Visitor to Merseyside for two days - peak time travel

[Connacht]

We may arrive from Ireland into Liverpool airport at 7:15am on a Friday.

We will probably want to go to city centre straight away, which means peak-time travel.

We will continue to travel around all day, and on the Saturday.

I am aware of the two day passes, which are both loaded onto smartcards (initial fee £1)

(1) Day Saver = rail only, excluding 6:30-9:30am Mon to Fri

(2) Saveaway = rail + bus + ferry, also excluding 6:30-9:30am Mon to Fri

If we want to take the bus to Liverpool South Parkway station, at 7:30am, and then a train to the city centre, we must buy two normal single tickets, a ticket for each of the bus and train?

So that would be a £2 flat fare on the bus and then a single fare on the train, which I can't see anywhere on the Mersey Travel or Mersey Rail websites?

It is disappointing that there is no sign of information about the fares on either website.

I will check the BRfares website.

The 16 min journey seems to be 4.35 anytime day single, 4.50 off-peak return, and 5.00 anytime day return



I wlecome any comments or advice.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I always get a Saveaway ticket, as it is remarkably good value for money.

Regarding travelling on the bus to South Parkway, are you catching one of the buses that go straight into Liverpool anyway, as you could in theory save the peak train fare and just pay your £2 flat fare on the bus all the way into Liverpool (although I question how long it takes at that time of the day, particularly on the 86A!).

 

[M28361M]

Use the journey planner on the Merseyrail website to find ticket prices.

However, if your final destination is Liverpool city centre, I would suggest getting the 500 bus from the airport. It goes to Liverpool One bus station or you can stay a few more stops past there to go to Elliott Street, across the road from Lime Street station. The 500 is an express service but is still included in the £2 fare scheme.

If you alight at Liverpool One, pop into the Merseytravel centre there to buy your Saveaway tickets on Metro card. They should be able to load tickets for the day of travel and next day in one go.

 

[Statto]

I recommend catching the bus from the Airport to Liverpool City Centre as well, the 500 is likely to be just as quick than catching a bus & faffing around Liverpool South Parkway & paying extra for the rail fare.

Incidentally their is an 80A, 82A & 86A which also operate Airport - Liverpool One Bus Station, 86A is the most frequent service frequent but takes an about an hour, the 500 takes around 35 minutes

The 500 is quite a nice route too (& has deckers allocated to the route) as you go through the South Liverpool suburbs, you then have views across the Mersey after it goes through Aigburth

 

[Polarbear]

As others have said, catch the 500 bus from the airport to Liverpool centre. Operates every 30 minutes & will only cost £2 single per person.

You could also purchase a Solo ticket for one day’s unlimited bus travel within the Merseyside area. This costs £5.50, and is valid at peak times, though doesn’t allow any rail travel.

 

[Djgr]

We may arrive from Ireland into Liverpool airport at 7:15am on a Friday.

We will probably want to go to city centre straight away, which means peak-time travel.

We will continue to travel around all day, and on the Saturday.

I am aware of the two day passes, which are both loaded onto smartcards (initial fee £1)

(1) Day Saver = rail only, excluding 6:30-9:30am Mon to Fri

(2) Saveaway = rail + bus + ferry, also excluding 6:30-9:30am Mon to Fri

If we want to take the bus to Liverpool South Parkway station, at 7:30am, and then a train to the city centre, we must buy two normal single tickets, a ticket for each of the bus and train?

So that would be a £2 flat fare on the bus and then a single fare on the train, which I can't see anywhere on the Mersey Travel or Mersey Rail websites?

It is disappointing that there is no sign of information about the fares on either website.

I will check the BRfares website.

The 16 min journey seems to be 4.35 anytime day single, 4.50 off-peak return, and 5.00 anytime day return



I wlecome any comments or advice.

The Day Saver only has limited validity. It is only valid on Merseyrail, whilst the Saveaway is also valid on the other four (?) train companies serving Liverpool.

So, for example, the Day Saver is not valid on direct trains from Liverpool Lime Street to Liverpool South Parkway.

 

[JBuchananGB]

I think you have been given excellent advice, and the Merseytravel Saveaway will suit you for all your travel after 9.30am on the Friday, and all day Saturday. The Merseyrail Daysaver is only for Merseyrail Electrics train services. You can obtain Saveaway tickets on paper (avoiding the MetroCard) from non-MerseyRail ticket offices, and from Northern TVMs.

 

[Djgr]

I think you have been given excellent advice, and the Merseytravel Saveaway will suit you for all your travel after 9.30am on the Friday, and all day Saturday. The Merseyrail Daysaver is only for Merseyrail Electrics train services. You can obtain Saveaway tickets on paper (avoiding the MetroCard) from non-MerseyRail ticket offices, and from Northern TVMs.

This includes the ticket office in the main upper part of Liverpool Lime Street but not the Merseyrail lower level ticket office (Personally I would get the Metrocard as a souvenir!)

 

[WirralLine]

Are the "Liverpool Airport Bus" rail tickets still a thing? I seem to recall you could buy a ticket from any rail station to Liverpool Airport itself (and vice versa) which included the bus journey between the Airport and South Parkway.

BR Fares shows "LPOOL AIRPRT BUS" to Lime Street fares - Anytime Day Single £6.30 and Anytime Day Return £8.60. It also shows a number of advance fares.

I'm sure there used to be a rail TVM at the airport on the main concourse - but it's been a number of years since I went and not sure if its still there.

Even then the cheapest option would still be £2 bus single on a 500 direct to the City Centre and then buy the Saveaways after 0930, as suggested above.

 

[ian1944]

And if you've not filled your time yet, I'd recommend the Palm House in Sefton (Seffy colloquially) Park for contents and caff.

 

[185]

Avoid the Merseyrail day saver scam, it's for their operator only and no other trains, no buses and definitely no ferries. As mentioned above, the 500 Airport-City fast bus is included in the UK £2 fare scheme. I'd use that into the city, then head for either Queens Square or Liverpool One bus stations for the Saveaways.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I wouldn't describe the 500 as an express or a non-stop bus, not anymore, but it is faster than the 80A and 86A. If you just miss one it's quicker to get the 82A than it is to wait for the next 500. Either way the fare is £2 and much better than faffing around changing to the train at South Parkway.

If you don't want to pay for the smartcard you can get the Saveaway on a paper ticket at Lime Street main ticket office (i.e. the Northern one on the main concourse).

 

[Connacht]

Thanks everybody.

 

[Djgr]

I wouldn't describe the 500 as an express or a non-stop bus, not anymore, but it is faster than the 80A and 86A. If you just miss one it's quicker to get the 82A than it is to wait for the next 500. Either way the fare is £2 and much better than faffing around changing to the train at South Parkway.

If you don't want to pay for the smartcard you can get the Saveaway on a paper ticket at Lime Street main ticket office (i.e. the Northern one on the main concourse).

I think there is a plan (probably after bus franchising kicks in) to make the 500 a true express again.

 

[Statto]

The 500 is every 30 minutes, departing from the Airport at xx29 & xx59, journey time depends on time of day but is around 35 minutes to Liverpool One, just to note, the 500 does a one way loop through Liverpool City Centre as it also calls at Elliot Street, but it's definitely the best option rather than faffing about Liverpool South Parkway.

 

[317 forever]

I think you have been given excellent advice, and the Merseytravel Saveaway will suit you for all your travel after 9.30am on the Friday, and all day Saturday. The Merseyrail Daysaver is only for Merseyrail Electrics train services. You can obtain Saveaway tickets on paper (avoiding the MetroCard) from non-MerseyRail ticket offices, and from Northern TVMs.

Given that all zone Saveaways are valid by train to Chester and Ormskirk, I am wondering whether they can be purchased at Chester station?

The Merseytravel website suggests maybe not, as they only mention Merseyrail and Northern stations, but Chester is managed for TfW.

 

[WirralLine]

Given that all zone Saveaways are valid by train to Chester and Ormskirk, I am wondering whether they can be purchased at Chester station?

The Merseytravel website suggests maybe not, as they only mention Merseyrail and Northern stations, but Chester is managed for TfW.

Chester station sell them on CCST stock. I've sold them onboard before in "bogroll" format too on routes into Merseyside.

They can in theory be sold from any station nationwide (or from onboard staff who can sell tickets), if you can convince them to do so! I think it comes up if you go on rangers/rovers and type in Mtrav

 

[317 forever]

Chester station sell them on CCST stock. I've sold them onboard before in "bogroll" format too on routes into Merseyside.

They can in theory be sold from any station nationwide (or from onboard staff who can sell tickets), if you can convince them to do so! I think it comes up if you go on rangers/rovers and type in Mtrav

That could be handy, particularly if travelling Chester - Merseyside - Chester for example.

Or, if travelling on slow trains from Manchester to Liverpool stopping at Newton-le-Willows, we could even buy them in Manchester, provided staff are willing to look them up.