Tyne & Wear Transfares

[Mark_re]

Hi all,

Does anyone know the situation regarding transfare validity on NR in the North East? Years ago, I used to get on a Go North East bus just outside Sunderland and buy a transfare, which I could then use to take the train from Sunderland to Newcastle Central. I assume you can still do this. What about trains to Dunston, MetroCentre, Blaydon? These are all within the Nexus area, so the transfare should be valid on a bus connection, but what about trains?

As an aside, used to get some great looks from Transpennine Guards upon volunteering a flismily-printed bus ticket for the value of 25p (Child) for travel between Sunderland and Newcastle.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Olympian]

Transfares are valid on Northern Rail services between Sunderland and the MetroCentre only. See HERE.

 

[TUC]

Hi all,

Does anyone know the situation regarding transfare validity on NR in the North East? Years ago, I used to get on a Go North East bus just outside Sunderland and buy a transfare, which I could then use to take the train from Sunderland to Newcastle Central. I assume you can still do this. What about trains to Dunston, MetroCentre, Blaydon? These are all within the Nexus area, so the transfare should be valid on a bus connection, but what about trains?

As an aside, used to get some great looks from Transpennine Guards upon volunteering a flismily-printed bus ticket for the value of 25p (Child) for travel between Sunderland and Newcastle.

Thanks,

Mark

The other piece of fun like this is getting through the barriers at Newcastle Station with a paper Explorer ticket printed on Go North East, Arriva or Stagecoach stock (depending upon which bus I bought it on!). To be fair to the staff I usually get through fine.

 

[142094]

One of the reasons that Transfares weren't valid on the Newcastle - Blaydon section is that Nexus only funds the Newcastle - Sunderland services.

An adult Dayrover is valid on the Newcastle - Sunderland line, but is different to a normal Metro Day Rover which is only valid on the Metro, Newcastle - Sunderland line and Shields Ferry.

 

[swt_passenger]

No doubt the inclusion of Metro Centre to Blaydon NR on the relevant zone map is just to cause complete confusion. Always helpful in these situations if the map and text don't match. :roll:

http://www.nexus.org.uk/sites/nexus.org.uk/files/documents/tickets/Transfare map Jan 2008.pdf

 

[Anvil1984]

No I believe the transfares ARE valid to Blaydon as it is shown on the map and also Network Dayrovers are valid to Blaydon, both tickets are definately valid to the Metrocentre and Dunston

 

[142094]

I've seen it refused before, and since it explicity states Newcastle - Sunderland I presume that is correct.

 

[Anvil1984]

http://www.nexus.org.uk/tickets/combined/adult-day-tickets

mentions Dayrovers to Blaydon and Transfares to Metrocentre

 

[Olympian]

I've seen it refused before, and since it explicity states Newcastle - Sunderland I presume that is correct.

Where does it state only valid Newcastle to Sunderland?

 

[142094]

Bottom of that link:

Is travel on Northern Rail included?
Yes, Transfares bought on Metro or bus or Ferry will be accepted on Northern Rail services between Sunderland and the MetroCentre

Unless it has changed recently the transfares used to be only valid between Newcastle and Sunderland - Newcastle to Metrocentre is not subsidised by Nexus so Northern would not get any money from someone using a transfare to the Metrocentre.

There is some confusion over the Day Rovers, one is the Metro DaySaver which is valid on the Metro, Ferry and Newcastle - Sunderland line, whereas the other one is not a PTE product and is valid on the bus, ferry, Metro and Blaydon - Sunderland line and is promoted by Stagecoach as Network One.

 

[Olympian]

Bottom of that link:



Unless it has changed recently the transfares used to be only valid between Newcastle and Sunderland - Newcastle to Metrocentre is not subsidised by Nexus so Northern would not get any money from someone using a transfare to the Metrocentre.

There is some confusion over the Day Rovers, one is the Metro DaySaver which is valid on the Metro, Ferry and Newcastle - Sunderland line, whereas the other one is not a PTE product and is valid on the bus, ferry, Metro and Blaydon - Sunderland line and is promoted by Stagecoach as Network One.

I still don't see anything that explicitly states that Transfares are only valid between Newcastle and Sunderland. Even the link you quoted says they're valid between Sunderland and MetroCentre, not just Newcastle.

Anyway, I agree there may be confusion with the multi-journey products but they do have different names - DaySaver and Day Rover - and the validity on Northern Rail is as you say. There's also Explorer North East that's valid on "main line trains between Newcastle and Sunderland". So clearly that product isn't valid to either MetroCentre or Blaydon.

 

[Anvil1984]

I disagree that the Network One is not a PTE ticket. Yes the legal HQ for the tickets is at Walkergate depot but the tickets themselves have been around since 1988 well before Stagecoach entered the area. The tickets are administered through a separate entity called Network Ticketing Limited which is made up of Nexus and the participating companies and actually based at Nexus House. The Network One is just the evolution of the Network Traveltickets of old.

It did use to be just between Sunderland and Newcastle hoever that was extended quite a few years ago, at least since 2008

The Daysaver is a Metro product per se and the Shield Ferry used to be branded as part of Metro years back and Sunderland - Newcastle is permitted on a daysaver as it shares the track and took over the majority of Northern Rail services so they are valid on Northern services between Sunderland and Newcastle but not to the Metrocentre as the Metro has never went there

 

[Olympian]

From a Scottish Government document on integrated ticketing case studies:

4.5 The long-standing Network Ticketing TravelTicket scheme, launched in 1988, is administered by Network Ticketing, and has yearly administration costs of 1 million. Network Ticketing is a private, limited company, owned by all of the members, who are providers and operators of public transport in Tyne and Wear. One of these, Nexus, the local PTE, accounts for the largest market share of the providers: 36.69% in 2002/3 (Network Ticketing Limited, Market Share Calculation Report - Year Ended 30 June 2003. Clive Owen & Co.). Nexus acts as an agent in the sale of Network Ticketing Limited products and earns a commission from this. One operator believed incorrectly that the scheme was actually administered by Nexus.

Based on the above I don't believe that Day Rover is a "PTE" ticket either. Nor do I believe it's a Stagecoach one just because Network Ticketing Ltd is based at the Stagecoach depot.

Similar situation in Manchester with Greater Manchester Travelcards Ltd (GMTL).

 

[Anvil1984]

True but its close to a PTE product that you have in the North East really

 

[142094]

I still wouldn't class it as a PTE product - but that is my 2p worth.

I'm trying to find some further info on the Transfares, but keep getting conflicting stuff. Might be a mistake in the map.

EDIT:

Also looking at the Transfare map, you could go to Manors mainline station as well. Surely this must be a mistake, or just added to show the mainline stations in relation to other places?

 

[flymo]

{Blast from the past}

I bought my first Transfare ticket the day they started back in 1981 or 1982 - I forget. It cost a whopping 5p as a kid for me to take the number 7 (PTE) from my home in the west end of Newcastle into Newcastle then jump on the Metro to Heworth and I think take the 194 (Northern) from Heworth to Easington Lane. Amazing value.

The joys of an integrated transportation and ticketing system. Not perfect by any means but it did seem to work.

{Back to the present}

 

[TUC]

{Blast from the past}

I bought my first Transfare ticket the day they started back in 1981 or 1982 - I forget. It cost a whopping 5p as a kid for me to take the number 7 (PTE) from my home in the west end of Newcastle into Newcastle then jump on the Metro to Heworth and I think take the 194 (Northern) from Heworth to Easington Lane. Amazing value.

The joys of an integrated transportation and ticketing system. Not perfect by any means but it did seem to work.

{Back to the present}

And the problem s the Metro still has the same ticket machines that can't take notes (because none of the fares were more than £1 when the Metro started!)

 

[Olympian]

And the problem s the Metro still has the same ticket machines that can't take notes (because none of the fares were more than £1 when the Metro started!)

Yes you're right - something like 70p maximum for 5 zones. At least back then there were 9 fare prices I think from each station (A,B,C,D,1,2,3,4 & 5), directly relating to how far your journey was and not like the current system where there are only 3 prices and it's bad luck if you want to travel only 2 stops and the zone boundary is the station in between. eg Regent Centre to Ilford Road is now the same price as Regent Centre to Seaburn as they're both two zones - A & B. Crackers!

 

[Anvil1984]

Wasnt it A,B,C,D for single and returns and 1,2,3,4,5 for Transfares thats how it was when I started using it in mid 90s (my dad had to pay for me before that)

 

[Olympian]

Yes you might be right - I've got some old Metro promotional literature from the 1980s somewhere, I'll have to dig it out!

 

[valenta]

I still gasp in horror that a three zone ticket is 4 pound!

 

[flymo]

Yes you're right - something like 70p maximum for 5 zones. At least back then there were 9 fare prices I think from each station (A,B,C,D,1,2,3,4 & 5), directly relating to how far your journey was and not like the current system where there are only 3 prices and it's bad luck if you want to travel only 2 stops and the zone boundary is the station in between. eg Regent Centre to Ilford Road is now the same price as Regent Centre to Seaburn as they're both two zones - A & B. Crackers!

Fares from 1984 A - D : 5p, 14p, 20p, 26p & zones 1 - 5 : 32p, 37p, 45p, 58p & 70p

Oh my...

 

[TUC]

Sadly its quite an indictment on the public sector that, although even most small bus companies have updated their ticket systems at least once in the past 30 years, Metro hasn't and its only happening now because of their public/private partnership.

 

[142094]

Reply from Huw Lewis on the Nexus Discussion Board to say that it is valid to Blaydon - so I'm presuming Manors as well. Going to have a look later to see if there are any savings to be made by getting a a Transfare from Metro to rail - probably not though.

RE: Ticket machines - DB Regio have nothing to do with the new machines being installed, not part of their remit. Money is coming from the Govt for them which was gained through the part-privatisation.