New day ranger from Northern

[Rover]

It's called "Northern Explorer 55 West Day Ranger" and it's available from the 20th May.
It's only for anyone over the age of 55 and it's only valid on Northern trains. It basically covers the western side of the Northern network.

It costs £15 and stretches from Carlisle to Crewe although as you're only allowed to use Northern trains that would mean travelling around the Cumbrian coast and Manchester.

Take a sneak preview here

 

[Bovverboy]

That's certainly excellent value for someone over 55 (such as me). Its validity (if only on Northern trains) approximates to the combined areas of validity of the Lancashire and Cheshire Day Rangers, with the addition of the Cumbrian Coast line from Silverdale to Carlisle, from Hazel Grove/New Mills Central to Edale, and Manchester Victoria/Guide Bridge to Greenfield. The only sections which have got the chop (as far as I can see) are Carnforth to Wennington, Burnley Manchester Road/Todmorden to Hebden Bridge, and Frodsham to Runcorn.
The Ordsall Chord is shown on the map, but the curve linking Newton-le-Willows and Wigan North Western is not, despite it carrying services on which this new card would presumably be valid. Reddish South is not listed as an included station, but Denton seems to have been moved to the south side of the Ashburys to Romiley line, so perhaps someone has confused Denton and Reddish South and created a mystery mixture.

 

[cuccir]

Some great value here. My parents live in Barrow so slightly astonishing that they can now do what is effectively a walk up £15 return to Manchester on direct trains, particularly when Northern Connect properly launches

 

[djpontrack]

That looks like an interesting ticket, unfortunately I've still got a few years until I'm old enough for it.

 

[peri]

Shame there's nothing for the East side or one for all the Northern network!
My other gripe would be the 9.30 start rather than the 8.45 on the newspaper offer.
I thought TOCs didn't bother with rangers, is this the start of new promotions?

 

[Rover]

The only sections which have got the chop (as far as I can see) are Carnforth to Wennington, Burnley Manchester Road/Todmorden to Hebden Bridge, and Frodsham to Runcorn. The Ordsall Chord is shown on the map, but the curve linking Newton-le-Willows and Wigan North Western is not, despite it carrying services on which this new card would presumably be valid. Reddish South is not listed as an included station, but Denton seems to have been moved to the south side of the Ashburys to Romiley line, so perhaps someone has confused Denton and Reddish South and created a mystery mixture.

Thanks for the comments Bovverboy.
Frodsham to Runcorn and the Newton-le-Willows curve have been added and it should have been Reddish South instead of Denton.
All Northern services within the boundaries are valid, there's no Northern trains that are barred.
Any other omissions please let me know.

 

[Rover]

Shame there's nothing for the East side or one for all the Northern network!
My other gripe would be the 9.30 start rather than the 8.45 on the newspaper offer.
I thought TOCs didn't bother with rangers, is this the start of new promotions?

There may well be one for the "East" side later depending on how this one goes. TOC's are very reluctant to introduce new rangers/rovers, most don't promote the ones that exist now, Northern are an exception, so I don't think there will be too many appearing. The advantage for them is that with a Northern-specific ticket they get to keep all the revenue.

 

[Bovverboy]

Bovverboy said: ↑
The only sections which have got the chop (as far as I can see) are Carnforth to Wennington, Burnley Manchester Road/Todmorden to Hebden Bridge, and Frodsham to Runcorn. The Ordsall Chord is shown on the map, but the curve linking Newton-le-Willows and Wigan North Western is not, despite it carrying services on which this new card would presumably be valid. Reddish South is not listed as an included station, but Denton seems to have been moved to the south side of the Ashburys to Romiley line, so perhaps someone has confused Denton and Reddish South and created a mystery mixture.

Thanks for the comments Bovverboy.
Frodsham to Runcorn and the Newton-le-Willows curve have been added and it should have been Reddish South instead of Denton.

Blimey, that was quick. It did occur to me that Frodsham to Runcorn might be an accidental omission, but as it's a bit of a funny route I ultimately decided to refrain from making any comment to that effect. Similarly, one might say, there's often ambiguity as to whether such and such a ticket is valid between Stockport and Stalybridge, which is why I made a point of checking. Reddish South is actually still missing from the list of stations at which the new ticket is going to be valid.

All Northern services within the boundaries are valid, there's no Northern trains that are barred.
Any other omissions please let me know.

I see that you've now included the Newton-le-Willows to Wigan curve but deleted that between Patricroft and Wigan. There are, at present, a small number of Northern services which are scheduled to cover that route, but from 20 May (i.e. the start of availability of the new ticket) there is going to be an hourly service each way, throughout the day, seven days per week. It could be said that the fact is academic, of course (since none of the trains scheduled to use the curve are scheduled to call at Eccles or Patricroft, so it could be said that it doesn't matter how a train gets from Deansgate to Wigan) but, as far as I can see, all other regular routes which are going to be included in the new ticket's validity are now shown. A minor error (? - matter of opinion) I have spotted is that Lostock Junction is shown as being south of Bolton, which, of course, it is not.

 

[Rover]

Reddish South is actually still missing from the list of stations at which the new ticket is going to be valid.

Added.

I see that you've now included the Newton-le-Willows to Wigan curve but deleted that between Patricroft and Wigan.

Reinstated.

I have spotted that Lostock Junction is shown as being south of Bolton, which, of course, it is not.

Junction moved.

Many thanks

 

[Bovverboy]

Despite the above ticket being ostensibly available from Sunday, I still can't find any mention of it on Northern's website. Neither can I find any way of getting to it from the main page of www.railrover.org

 

[yorksrob]

Splendid idea, but at the risk of pointing out the obvious, why only the over 55's ?

 

[Howardh]

That's handy, I have a day off on Monday and it knocks more than a fiver off the return fare to Windermere. However as alluded to above, I can't find any information; can someone link? Maybe it's not available yet??

 

[Howardh]

why only the over 55's ?

Because we're lovely and deserve it

 

[Rover]

Despite the above ticket being ostensibly available from Sunday, I still can't find any mention of it on Northern's website. Neither can I find any way of getting to it from the main page of www.railrover.org

That's because it isn't available yet, it will be on the website from Sunday along with all the May price alterations. Most prices go up by around inflation, the GWR large rovers have gone up by 3.5%. The Kent Rover increased by 14% in January.

 

[Merseysider]

Splendid idea, but at the risk of pointing out the obvious, why only the over 55's?

They’re more of a discretionary market, having more free time for leisure travel/activities, so I guess by making rail travel cheaper for them Northern hope to increase overall revenue from passengers in this age bracket

 

[Howardh]

That's because it isn't available yet, it will be on the website from Sunday along with all the May price alterations. Most prices go up by around inflation, the GWR large rovers have gone up by 3.5%. The Kent Rover increased by 14% in January.

Thanks, I have just tweeted them; I could eb one of the first to use them! Pity it's just Northern but hey, for the price it's a grand day out, and more money to spend on beer wine culture.

 

[yorksrob]

Because we're lovely and deserve it

Ah well, I couldn't disagree with that

They’re more of a discretionary market, having more free time for leisure travel/activities, so I guess by making rail travel cheaper for them Northern hope to increase overall revenue from passengers in this age bracket

True - but then again, a reasonable proportion of the over 55's already have access to discounted rail travel. I would have thought that there was a greater untapped market amongst the working age cohorts generally.

Whilst we're at it, its about time Northern came up with a decent groupsave scheme - rather than the duo which seems to leave out a lot of marketable leisure routes.

 

[Howardh]

Must admit I'm more likely to travel if there are discounted liesure tickets than not. Monday is an example; if this ticket's available...I wasn't thinking of Bolton-Windermere as it's £22 (or more?) so was doing the Peak Wayfarer to Buxton and surrounds (£13). But now the chances are northern are gonna get the full £15 rather than part of £13 (dunno how the PW cash is distributed??).
Only problem is it now means I have only one train to return on, the 1830 so If I miss that I have to stump up a single to Preston and catch a Northern there. But I'll go with that for £15.

 

[30907]

Shame I'm about to move East of the Pennines - what I really, really want is one valid to the NW from Shipley

I did wickedly wonder whether only retired people would have the time/patience to wait for Northern in the NW, but this will have been planned long before the current crisis, so forget that.

 

[Ianno87]

Ah well, I couldn't disagree with that



True - but then again, a reasonable proportion of the over 55's already have access to discounted rail travel. I would have thought that there was a greater untapped market amongst the working age cohorts generally.

Whilst we're at it, its about time Northern came up with a decent groupsave scheme - rather than the duo which seems to leave out a lot of marketable leisure routes.

As a full time working age rail travel loving father of children and husband of wife...I simply haven't the time for these things! If there was a day ticket across the whole of England for £1 I wouldn't get the chance to make good value out of one of these.

Besides, Family Railcards are more targeted at me.

 

[yorksrob]

As a full time working age rail travel loving father of children and husband of wife...I simply haven't the time for these things! If there was a day ticket across the whole of England for £1 I wouldn't get the chance to make good value out of one of these.

Besides, Family Railcards are more targeted at me.

In that case, they might do better commercially by targeting those of us unencumbered with wives and children for discretionary travel !

 

[30907]

In that case, they might do better commercially by targeting those of us unencumbered with wives and children for discretionary travel !

Which, statistically, is more likely to be the under 26s or over-55s...oops, hope my wife doesn't see this

 

[yorksrob]

Which, statistically, is more likely to be the under 26s or over-55s...oops, hope my wife doesn't see this

All of the former and a lot of the latter are, of course, already targeted with discretionary travel

 

[Merseysider]

Must admit I'm more likely to travel if there are discounted liesure tickets than not. Monday is an example; if this ticket's available...I wasn't thinking of Bolton-Windermere as it's £22 (or more?) so was doing the Peak Wayfarer to Buxton and surrounds (£13). But now the chances are northern are gonna get the full £15 rather than part of £13 (dunno how the PW cash is distributed??).
Only problem is it now means I have only one train to return on, the 1830 so If I miss that I have to stump up a single to Preston and catch a Northern there. But I'll go with that for £15.

I would urge caution as Northern are currently cancelling Windermeres willy-nilly.

 

[Howardh]

I would urge caution as Northern are currently cancelling Windermeres willy-nilly.

Now why doesn't that surprise me? Bustitutions??
They're all cancelled tonight - no drivers. Won't take the risk next week then and do Buxton instead. At 59 I'll probably be the youngest in town...

 

[philthetube]

Will this ranger be available at priv rate?

 

[Howardh]

Northern have replied to me and virtually said it's nowt to do with them, and have linked me to this; https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/special-offers/club-55

If you're aged 55 or over, travel on any of our off-peak trains across the north of England* from £21 return, as well as in and out of Scotland from £31 return. Available to book on journeys taking place from 22 April to 19 May 2018.



A further 20% discount is also available if you have a Senior, Disabled or Two Together Railcard (providing travellers are aged over 55).

And if you fancy splashing out on First Class, just pay that bit extra and away you go, the TransPennine Express network is your oyster.

To take advantage of the reduced prices for Club 55, you need to buy tickets using the 'Buy Tickets' button above, alternatively tickets are also available at stations.

So it's on TPE only.

 

[pscotty]

Northern have replied to me and virtually said it's nowt to do with them, and have linked me to this; https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/special-offers/club-55



So it's on TPE only.

Perhaps you should point them in this direction:-

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/explorer-55

 

[hawk1911]

Perhaps you should point them in this direction:-

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/explorer-55

I like that it states no child discounts are permitted.

 

[Howardh]

Perhaps you should point them in this direction:-

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/explorer-55

Thanks, so it appears one part of the company doesn't know what the other's doing? Deapite it being a wonderful offer, is it any wonder passengers are frustrated by ticketing when even the company itself doesn't know what's available?

EDIT: Frankly Norhtern's service is so unreliable at the moment that I'll be using the wayfarer and travelling around South Lancs and Derbyshire for the day, knowing that if a train fails to show up I can use a bus!!

My original thoughts were to use the £15 offer and go to Windermere, however if the 1830 ret doesn't show up and I'm bussed to Oxenholme, then the Virgin Oxenholme-Preston means my Ranger isn't valid. Or would it be if the only train it was valid on is cancelled??

Head, bang, wall.