Concessionary Pass clarification

[J_Markus]

I am hoping to get some clarification on where I would purchase tickets if travelling outside of the Greater Manchester area.

If I wanted to go to Birmingham New Street, I would get a CrossCountry service from Manchester Piccadilly.

The next station stop is Stockport, which is in Greater Manchester, and therefore is valid with my consessionary pass.

However, the next station stop is Macclesfield, which is Cheshire.

Do I buy my tickets to travel further from Stockport or Macclesfield?

The help would be appreciated!

 

[anothertyke]

Doesn't it depend on whether you have shelled out a tenner for the rail upgrade and whether you are travelling off peak? Assuming yes to both, the answer is Stockport, not Macc.

 

[Watershed]

Welcome to the forum.

I presume you have a Greater Manchester concessionary pass for which you've paid the supplement to include validity on trains? If so, your pass is valid until the last station in GM. Heading southwards via Macclesfield that would be Bramhall, as shown on this map (if going via Wilmslow it would usually be Cheadle Hulme, or Styal if your train avoids Stockport).

You can therefore buy a ticket from Bramhall to wherever you're travelling. You'll be passing through Bramhall non-stop, but that is permitted under condition 14.3 of the National Rail Conditions of Travel since you are combining another ticket with your concessionary pass:

14.3 if you are using an ... area based Ticket such as a concessionary pass ... in conjunction with another Ticket and the last station at which one Ticket is valid and the first station that the other Ticket is valid are the same, then the train does not need to Call at that station for your combination to be valid.

Alternatively, you could also buy a ticket from Stockport. If you're happy to buy an Advance ticket that's tied to a specific train, that will probably work out cheaper.

 

[J_Markus]

Welcome to the forum.

I presume you have a Greater Manchester concessionary pass for which you've paid the supplement to include validity on trains? If so, your pass is valid until the last station in GM. Heading southwards via Macclesfield that would be Bramhall, as shown on this map (if going via Wilmslow it would usually be Cheadle Hulme, or Styal if your train avoids Stockport).

You can therefore buy a ticket from Bramhall to wherever you're travelling. You'll be passing through Bramhall non-stop, but that is permitted under condition 14.3 of the National Rail Conditions of Travel since you are combining another ticket with your concessionary pass:


Alternatively, you could also buy a ticket from Stockport. If you're happy to buy an Advance ticket that's tied to a specific train, that will probably work out cheaper.

Thank you.

Yes, I have a Greater Manchester consessionary pass and is valid on trains.

I believe it is only the older person's consessionary pass that requires a £10.00 fee for added train & tram travel.

Just to make sure: If I used my consessionary pass and purchased an open return from Bramhall to Birmingham New Street (or any other stop the service calls at), that would be permitted under condition 14.3?

 

[Watershed]

Thank you.

Yes, I have a Greater Manchester consessionary pass and is valid on trains.

I believe it is only the older person's consessionary pass that requires a £10.00 fee for added train & tram travel.

Just to make sure: If I used my consessionary pass and purchased an open return from Bramhall to Birmingham New Street (or any other stop the service calls at), that would be permitted under condition 14.3?

Yes, that would be fine

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I presume you have a Greater Manchester concessionary pass for which you've paid the supplement to include validity on trains? If so, your pass is valid until the last station in GM. Heading southwards via Macclesfield that would be Bramhall, as shown on this map (if going via Wilmslow it would usually be Cheadle Hulme, or Styal if your train avoids Stockport).

Heald Green rather than Styal, I reckon, if the train is leaving the GM Rail Zone area via Styal/Wilmslow, without calling at Manchester Airport, as will many Southbound trains from Manchester Piccadilly be so routed during August whilst Stockport station is closed. Styal station is just outside the GM Rail Zone.


(Rail map showing the Greater Manchester ticketing boundary.)

 

[Watershed]

Heald Green rather than Styal, I reckon, if the train is leaving the GM Rail Zone area via Styal/Wilmslow, without calling at Manchester Airport, as will many Southbound trains from Manchester Piccadilly be so routed during August whilst Stockport station is closed. Styal station is just outside the GM Rail Zone.

View attachment 184829
(Rail map showing the Greater Manchester ticketing boundary.)

Sorry, quite right you are. I don't know why, but I've always thought Styal and Handforth were in GM!