Tyne and Wear add on info.

[Bidstonboy]

Hi, I am looking at doing the following single journey-

21/02/13. Cambridge to Sunderland via Stevenage on East Coast's website at 09.30 and have 2 options-
1- Sunderland. £14.70 or
2- Sunderland (metro) £16. which says "Destination:Newcastle Tyne & Wear Metro"

I know there's not much in it price wise, but if the second ticket means that it's a single to Newcastle plus a day rover on the Metro that could be handy for the evening. Does anybody know if this is what this ticket means?
Thanks, and sorry if this has been asked before.

 

[transmanche]

Hi, I am looking at doing the following single journey-

21/02/13. Cambridge to Sunderland via Stevenage on East Coast's website at 09.30 and have 2 options-
1- Sunderland. £14.70 or
2- Sunderland (metro) £16. which says "Destination:Newcastle Tyne & Wear Metro"

I know there's not much in it price wise, but if the second ticket means that it's a single to Newcastle plus a day rover on the Metro that could be handy for the evening. Does anybody know if this is what this ticket means?
Thanks, and sorry if this has been asked before.

I think that the second ticket is valid to any Metro station, whereas the first ticket is valid to Sunderland station only (but is also valid on Metro to Sunderland, due to ticket inter-availability between Newcastle and Sunderland).

 

[Bidstonboy]

Thanks for that info, I was pushing it hoping for a day rover on the Metro and ticket from Cambridge for £16, but at least by asking I have saved myself from coming back on here after the trip asking for advice on fare evasion from Metro RPIs!!

 

[142094]

First ticket will be valid between Central Station Metro and Sunderland only. The second ticket should allow a journey to any Metro station, but no-one quite knows if this just valid for one single journey or all day (I'd be inclined to think that it is just a single ticket).

To save all doubt, buy the train ticket to Newcastle and then buy a 3 zone Metro Day Saver (£4.20 off peak) at Central Station Metro station. You shouldn't be losing any money as the add on should be the same price.

 

[Bidstonboy]

Thanks "Pacer Guru!"
I got the ticket to Sunderland(it was the same price as Newcastle), however I shall get one of those day savers to be safe and it will allow me to take the alternative route via North Shields, I have never done The Shields Ferry or The South Shields branch, plus it will save me from sweating every time the doors open!!
If you ever find out the true validity of the EC ticket "Newcastle Tyne and Wear Metro" let us know, I will certainly ask to clarify once and for all, but it won't be until February.

 

[headshot119]

Just a tip if you are buying a metro ticket, make sure you have cash with you, as the machines don't accept card.

 

[Olympian]

Just a tip if you are buying a metro ticket, make sure you have cash with you, as the machines don't accept card.

Actually they're part way through rolling out new TVMs that accept card payment across the Metro network at the moment, and have finally installed a few at Central Station in the last couple of weeks after starting out in the suburbs some months ago.

 

[ModernRailways]

Just a tip if you are buying a metro ticket, make sure you have cash with you, as the machines don't accept card.

There's only a handful (not literally of course) of stations which don't actually have those new machines. Next year, 16 key stations will be equipped with ticket barriers and all other's with little lollipop style posts for people to tap the new smartcard 'Pop' on.

Back on topic, that ticket is only a single for travel in zones 1-3.

 

[TUC]

Actually they're part way through rolling out new TVMs that accept card payment across the Metro network at the moment, and have finally installed a few at Central Station in the last couple of weeks after starting out in the suburbs some months ago.

They've had a very bizarre roll-out programme for the new TVMs with Central Staton and Newcastle Airport-where you would expect there to be the most passengers from outside the area and so most likely to be without the correct change or even UK currency-towards the end of the roll out.

And the new TVMs still don't sell Explorer tickets... They really are the most inward looking PTE.

 

[142094]

Central also has a change machine for notes, and when the Travel Shop is open, they can give change.

 

[Olympian]

They've had a very bizarre roll-out programme for the new TVMs with Central Staton and Newcastle Airport-where you would expect there to be the most passengers from outside the area and so most likely to be without the correct change or even UK currency-towards the end of the roll out.

And the new TVMs still don't sell Explorer tickets... They really are the most inward looking PTE.

Totally agree!

 

[142094]

The Explorer tickets are issued on behalf of the bus companies, which may be why they are not offered on the ticket machines (although this may change when the smartcards are introduced - all operators in the area covered by the Explorer tickets will have ticket machines that can read smartcards).

I've commented on it in the past - the first stations to have the new machines should have been in the City Centre and at the Airport. However Nexus said that they wanted to install them at the smaller, suburban stations to test them for faults etc before rolling out across the whole system.