More high quality Merseyrail ticketing staff!

[Bletchleyite]

It will be interesting to see how Broad Green is branded after its refit (which it might even have had, it's a while since I've been). But unless I'm misremembering I could swear that the platform name-boards on the City Line have exactly the same style*, down to the 'Merseyrail" lettering underneath the station name. I think that is true of Newton le Willows which has been updated fairly recently. (*though some might use the attractive but non-standard typeface for the station name which maybe Northern use but isn't Merseyrail house style)

Replied here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/merseytravel-vs-merseyrail-branding-on-the-city-lines.260137/

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Dec 2023 ==

I'm planning to do another LDR next month through Southport. The camera will be switched on and recording next time!



What benefit is that to anyone? You recording someone who isn't rude yet maybe in need of training doesn't need recording just maybe a polite note their customer services? After all aren't we all on the same side?

I can't see any reason I'd have wanted to record the guy, he was polite enough, he just didn't know what he was doing.

 

[gray1404]

I'm planning to do another LDR next month through Southport. The camera will be switched on and recording next time!



What benefit is that to anyone? You recording someone who isn't rude yet maybe in need of training doesn't need recording just maybe a polite note their customer services? After all aren't we all on the same side?

Totally should record it if valid tickets are being declared as not valid. It stops the situation being denied and something has to be done about it then. Also useful evidence in case the matter is reported or a plenty fare issued.

 

[Red Rover]

Totally should record it if valid tickets are being declared as not valid. It stops the situation being denied and something has to be done about it then. Also useful evidence in case the matter is reported or a plenty fare issued.

So we should all go around with cameras attached to our persons in case we receive less than satisfactory service? If someone who received poor information or less than good service they should report to customer services, I don't see how video recording a member of staff is progressive.

 

[Northerngirl]

I think the whole thing needs redoing to a system far less confusing like in Manchester, where a day ticket for buses and/or trams and/or trains covers the same with the same restrictions, or staff need to be far better at explaining the differences. Especially with Chester & Ormskirk, it's such a mess with trains but not buses, and then the opposite in Neston with buses & not trains.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think the whole thing needs redoing to a system far less confusing like in Manchester, where a day ticket for buses and/or trams and/or trains covers the same with the same restrictions, or staff need to be far better at explaining the differences. Especially with Chester & Ormskirk, it's such a mess with trains but not buses, and then the opposite in Neston with buses & not trains.

Ormskirk is no different to Hadfield and Glossop in being an out of area rail extension without bus validity. I am not aware of bus validity to Neston, it's outside the area and bus boundaries are just the former Merseyside area (though regulation may change this, just as Travelcards are valid on all red London buses even to places outside London like Slough).

 

[Bertie the bus]

If you hand someone a metrocard and request a saveaway you should be given it.

Indeed you should but I had the exact same experience as Bletchleyite at Town Green a couple of months ago.

The ticket office was closed but a couple of RPIs were on the platform. I tried to hand one my metrocard and asked for a Saveaway. He told me he couldn't issue tickets on the card but could issue paper tickets. No problem but he issued me a DaySaver. As with Bletchleyite he refunded it and told me to buy my ticket when I got to the city centre. I couldn't be bothered with any potential hassle and wasn't in a huge rush so got off at Kirkdale instead, bought one there and caught the next train.

It wasn't the RPI's fault he can't issue Saveaways but I was far from impressed when he tried to blame me for the error and claimed he had told me he couldn't issue my required ticket when all he had said was he couldn't issue one on the card but could issue a paper ticket, and bearing in mind Northern do issue paper Saveaways that meant nothing.

 

[Kite159]

Yet there is no reason why the RPIs can't issue saveaway tickets on paper rather than restricting it to the smartcard only. Both Chester office & Northern office at Liverpool Lime Street will sell it on paper. Same with the Northern TVMs even on the 'city line' stations.

 

[Djgr]

Ormskirk is no different to Hadfield and Glossop in being an out of area rail extension without bus validity. I am not aware of bus validity to Neston, it's outside the area and bus boundaries are just the former Merseyside area (though regulation may change this, just as Travelcards are valid on all red London buses even to places outside London like Slough).

Not valid on buses or trains in Neston. There is a pretty clear Saveaway validity leaflet online. The additional validity to Ormskirk, Ellesmere Port and Chester by Merseyrail is simply an added bonus.

Worth mentioning that you can now get your first MetroCard by post.

 

[Northerngirl]

Not valid on buses or trains in Neston.

That's news to me, I've used it to get on the bus in Neston with no issues many times

 

[geoffk]

Given that the passenger had already been put out by the booking office at their originating station being closed and therefore having to delay themselves to see the RPI, surely the good customer service would have been to offer the Safeway ticket on paper rather than redirect to the Central booking office/ shop? I know Merseyrail Electrics prefer these tickets on the smartcard, but it remains possible to issue them on paper.

Sorry to digress, but are you saying that the Saveaway is only available on a Metrocard? I now live in Devon but have relatives in Liverpool whom I might be visiting this year. As a non-local I naturally don't have a Metrocard (or a Walrus). Does this mean I will be unable to buy a Saveaway? I remember buying a paper one at the Wigan Wallgate ticket office a few years ago when I lived in Yorkshire.

 

[Merseysider]

I remember buying a paper one at the Wigan Wallgate ticket office a few years ago when I lived in Yorkshire.

You can still do so at any (non Merseyrail) ticket office.

Also available on some ticket machines in the rovers/rangers section.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Sorry to digress, but are you saying that the Saveaway is only available on a Metrocard? I now live in Devon but have relatives in Liverpool whom I might be visiting this year. As a non-local I naturally don't have a Metrocard (or a Walrus). Does this mean I will be unable to buy a Saveaway? I remember buying a paper one at the Wigan Wallgate ticket office a few years ago when I lived in Yorkshire.

Merseyrail Electrics (Northern and Wirral Lines) will only sell them on Metrocard, but they are available on paper from Northern etc, e.g. Lime St upstairs booking office.

However why not just get a Metrocard? They will sell you one at the same time as the Saveaway for just £1, and it is that bit easier to pass gatelines with.

 

[py_megapixel]

they are available on paper from Northern etc, e.g. Lime St upstairs booking office.

Don't quote me on this but I vaguely recall the Saveaway also being an option in the Northern ticket machines at Lime Street (in the relatively new "rover tickets" section).

Assuming I'm correct about this then it's likely they are available from Northern ticket machines anywhere on Merseyside (and possibly anywhere in the country served by Northern - I can't remember if the available selection of rovers differs by station or not).

 

[Djgr]

That's news to me, I've used it to get on the bus in Neston with no issues many times

You are not talking about an Arriva bus day ticket are you?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jan 2024 ==

Merseyrail Electrics (Northern and Wirral Lines) will only sell them on Metrocard, but they are available on paper from Northern etc, e.g. Lime St upstairs booking office.

However why not just get a Metrocard? They will sell you one at the same time as the Saveaway for just £1, and it is that bit easier to pass gatelines with.

And you can also buy a Metrocard in advance by post.

 

[Kite159]

Don't quote me on this but I vaguely recall the Saveaway also being an option in the Northern ticket machines at Lime Street (in the relatively new "rover tickets" section).

Assuming I'm correct about this then it's likely they are available from Northern ticket machines anywhere on Merseyside (and possibly anywhere in the country served by Northern - I can't remember if the available selection of rovers differs by station or not).

You can buy a saveaway from the Northern TVMs at Lime Street, i got one last Friday.