Northern Explorer - new ticket?

[janb]

And the new Cumbria travel pass (no Railcard discounts available) is £40 if I'm following this thread.

It has been stated that the Northern Explorer does not have railcard discounts. It has been left unsaid for the Cumbria Travel Pass, my assumption is it will have railcard discounts like the products it has replaced.

 

[Haywain]

It has been stated that the Northern Explorer does not have railcard discounts. It has been left unsaid for the Cumbria Travel Pass, my assumption is it will have railcard discounts like the products it has replaced.

It would be strange for railcard discounts to apply to a multi-modal ticket when they don't apply to a similar rail-only product

 

[Bletchleyite]

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.

If you're just going to the Lakes for a hike, just buy a return to Windermere and £3 bus tickets, to be honest. Most people won't use Rovers for that use case.

 

[ChrisC]

In what sense? A GBR wide review of Rovers?

I can’t see any reason why the regional Rail Rovers like the North West and North East Rovers would change. However, I find it strange that a new TOC specific Northern only ticket should be introduced at this time.

 

[skifans]

If you're just going to the Lakes for a hike, just buy a return to Windermere and £3 bus tickets, to be honest. Most people won't use Rovers for that use case.

True - my time living around them was before that! And the £3 fare cap is technically temporary so might not continue indefinitely. I think it's currently running till March 2027?

And part of it is of course how these things are marketed and how well known they are. I completely approve sales might be poor and not many people use it. But I don't think it automatically follows that the thing to do is withdraw it. People just might not be aware of it. Certainly the number of discussions I used to have with bus drivers suggested that they didn't see too many!

 

[AlanRailer]

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

Explorer 55

With the Lakes being 99% Stagecoach buses their 7 day North West Mega rider Gold at £37 can be extremely useful, especially so if arriving ffom Newcastle, Dumfries or even Chester.
'
Valid for unlimited travel on all Stagecoach services across the North West (Except not valid on Chester City Sightseeing, Chester Park & Ride, School Services S1/940/941/942 or Stagecoach in Manchester Services).
. Buy for travel on Stagecoach buses within the below zone:
Use on all services in Cumbria as far as Dumfries on the 79 and Newcastle Upon Tyne on the 685
Use on all services in Lancashire as far as Blackpool (42/61/68), Blackburn (59), Bolton (125), Chester (1/X1), Wigan (111)'

 

[Djgr]

With the Lakes being 99% Stagecoach buses their 7 day North West Mega rider Gold at £37 can be extremely useful, especially so if arriving ffom Newcastle, Dumfries or even Chester.
'
Valid for unlimited travel on all Stagecoach services across the North West (Except not valid on Chester City Sightseeing, Chester Park & Ride, School Services S1/940/941/942 or Stagecoach in Manchester Services).
. Buy for travel on Stagecoach buses within the below zone:
Use on all services in Cumbria as far as Dumfries on the 79 and Newcastle Upon Tyne on the 685
Use on all services in Lancashire as far as Blackpool (42/61/68), Blackburn (59), Bolton (125), Chester (1/X1), Wigan (111)'

Although you need to have an extreme tolerance of bus travel

 

[Farigiraf]

I do hope Northern don't realise that the North West Rover + a few £3 singles massively undercuts the Cumbria Travel Pass fare.

And I really can't think of that many journeys where the Northern Explorer will be good value. You can make most day trips (even longer ones) on Northern for under £30-35, and for the multi-day versions, lack of validity on TPE, XC, Avanti & Hull trains isn't great.

The NW rover covers everything west of Leeds, NE rover covers everything east of Leeds, and if you're crossing the pennines a lot then two or three South Pennine Day Rangers work out cheaper. Plus these options allow travel on other operators as well. So my guess is that we can expect significant price rises for these other options.

 

[Starmill]

And I really can't think of that many journeys where the Northern Explorer will be good value. You can make most day trips (even longer ones) on Northern for under £30-35, and for the multi-day versions, lack of validity on TPE, XC, Avanti & Hull trains isn't great.

You sure about that? One way from Manchester Airport to, let's say, Barrow-in-Furness?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Are the terms and conditions of use of this new 1 day 'Northern Explorer' product available to peruse or advertised anywhere yet?

 

[Farigiraf]

You sure about that? One way from Manchester Airport to, let's say, Barrow-in-Furness?

A Manchester Piccadilly - Barrow return is £12 more than a 1-day Northern Explorer without a railcard, and £4 cheaper than the Explorer with a railcard. Also valid on Avanti and TPE.

Wouldn't think that many people make such day trips, and those that do are likely to have some form of frequent rail traveller discount. That's one of the few direct long distance Northern services - there aren't many others, and the number of people making 60+ mile day trips involving a change of train each year are likely to be in the double digits.

It's not a completely useless ticket, but the use cases are so limited/niche that it really doesn't justify such fanfare plus the removal of local rangers, in my opinion.

 

[sheff1]

A Manchester Piccadilly - Barrow return is £12 more than a 1-day Northern Explorer without a railcard, and £4 cheaper than the Explorer with a railcard. Also valid on Avanti and TPE.

Wouldn't think that many people make such day trips, and those that do are likely to have some form of frequent rail traveller discount. That's one of the few direct long distance Northern services - there aren't many others, and the number of people making 60+ mile day trips involving a change of train each year are likely to be in the double digits.

It's not a completely useless ticket, but the use cases are so limited/niche that it really doesn't justify such fanfare plus the removal of local rangers, in my opinion.

Manchester to Barrow for the day might be a limited market. Barrow to Manchester, not so much.

As for your middle paragraph, I personally know upwards of 30 people who make such trips at least twice a month. See plenty of people I don’t know clearly making the trips as well.

Very disappointing that these new tckets don’t offer a railcard discount. Hope it is not the thin edge of the wedge.

 

[AlanRailer]

Although you need to have an extreme tolerance of bus travel

1 likely long journey each way. Ideal for a walking holiday.

 

[lyndhurst25]

It seems a big oversight that the Cumbria area rover and ranger changes didn’t make it into the latest Coast, Lakes, Dales and Fells timetable booklet, valid from last weekend. I wonder when the ticket changes are actually going live?

Coast,Lakes Dales & Fells Train Timetable

Welcome to Coast, Lakes Dales & Fells train timetable site

coastandlakestraintimetable.co.uk

 

[mmh]

Manchester to Barrow for the day might be a limited market. Barrow to Manchester, not so much.

As for your middle paragraph, I personally know upwards of 30 people who make such trips at least twice a month. See plenty of people I don’t know clearly making the trips as well.

Yup. Manchester will have a draw as a day trip destination from a huge area. Different TOC, but plenty of people doing day trips there from North Wales at similar distances. I'm one of them - I do it at least once a month, sometimes more often, going to concerts. If there was a £35 day rover I could use I'd jump at it compared to the return fare.

 

[Starmill]

A Manchester Piccadilly - Barrow return is £12 more than a 1-day Northern Explorer without a railcard, and £4 cheaper than the Explorer with a railcard. Also valid on Avanti and TPE.

Wouldn't think that many people make such day trips, and those that do are likely to have some form of frequent rail traveller discount. That's one of the few direct long distance Northern services - there aren't many others, and the number of people making 60+ mile day trips involving a change of train each year are likely to be in the double digits.

It's not a completely useless ticket, but the use cases are so limited/niche that it really doesn't justify such fanfare plus the removal of local rangers, in my opinion.

Which is why I mentioned a one way journey from the airport.... I can't imagine many people choose to change to an Avanti train either.

 

[Mal75756]

Is there any information as to when a northern explorer ticket will be available to buy

 

[81A]

Is there any information as to when a northern explorer ticket will be available to buy

The opening post seems to suggest it *MAY* be unofficially already available to buy from ticket machines. It is also on the BR fares website (Northern explorer page br fares). For any unable to use the link, it has the following info:

FN1 1 DAY NORTHERN EXPLORER	NTH EXPLR 1D 1P​
Adult Fare​	Child Fare​	Class​	Validity​
ADULT £35.00​	CHILD £17.50​	STD​	1 day

This seems to suggest it is already in the data so could be sold if a ticket machine were programmed to or a ticket clerk was willing to. I have no idea about an official launch date, though…

 

[janb]

Is there any information as to when a northern explorer ticket will be available to buy

Should be the 8th of June.

 

[yorksrob]

This does look like a very good and innovative deal. It will certainly make getting to the Cumbrian coast easier.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

158754 has received a name "Settle & Carlisle 150" and an internal banner largely about the S&C but also has a mention of this ticket.
There is also a QR code that goes to Northern's website

Northern Explorer Ticket

Northern | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times

www.northernrailway.co.uk

From areas of outstanding natural beauty, to bustling cities, world-famous landmarks and attractions, the North has it all. We want to make it at easy as possible and provide the ultimate flexibility to experience everything the North has to offer by train.

That's why we're introducing the Northern Explorer ticket so you can travel at any time; weekdays, weekends, peak and off-peak for one set daily price. We will be releasing this new exciting ticket in the near future, so check back here for updates or sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know.

 

[lyndhurst25]

Any more information on the Cumbria Travel Pass? It not being found on TVMs or in BFRfares could just mean that it will have a later launch date, but what I’m worried about is it being, heaven forbid, an online or app based only ticket.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

an online or app based only ticket.

I wouldn't be surprised if it is - Northern have recently had a day ranger available exclusively via their app/website using one time promo codes in collaboration with a rugby league.
At least is not an m-ticket, and can be printed out (not that it does much good when no gates accept it).

 

[janb]

Any more information on the Cumbria Travel Pass? It not being found on TVMs or in BFRfares could just mean that it will have a later launch date, but what I’m worried about is it being, heaven forbid, an online or app based only ticket.

Cumbria Travel Pass should be 8th June as well. The one day version uses the same product code as the current Lakes Day Ranger which would be one reason (amongst no doubt others) why the fares are not showing yet.

 

[janb]

It would be strange for railcard discounts to apply to a multi-modal ticket when they don't apply to a similar rail-only product

To confirm that railcard discounts do apply to the multi-modal Cumbria Travel Pass just as they did to the multi-modal Lakes Day Ranger that preceded it.

 

[phil_d]

Is there any information as to when a northern explorer ticket will be available to buy

I asked their 'X' account yesterday, and after reaching out to their marketing department, they just replied 'very soon'!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I asked their 'X' account yesterday, and after reaching out to their marketing department, they just replied 'very soon'!

Is it not already 'available to buy', if/when using a Northern TVM?

 

[Mal75756]

I went into the local ticket office today and after some searching (about three minutes of searching) the guy behind the desk told me it was available to buy now

 

[janb]

Yes, it started today. Stations were told not to put posters up until tomorrow, so I wonder if there will be a publicity launch tomorrow.

 

[DaveB10780]

For a railcard holder over 55 living in the West (Buxton Line) it is hard to find many scenarios where this ticket would be useful. The main advantage seems to be for multi day and early weekday use. Would be great to get a small Railcard discount say £5 which would be much more attractive.