Removal of single company tickets in West Midlands

[johncrossley]

I only just read that single company tickets have been removed in the West Midlands.

Commentators on this forum have previously shown a preference for single company tickets, for example in Oxford.

TfWM removes charge for using multiple operators’ buses and £2 single bus fare cap extended

The agreement means that bus fares in the West Midlands remain among the lowest of any English city region

www.wmca.org.uk

(27 June)

"And this all-day ticket – 50p cheaper than the equivalents in Manchester and Liverpool - will soon be usable across all operators after TfWM revealed its plans to simplify fares and remove the extra charge for passengers using services provided by different operators."

 

[K4016td]

That's how it should be everywhere, well done for them. I wish this approach would be taken elsewhere in the country sooner or later. Just about time to understand that public transport is as essential to people as a school, hospital or fire station and it shouldn't be an activity purelry run for profit. Anything to simplify the fares for passengers especially in towns where there are multiple operators, each with couple of routes.

 

[JonathanH]

While the decision to have multi operator tickets within a metropolitan area has many positives, there is one drawback with this where services go over the border of the county area and the multiple operator tickets cease to be valid at the boundary.

If the single operator tickets are then withdrawn, journeys on an operator's wider network can become more expensive.

 

[Ridercross]

While the decision to have multi operator tickets within a metropolitan area has many positives, there is one drawback with this where services go over the border of the county area and the multiple operator tickets cease to be valid at the boundary.

If the single operator tickets are then withdrawn, journeys on an operator's wider network can become more expensive.

Although that hasn't happened in the West Midlands. Certainly NX and Diamond still continue to offer their own tickets as well valid on all services.

 

[johncrossley]

If the single operator tickets are then withdrawn, journeys on an operator's wider network can become more expensive.

National Express West Midlands (for example) have a separate range of tickets that can be used across the West Midlands boundary. These tickets can't be used on other bus companies but don't undercut the West Midlands only tickets which are valid on other bus companies.

Even TfGM is introducing separate tickets for cross boundary routes that can't be used on non franchised buses.

Although that hasn't happened in the West Midlands. Certainly NX and Diamond still continue to offer their own tickets as well valid on all services.

But you only need them for crossing the boundary.

 

[JonathanH]

National Express West Midlands (for example) have a separate range of tickets that can be used across the West Midlands boundary.

Right. Your original post indicated that single operator tickets were being removed.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I only just read that single company tickets have been removed in the West Midlands.

Commentators on this forum have previously shown a preference for single company tickets, for example in Oxford.

That is incorrect on two counts.

1. They haven't removed them as they retain them for cross border operations
2. The commentators don't have a preference for single company tickets. What was said, as you well know, is that posters didn't want passengers to be forced to buy a multi-operator ticket with an attendant surcharge if they didn't need it. If multi-operator validity comes at no extra cost (or a minimal price increment), then that is to be welcomed.

 

[WM Bus]

While the decision to have multi operator tickets within a metropolitan area has many positives, there is one drawback with this where services go over the border of the county area and the multiple operator tickets cease to be valid at the boundary.

If the single operator tickets are then withdrawn, journeys on an operator's wider network can become more expensive.

N Bus tickets can only be purchased with the TFWM boundary and are valid on all NX services including those that cross over the area boundary into Warwickshire and Staffordshire I believe.