Merseyside Day Saver

[geoffk]

Anyone know if I can buy one of these at Wigan North Western or are they available only from stations in Merseyside?

A TfGM rover ticket gets me to Bryn and from there I would have to buy a ticket to Garswood (which I can buy at Wigan). The Merseyside ticket is valid from Garswood and I'm hoping I don't have to get off the train there to rebook, then wait half an hour for the next one.

What would be even better is having an overlap between the GM and Merseyside tickets, as happens between West and South Yorkshire (Denby Dale, Moorthorpe and South Elmsall). Apologies if this has been covered before.

 

[lyndhurst25]

You do not want a Day Saver - that is a MerseyRail product that is only valid on the Northern and Wirral line 3rd rail electric services. What you want is a Saveaway - a MerseyTravel (PTE) ticket that costs only 10p more and is valid on all trains in Merseyside, along with buses and the ferries. You should be able buy a Saveaway from any willing ticket office, inside or outside Merseyside.

 

[Bertie the bus]

After attempting to buy a Saveaway yesterday I don't believe that advice to be true. I was told you can't buy paper Saveaways anymore and you need a Walrus card. These cost £1, on top of your ticket price, and are presumably only available in Merseyside.

 

[lyndhurst25]

After attempting to buy a Saveaway yesterday I don't believe that advice to be true. I was told you can't buy paper Saveaways anymore and you need a Walrus card. These cost £1, on top of your ticket price, and are presumably only available in Merseyside.

Where was this at?

 

[Bertie the bus]

Town Green and Moorfields. MerseyTavel's website says the same.

 

[lyndhurst25]

MerseyTravel's website says "Saveaway Tickets are now sold on Walrus cards from most outlets. You will be charged £1 for your first Walrus card but the card can be reused when you next top it up."

Most outlets? I was under the impression that paper Saveaways would still be available from places that don't have the equipment to write into Walrus cards e.g. stations outside Merseyside, on train conductors.

 

[geoffk]

You do not want a Day Saver - that is a MerseyRail product that is only valid on the Northern and Wirral line 3rd rail electric services. What you want is a Saveaway - a MerseyTravel (PTE) ticket that costs only 10p more and is valid on all trains in Merseyside, along with buses and the ferries. You should be able buy a Saveaway from any willing ticket office, inside or outside Merseyside.

Sorry, I meant a Saveaway.

 

[185143]

Merseyrail will only sell Saveaways on Walrus. However any station can sell them on paper.

 

[gray1404]

That's correct. I understand Northern stations are still selling them on paper and, as such, any booking office can. Even though in theory Merseyrail could issue a paper ticket still I believe their policy is to issue them only on the smart cards now.

 

[geoffk]

Merseytravel's website says - "Saveaway tickets can be bought all over Merseyside:

• Any PayPoint store across Merseyside.
• At Merseytravel Centres.
• At all staffed Merseyrail Stations

Saveaway Tickets are now sold on Walrus cards from most outlets." (It doesn't say sold ONLY on Walrus cards, so i assume the paper ticket can still be bought. But this doesn't help with my query about Wigan!

 

[Bertie the bus]

Merseyrail will only sell Saveaways on Walrus. However any station can sell them on paper.

They didn't bother telling me that.

Although I also found out yesterday if you don't have a Walrus some Merseyrail stations won't tell you you can buy one from them and just sell you a 'Train Only' ticket, aka Merseyrail Day Saver, instead without telling you it has nowhere near the same validity as a Saveaway.

Although some of them used to try that trick even when they did sell paper Saveaways, presumably because MerseyRail retain all the revenue from a Day Saver.

 

[lyndhurst25]

The last time that I asked, Saveaways on Walrus could only be bought on the day of travel or in advance for the following day only. Is that still the case and, if so, what happens if you want to buy a Saveaway more than a day in advance from a MerseyRail station, who are now claiming that they can only issue on Walrus?

 

[FQ]

Anyone know if I can buy one of these at Wigan North Western or are they available only from stations in Merseyside?

I've had them issued from Birmingham New Street before, although it did take a bit of persuading as he couldn't find it at first. In theory the ticket office can indeed sell it but you may have problems if the clerk isn't sufficiently trained.

 

[Skymonster]

So out of interest - and in preparation for a forthcoming trip - I presume / hope I can buy a paper Saveaway from the ticket office at Chester station, which is seemingly managed by Arriva Trains Wales? (I have no desire to waste / pay extra for a smart card as I am not planning to visit Merseyside regularly)

 

[gray1404]

It might be helpful to look up the Saveaway on BRfares to then be able to give the booking office the exact information as to the ticket you want (i.e. station codes etc) they need to type in so it comes straight up on their system and they can find it - if attempting to buy out of the Merseyside area.

They can also be issued on trains included on the new bog roll type tickets. However, expect these to be examined by bus drivers in much more detail. I would also advise again relying to buy on the train in case you get into trouble for not having a ticket. However if you are on a train with your other ticket it might be worth asking the guard.

 

[Kite159]

So out of interest - and in preparation for a forthcoming trip - I presume / hope I can buy a paper Saveaway from the ticket office at Chester station, which is seemingly managed by Arriva Trains Wales? (I have no desire to waste / pay extra for a smart card as I am not planning to visit Merseyside regularly)

I would imagine Chester will have no issues in being able to sell you a Saveaway due to it being valid from that station, and I doubt they have the ability to write to a smartcard either

 

[supervalkoinen]

So out of interest - and in preparation for a forthcoming trip - I presume / hope I can buy a paper Saveaway from the ticket office at Chester station, which is seemingly managed by Arriva Trains Wales? (I have no desire to waste / pay extra for a smart card as I am not planning to visit Merseyside regularly)

You'll have no problem buying either a Day Saver or Saveaway at Chester - the staff there issue them regularly.

 

[geoffk]

It might be helpful to look up the Saveaway on BRfares to then be able to give the booking office the exact information as to the ticket you want (i.e. station codes etc) they need to type in so it comes straight up on their system and they can find it - if attempting to buy out of the Merseyside area.

They can also be issued on trains included on the new bog roll type tickets. However, expect these to be examined by bus drivers in much more detail. I would also advise again relying to buy on the train in case you get into trouble for not having a ticket. However if you are on a train with your other ticket it might be worth asking the guard.

Yes, I could ask the guard before departure from WNW, saying I am "ticketed" as far as Garswood, if there is a problem at the ticket office, but, as Wigan is so close to the Merseyside boundary, I imagine they must have issued them before.

 

[gray1404]

Yes, just be prepared to get off at Garswood if needed. I cannot remember if that station has a ticket office. The other advantage you have in Wigan is if North Western won't or can't issue it you can always ask at Wallgate over the road.

 

[lyndhurst25]

Garswood does have a ticket office. Both National Rail Enquiries and Northern's websites helpfully say that its opening hours are "Closed". Not much point getting off there to buy a Saveaway if the ticket office is closed!

I'd try to buy the Saveaway at Wigan. If they can't issue then I'd ask them to endorse the Bryn to Garswood ticket to that effect. I'd then try to buy from the guard on the train. If that fails then I'd buy at my destination. I wouldn't be delaying my journey by getting off at Garswood unnecessarily just to buy a Saveaway, especially with there being doubt as to if and when the ticket office is open.

 

[geoffk]

Garswood does have a ticket office. Both National Rail Enquiries and Northern's websites helpfully say that its opening hours are "Closed". Not much point getting off there to buy a Saveaway if the ticket office is closed!

I'd try to buy the Saveaway at Wigan. If they can't issue then I'd ask them to endorse the Bryn to Garswood ticket to that effect. I'd then try to buy from the guard on the train. If that fails then I'd buy at my destination. I wouldn't be delaying my journey by getting off at Garswood unnecessarily just to buy a Saveaway, especially with there being doubt as to if and when the ticket office is open.

That's odd as all stations in Merseyside have a ticket office. Anyway I've got some options. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Springs Branch]

Anyone know if I can buy one of these at Wigan North Western or are they available only from stations in Merseyside?..........

I did a day out on Merseyside with a Saveaway ticket last year, starting and finishing the day at Wigan North Western.

My original plan had been to buy the Saveaway and a Wigan/Garswood day return at Wigan NW, but researching the Saveaway at the time I found a statement that this could only be bought at locations within the Merseytravel area since it's a multi-modal PTE ticket. I can't remember where I found that info so can't provide a link - I think this restriction was related to PTE sales processes rather than anything related to paper tickets versus Walrus cards.

I suspect it's the same deal as the multimodal TfGM System One Train+Bus, Train+Tram etc options which I believe cannot be bought from stations outside the GM area (but the GM Rail Ranger can).

On the day, I did ask at the VTWC ticket office at Wigan NW about getting the Saveaway there & was told by the quite friendly lady "we can't sell that here" - which I took on face value as meaning "can't", and not "can't be bothered".

For what it's worth, I ended up firstly getting a Wigan/St Helens Central CDR and breaking the journey there to buy a paper Saveaway. Changing from an all-shacks ex-Wigan train to the limited stop ex-Preston at St Helens, I had a comfortable-enough period of time (on last year's timetable) to nip across to the ticket office and make the purchase without wasting a full half hour in the process.

My Saveaway was printed on standard orange, credit-card-size National Rail ticket stock and I used it on several Arriva buses in Liverpool without the driver batting an eyelid.

 

[janb]

My original plan had been to buy the Saveaway and a Wigan/Garswood day return at Wigan NW, but researching the Saveaway at the time I found a statement that this could only be bought at locations within the Merseytravel area since it's a multi-modal PTE ticket. I can't remember where I found that info so can't provide a link - I think this restriction was related to PTE sales processes rather than anything related to paper tickets versus Walrus cards.

I suspect it's the same deal as the multimodal TfGM System One Train+Bus, Train+Tram etc options which I believe cannot be bought from stations outside the GM area (but the GM Rail Ranger can).

On the day, I did ask at the VTWC ticket office at Wigan NW about getting the Saveaway there & was told by the quite friendly lady "we can't sell that here" - which I took on face value as meaning "can't", and not "can't be bothered".

Back when it was a scratch off ticket it could only be bought at places that had the stock.

Now anybody can sell it like they would a more typical ranger or rover. Failure to do so is just lack of product knowledge.

Although now that VTWC are using TTK Avocet I'm already hearing rumblings of "we can't do xyz ticket" although maybe that was just lack of training, and I believe Avocet is Paper Roll Ticket rather than the neater Credit Card Stock.

 

[lyndhurst25]

p

That's odd as all stations in Merseyside have a ticket office. Anyway I've got some options. Thanks for all the replies.

Not quite all stations on Merseyside have ticket offices. Meols Cop, Rainford, Upton, and Heswall don't. Northern / ATW guards on trains calling at these stations will need to be able to sell Saveaways.

 

[dj_mikey_k]

Code on star MTE in the rangers and rovers section.....

 

[Bletchleyite]

Although now that VTWC are using TTK Avocet I'm already hearing rumblings of "we can't do xyz ticket" although maybe that was just lack of training, and I believe Avocet is Paper Roll Ticket rather than the neater Credit Card Stock.

Bog roll tickets from station ticket offices? That's poor. Best use the TVM, then.

(Though not for a Saveaway, sadly; that does need fixing)

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Bog roll tickets from station ticket offices? That's poor. Best use the TVM, then.

(Though not for a Saveaway, sadly; that does need fixing)

Indeed, this is very disappointing and the bog roll plague has infected the whole of the VTWC network at once, it seems. I can understand if they want to be more mobile and use the tablets + bog roll printers for staff that walk around the station selling tickets, but using it for staff sat in the booking office - with the computers sat idle next to them - is just plain ridiculous. I understand they now only produce CCST printed tickets for seasons. How on earth can anyone take bog roll tickets from ticket offices seriously?!

So yes, VTWC TVMs are my last 'safe refuge' in terms of obtaining reasonably printed tickets - on CCST and with the nice clear old style writing. I'm not aware of any other largeish collection of TVMs that still print in that style. However according to some VTWC staff I spoke to, this too is due to be changed to bog roll!!

 

[cactustwirly]

Indeed, this is very disappointing and the bog roll plague has infected the whole of the VTWC network at once, it seems. I can understand if they want to be more mobile and use the tablets + bog roll printers for staff that walk around the station selling tickets, but using it for staff sat in the booking office - with the computers sat idle next to them - is just plain ridiculous. I understand they now only produce CCST printed tickets for seasons. How on earth can anyone take bog roll tickets from ticket offices seriously?!

So yes, VTWC TVMs are my last 'safe refuge' in terms of obtaining reasonably printed tickets - on CCST and with the nice clear old style writing. I'm not aware of any other largeish collection of TVMs that still print in that style. However according to some VTWC staff I spoke to, this too is due to be changed to bog roll!!

And here in the civilised world, I've never had or seen a ''bog roll" ticket

 

[joke2711]

Anyone know if I can buy one of these at Wigan North Western or are they available only from stations in Merseyside?

A TfGM rover ticket gets me to Bryn and from there I would have to buy a ticket to Garswood (which I can buy at Wigan). The Merseyside ticket is valid from Garswood and I'm hoping I don't have to get off the train there to rebook, then wait half an hour for the next one.

What would be even better is having an overlap between the GM and Merseyside tickets, as happens between West and South Yorkshire (Denby Dale, Moorthorpe and South Elmsall). Apologies if this has been covered before.

In previous experience you are likely to struggle to get one from the ticket office at North Western but over the road at Wallgate they will issue you one quite easily.
I use to split at Garswood quite often and the guards we always willing to sell you one onboard (but check before boarding now) unless it was a Sunday when no one seemed bothered. Garswood station is staffed but their shouldn't be any requirement to get off the train.

 

[Joe Paxton]

You do not want a Day Saver - that is a MerseyRail product that is only valid on the Northern and Wirral line 3rd rail electric services. What you want is a Saveaway - a MerseyTravel (PTE) ticket that costs only 10p more and is valid on all trains in Merseyside, along with buses and the ferries. You should be able buy a Saveaway from any willing ticket office, inside or outside Merseyside.

The concession agreement between Merseytravel PTE and the operator, Serco/Abellio Merseyrail, should have been tighter so as to prevent such shenanigans on the part of the operator.