMs and so did need any rectification.

??? Zone 1 wasnt showing on the TVM when we checked it, hence the thread title? Im not trying to convince anyone about anything, I simply saying what we saw on the TVM and for posting a thread about my curiosity, Ive practically been called a liar, I may be old, but Im certainly not senile just yet, is it any wonder people dont get involved with these threads, what is wrong with you people??

 

[Mcr Warrior]

...what is wrong with you people??

Possibly been jaundiced by the 'Disputes & Prosecutions' sub-forum where you can't always take what folk say/claim at face value.

 

[shredder1]

Possibly been jaundiced by the 'Disputes & Prosecutions' sub-forum where you can't always take what folk say/claim at face value.

No problem friend, cheers

 

[Cowley]

Ah well. Question answered I think.