Merseyrail fares should be reduced

[87031]

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Merseyrail 777 discussion

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My big gripe with Merseyrail is the fares though.

 

[FrontSideBus]

My big gripe with Merseyrail is the fares though.

I dunno, I think the all-zone day saver is probably one of the best deals in the country?
Unlimited travel on trains, busses and ferry for just £6.50?

 

[FireSpotter24]

I dunno, I think the all-zone day saver is probably one of the best deals in the country?
Unlimited travel on trains, busses and ferry for just £6.50?

The all area saveaway has now gone up to £6.80

 

[Bletchleyite]

The all area saveaway has now gone up to £6.80

Still a bargain. The equivalent Greater Manchester all modes day ticket was that sort of price 25 years ago.

 

[87031]

I dunno, I think the all-zone day saver is probably one of the best deals in the country?
Unlimited travel on trains, busses and ferry for just £6.50?

Peak singles are another thing all together, eye watering

 

[Djgr]

Peak singles are another thing all together, eye watering

although I can't imagine that many passengers will be using this ticket type

 

[RichardAsh1981]

Peak (anytime) singles are 20p less than the day return, and there are no period returns. The latter makes using Merseyrail as a feeder into an overnight trip look pretty expensive if you can't get a through ticket.

Some zonal tickets are excellent value because they cover huge distances, and some are terrible because they only cover a few stops (B2, C2). This is a consequence of zones designed for bus fares, and on the assumption of radial commuting to Liverpool.

 

[urban]

I often only need to buy a single as I'll be getting home by bus/taxi/getting picked up. Some silly fares like £3.95 for James Street to Hamilton Square single (a 3 minute journey). Just punishes anyone who dares to travel one way only, I hoped that with Tap and Go we'd see some reform of the fares.

 

[87031]

although I can't imagine that many passengers will be using this ticket type

If you are making a one way journey on the day and not coming back then i think you might be surprised how many people do if you are staying overnight somewhere connecting to national rail etc.

 

[baldyman26]

Do Merseyrail or Merseytravel set the fares

 

[Djgr]

If you are making a one way journey on the day and not coming back then i think you might be surprised how many people do if you are staying overnight somewhere connecting to national rail etc.

The vast majority of passengers on Merseyrail will be travelling with a) a free pass e.g. 60+/disability b)a season ticket c)Saveaway or Day Saver d) a return ticket e)capped Tap and Go

 

[35B]

Have you travelled in London?

 

[urbophile]

The vast majority of passengers on Merseyrail will be travelling with a) a free pass e.g. 60+/disability b)a season ticket c)Saveaway or Day Saver d) a return ticket e)capped Tap and Go

In which case the management are not going to gain very much from expensive singles. Might as well make them half the price of returns.

 

[Polarbear]

As one of those holding a +60 pass for Merseyside, I would still have to pay if I wanted to start a weekday journey between 06:30 and 09:30. Given that bus fares are currently £2 (though I believe these are to be increased in Merseyside in the near future), I'd usually opt for the bus in any case.

One of my work colleagues travels from Ainsdale & she had a blue fit when she had to fork out for a single on one occasion. She has since got her husband to drive her in.

I assume there must be a market, but I can't see it being a huge one.

 

[steamybrian]

I agree with "358" that fares on Merseyside are far, far cheaper than here in the South East.
It costs more than £6,50 just to park your car for a day at my local station or town car park.
Normal bus fare (not £3 cap) of around £4 would take you about 2 miles.

 

[Bletchleyite]

In which case the management are not going to gain very much from expensive singles. Might as well make them half the price of returns.

I'm kind of surprised they haven't as part of the contactless implementation. Unless you have a Railcard, it's often cheaper off peak to buy a day ticket for one journey.

It is probably just conservatism.

 

[FrontSideBus]

I had to travel from Liverpool Central to Chester. A single would have cost me over £9. How does that work when an All Zone Day Saver is £6.50???

 

[Bletchleyite]

I had to travel from Liverpool Central to Chester. A single would have cost me over £9. How does that work when an All Zone Day Saver is £6.50???

The Day Saver is an off peak product. The higher Anytime Day Singles are for peak sale (or Railcard discount). If the Daysaver is cheaper, just buy that!

 

[FrontSideBus]

I do. Just seems a bit strange how a ticket that gives me the free roam of the network is cheaper than a single for a bit of it.
I wonder how much it would have charged to tap in & out.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I do. Just seems a bit strange how a ticket that gives me the free roam of the network is cheaper than a single for a bit of it.
I wonder how much it would have charged to tap in & out.

If off peak it would have charged the Daysaver.

 

[BG2024]

I wonder how much it would have charged to tap in & out.

You can't tap in/out at Chester yet; the barriers aren't compatible, and revenue protection have a nice little earner forcing people to pay maximum fares instead.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You can't tap in/out at Chester yet; the barriers aren't compatible, and revenue protection have a nice little earner forcing people to pay maximum fares instead.

You can if you use a MetroCard.

 

[Djgr]

You can if you use a MetroCard.

Indeed. It is only an issue with contactless.

I would expect that anyone who uses public transport regularly in Liverpool City Region would have a MetroCard.

It is nothing to do with trying to rip people off but because Chester is a Transport for Wales station and their barriers are not yet compatible.

Personally, I think it was preferable to introduce contactless without Chester, rather than delay the whole project for an unknown length of time.

 

[FrontSideBus]

I wont bother with a Metro card because I use the city line to get into Liverpool and then Merseyrail to other destinations.
An all zone day saver is still the best and cheapest option.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I wont bother with a Metro card because I use the city line to get into Liverpool and then Merseyrail to other destinations.
An all zone day saver is still the best and cheapest option.

You mean a Saveaway. Be sure to ask for it by its correct name or you might well end up with a Daysaver which has no City Line validity!

(Edit: I find even if named correctly and with a MetroCard being waved at them Merseyrail staff, both booking office and RPI, seem to like to misunderstand, almost as if it was wilful...)

 

[Tetchytyke]

I wont bother with a Metro card because I use the city line to get into Liverpool and then Merseyrail to other destinations.
An all zone day saver is still the best and cheapest option.

I presume you mean the Saveaway, which unless it is bought from a Northern station has to be loaded to a MetroCard.

 

[Djgr]

I wont bother with a Metro card because I use the city line to get into Liverpool and then Merseyrail to other destinations.
An all zone day saver is still the best and cheapest option.

A Saveaway includes travel on the "City Line". A Daysaver doesn't.

If you are buying a normal return ticket on the City Line to get into Liverpool and THEN buying a Merseyrail ONLY Daysaver then you are paying far too much. Please tell me you aren't doing this?!

 

[FrontSideBus]

Nope. One ticket for all. I get on at Rainhill. I even use it in the ferry! A bargain, even if they have put the price up to £6.70!
Just a return to Liverpool would be almost that!

 

[Djgr]

Nope. One ticket for all. I get on at Rainhill. I even use it in the ferry! A bargain, even if the have out the price up to £6.70!
Just a return to Liverpool would be almost that!

Yes a fun meander around is:

Liverpool-ferry to Seacombe-bus to New Brighton-Wirral line train from there

Although I haven't seen confirmation that the open top bus is running in 2026, Saveaways were valid on it in 2025.