No itd be terrible for the areas that border non-GM authorities. Look how poor Wigan-Warrington links are for instance. TfN is what we need. Something that benefits the region as a whole and not just Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds.
Definitely if you’re talking about the buses. No coincidence that they work well in London, but not really anywhere else.
I’d just like to see a transport system like London’s up here The oyster is a brilliant idea as was the old travelcards before Boris ruined them.. Bolton has no public transport links at all to Merseyside, yet it’s only 20 odd miles to Liverpool, and St Helens has a direct road to Bolton. TfGM has no interest in promoting this, but a fully Northern authority would.
TfN will have severe limitations because northern local authorities and organisations have a historic problem with working together and won't defer to a rival town or city even when it makes sense to. A GM franchise would not disadvantage other areas as long as all of the services and paths allocated to the new franchise were specified and Northern could run any additional services it wanted to.
Staffed stations can issue these, I had one back in 2015 (bought from Piccadilly) when in another job. They are, though, hideously expensive.
It is an appallingly badly advertised ticket type and in comparison with Metrolink season tickets for a similar distance they are very expensive. TfGM should try to arrange an alternative Metrolink + Northern only season ticket to reduce the prices but the latter would be under no obligation to agree.
There is a Greater M/c rail network - it's called Metrolink. Most remaining rail services cross boundaries into other areas and/or on lines also used for freight so can't easily be separated from the national rail network. However, an extension of Metrolink from Piccadilly via Reddish North to Rose Hill (with segregated/street-running from Piccadilly to just beyond Ashburys) would be a good idea, with remaining rail services from M/c to New Mills and beyond running via Hyde only.
Metrolink has its limiations, most notably speed. None of the lines I referenced will be converted to light rail and tram train seems very unlikely because of the Sheffield debacle. Glossop/New Mills Central/Rose Hill to Piccadilly highlight my point. The lines are mostly within Greater Manchester and largely segregated from other services. Tram train might work in the long term but the first stage should be placing them under TfGM control but allowing paths for the Hope Valley stoppers and TPE service.
This Idea seems pointless. Really pointless.
Would you like to add anything valuable to the discussion?
No. It would require a mix of different train types to run which would reduce the available diagramming options. It could also mean the 'GM franchise' has a temporary stock shortage while Northern has spare units sat in sidings or vice versa. Merseyrail is very different because the franchise contains all the third rail electric services in the area meaning the 507/508s would be useless for Northern even if they are short of stock.
That problem exists for all franchises and is a matter of decent planning. We will soon be awash with old EMUs nationally anyway. London Overground doesn't limit stock available for its neighbouring franchises.
Wayfarer tickets are only available off peak and only worthwhile if would otherwise spend more than £13.
