Northern Explorer - new ticket?

[AY1975]

I see that some Northern ticket vending machines now offer a type of day ticket called a Northern Explorer, priced at £35 adult and £17.50 child. There doesn't appear to be a railcard discount available.

The same ticket is also listed on brfares.com, albeit hard to find. To find it on there, you have to type in Z056.

I can't find any reference to this ticket on the Northern website or anywhere else. Does anyone know anything about this? Is it a new ticket that Northern has recently introduced with little or no publicity, and is it permanent or a limited period special offer?

Obviously, if this ticket really does exist, it wouldn't be as good value as the £12 newspaper offer discussed in the Special Offers Discussion, but even when that offer isn't on, it would still be good value for certain long-distance journeys on Northern such as Newcastle to Nottingham via Carlisle and Leeds.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Obviously, if this ticket really does exist, it wouldn't be as good value as the £12 newspaper offer discussed in the Special Offers Discussion, but even when that offer isn't on, it would still be good value for certain long-distance journeys on Northern such as Newcastle to Nottingham via Carlisle and Leeds.

Or of course the £10 "Super Bowl" day ranger which was discussed in the same thread.

A £35 all network would certainly be very welcome.

 

[D1537]

Is it some available-to-all version of the Northern Explorer 55?

Explorer 55

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Something to be actively marketed after 16MAY2026, perhaps?

Devil's in the ??? detail, but might it undercut other Day Rangers?

 

[Andy Pacer]

Something to be actively marketed after 16MAY2026, perhaps?

Devil's in the ??? detail, but might it undercut other Day Rangers?

I guess the single operator nature of the product would justify the price.

 

[lyndhurst25]

I noticed these on a TVM today. Quite a selection of fares for differing number of days and differing numbers of passengers. I note that the old Explorer 55 has been renamed Explorer 55 West.

I suspect that the new tickets will be ALL the Northern network, a bit like the newspaper offer tickets. But what will the time restrictions be, if any?

 

[yorkie]

I noticed these on a TVM today. Quite a selection of fares for differing number of days and differing numbers of passengers. I note that the old Explorer 55 has been renamed Explorer 55 West.

I suspect that the new tickets will be ALL the Northern network, a bit like the newspaper offer tickets. But what will the time restrictions be, if any?

I guess this would either be the same as the complimentary day ranger tickets (i.e. no time restrictions) or the same as the Family & Friends tickets (i.e. 09:30)

In reality, I've had success seeking permission to use the F&Fs before the punitive restriction, e.g. on what was the 09:15 York to Sheffield (hardly a "peak" service, and the next train is 6 hours later!)

 

[Iskra]

This is now being teased on Northern’s social media, so hopefully more details soon.

Whatever the restrictions, I welcome a new rover product and I think there will be value to be had due to the sheer size of the Northern Network

 

[ModernRailways]

They’re going to get rid of some of the current rangers and rovers (listed at the end) and ‘simplify’ them though in reality the northern explorer is more an additional Northern only rover. It’s Cumbria that sees the biggest change with a new ‘Cumbria Travel Pass’.

The Northern explorer allows unlimited travel on Northern services, they’ll cover 1-4 days and up to 4 people.

The Cumbria travel pass will come in 1 (£40) and 3 day (£99) versions, gives unlimited train and stagecoach bus travel within Cumbria, and can also be used on Windermere lake cruises.

You can find them on BRFares to view pricing (codes range from Z056-Z075, not all are used) but for the sake of the forum, a Northern explorer for 1 person will be priced as follows (check BRFares for the rest or someone else can post them):
1 day - £35
2 days - £60
3 days - £90
4 days - £110

No railcard discount but children will get the usual 50%.

To be removed:
Hadrians Wall Day Ranger
S & C Day Ranger
Cumbria Day Ranger
Cumbria Round Robin
Cumbrian Coast Day Ranger
Lakes Day Ranger Family

 

[M60lad]

When will the new Northern Explorer ticket be available to buy?

 

[Watershed]

They’re going to get rid of some of the current rangers and rovers (listed at the end) and ‘simplify’ them though in reality the northern explorer is more an additional Northern only rover. It’s Cumbria that sees the biggest change with a new ‘Cumbria Travel Pass’.

The Northern explorer allows unlimited travel on Northern services, they’ll cover 1-4 days and up to 4 people.

The Cumbria travel pass will come in 1 (£40) and 3 day (£99) versions, gives unlimited train and stagecoach bus travel within Cumbria, and can also be used on Windermere lake cruises.

You can find them on BRFares to view pricing (codes range from Z056-Z075, not all are used) but for the sake of the forum, a Northern explorer for 1 person will be priced as follows (check BRFares for the rest or someone else can post them):
1 day - £35
2 days - £60
3 days - £90
4 days - £110

No railcard discount but children will get the usual 50%.

To be removed:
Hadrians Wall Day Ranger
S & C Day Ranger
Cumbria Day Ranger
Cumbria Round Robin
Cumbrian Coast Day Ranger
Lakes Day Ranger Family

A huge price rise for Railcard holders and those making shorter journeys. I have a feeling there's more to this than meets the eye though.

 

[Llandudno]

A huge price rise for Railcard holders and those making shorter journeys. I have a feeling there's more to this than meets the eye though.

Indeed, shame no railcard discount even if it’s less than the usual one third off, perhaps £25?

 

[HBP]

As a non railcard eligible punter, I look forward to tootling around the Northern network at leisure with no advance specific trains or conditions to collect coupons or codes at a price which seems fair for the the tickets validity.

My only wish would be that it has no morning peak restrictions. The TVM I did a dummy run on didn’t mention any so fingers crossed.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I have a feeling there's more to this than meets the eye though.

In what sense? A GBR wide review of Rovers?

 

[ainsworth74]

My only wish would be that it has no morning peak restrictions. The TVM I did a dummy run on didn’t mention any so fingers crossed.

It's be interesting to see if there are or not. At £35 there probably aren't that many Anytime Return fares that that undercuts that people are regularly using to commute therefore it's also unlikely to undercut any season tickets either.

 

[Watershed]

In what sense? A GBR wide review of Rovers?

I just find it curious that they have chosen to remove rovers and rangers in that region whilst keeping all of the others they price.

 

[Kite159]

I just find it curious that they have chosen to remove rovers and rangers in that region whilst keeping all of the others they price.

I imagine the ones they are getting rid of are those with limited or no usage on other operators.

As for morning peak restrictions, I would put 10p on something like a blanket "not before 9am"

 

[ModernRailways]

No peak restrictions. Unlimited all day travel on any Northern train.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I just find it curious that they have chosen to remove rovers and rangers in that region whilst keeping all of the others they price.

The bulk of the ones they're removing are single-line ones or ones with a very small area of coverage, which for most purposes can be done by breaking your journey on a normal return ticket.

The Round Robin is an odd one to remove though, perhaps it's just because of the enforced bimble at Whitehaven at present.

 

[Kite159]

.

The bulk of the ones they're removing are single-line ones or ones with a very small area of coverage, which for most purposes can be done by breaking your journey on a normal return ticket.

The Round Robin is an odd one to remove though, perhaps it's just because of the enforced bimble at Whitehaven at present.

Ones I suspect sales are very low, considering when I purchased a Hadrians Wall Day Ranger from Newcastle ticket officer earlier in the year it was commented by the ticket office lady that that was the first time she had sold one of those in a very long time.

I wonder if at some point some of the single line rangers in Greater Anglia or GWR get removed as part of a bonfire of little used ranger tickets

 

[ainsworth74]

No peak restrictions. Unlimited all day travel on any Northern train.

Wow, that is quite bold. It does undercut some fares! Not many I reckon but there are some that it definitely does. But perhaps Northern aren't the most popular choice for people who are buying those tickets.

 

[Bletchleyite]

For what it's worth you can do the Round Robin journey by purchasing something like a return from Carlisle to Barrow route Sellafield and excessing the relevant half to via Lancaster, totalling £44.60 off peak which is more expensive that the Round Robin but only by a fiver.

There might be a cheaper possibility.

No unlimited travel of course but most people would just do the loop on that one.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

For what it's worth you can do the Round Robin journey by purchasing something like a return from Carlisle to Barrow route Sellafield and excessing the relevant half to via Lancaster, totalling £44.60 off peak which is more expensive that the Round Robin but only by a fiver.

What exactly was the original ticket, and what was it excessed to for the 'return' leg? Did it include any railcard discount? Would the suggested ticket combination allow a break of journey possibility?

 

[The exile]

I wonder if at some point some of the single line rangers in Greater Anglia or GWR get removed as part of a bonfire of little used ranger tickets

Haven’t most of the GW ones gone already? Thought St Ives was the only survivor.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What exactly was the original ticket, and what was it excessed to for the 'return' leg? Did it include any railcard discount? Would the suggested ticket combination allow a break of journey possibility?

Off Peak Day Return Carlisle-Barrow via Sellafield, £21.90 (B3, valid from 0900)
Excessed to Off Peak Return Carlisle-Barrow via Lancaster, £67.30, at half the difference (2T, basically valid any time in practice).

Break of journey is permitted on both tickets.

I'd imagine there is a pair of tickets to suit any start point along those lines, just look for a destination about half way round so it'll have tickets routed both ways.

 

[Alex-B]

Wow, that is quite bold. It does undercut some fares! Not many I reckon but there are some that it definitely does. But perhaps Northern aren't the most popular choice for people who are buying those tickets.

I agree it's a solid deal, but are there really that many people doing things like commuting between Blackpool and York or Corkickle and Manchester on flexible tickets and returning same day that Northern might lose a material amount of revenue on? Especially compared to the increase in revenue on leisure travel with the new ranger? They'd be getting up in the middle of the night and getting home in the middle of the night!

 

[janb]

For what it's worth you can do the Round Robin journey by purchasing something like a return from Carlisle to Barrow route Sellafield and excessing the relevant half to via Lancaster, totalling £44.60 off peak which is more expensive that the Round Robin but only by a fiver.

There might be a cheaper possibility.

No unlimited travel of course but most people would just do the loop on that one.

The new Cumbria Travel Pass at £40 will undercut that, and will become the new Round Robin option. It's basically a merging of the Cumbria Round Robin and Lakes Day Ranger in terms of validity.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The new Cumbria Travel Pass at £40 will undercut that, and will become the new Round Robin option. It's basically a merging of the Cumbria Round Robin and Lakes Day Ranger in terms of validity.

Fair enough. The Lakes Day Ranger does seem to have a relatively small validity area, and one that most people wouldn't really use - they'd either head for Windermere *or* the Coast and get around the Lakes by bus.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Fair enough. The Lakes Day Ranger does seem to have a relatively small validity area, and one that most people wouldn't really use - they'd either head for Windermere *or* the Coast and get around the Lakes by bus.

Not sure about that. Lancaster to Workington via Barrow, or Lancaster to Windermere (or even Penrith) by rail was fairly decent coverage. Also included a half of the lake cruise on Windermere and all the Stagecoach buses in Cumbria allowing you to get to places like Keswick or Ambleside or even Carlisle.

 

[skifans]

It is also quite the price jump, I used the Lakes Day Ranger a lot when I was a student in Lancaster for day trips out to the Lakes. Looks like now with a Railcard it's £20. And the new Cumbria travel pass (no Railcard discounts available) is £40 if I'm following this thread. So basically double the price. And if you want any time for a hike where you are going then it's not like you really want to go much further North then the current validity.