Essex Saver ticket

[TheGrandWazoo]

I will be posting details of my trials and tribulations with this ticket on the Trip Reports. However, I was wondering if other people have used this ticket and experienced any issues?

For the uninitiated, it's a multi-operator ticket as this extract from the Essex County Council website states...

The TravelEssex Saver ticket allows users unlimited same day travel on every registered local bus service within the administrative boundary of Essex County Council, and into neighbouring authorities, providing the journey starts or finishes in the Essex administrative area (managed by Essex County Council).

You can buy the ticket on the first bus you board. It is not available as a weekly or monthly ticket and it cannot be purchased online.

The TravelEssex Saver is:

• issued Monday to Saturday inclusive, on all non-exempt registered local bus services.
• accepted at all times of day, on the day of issue, on all registered local bus services (except those listed below).
• accepted on community transport or demand responsive based services being used to replace or supplement registered local bus services (incl. DaRT services operated by Central Connect, where tickets are both issued and accepted).

You cannot buy or use the TravelEssex Saver ticket on the following services:

• Any coach or National Express Coach services;
• X10 Stansted - Basildon (operated by First Essex);
• X20 - Colchester - Stansted Airport (operated by First Essex);
• X30 Stansted – Southend (operated by First Essex);
• 724 Harlow – Heathrow (operated by Arriva);
• Park & Ride (Colchester);
• DigiGo services.

Tickets will be valid but not issued on Transport for London bus services starting or finishing in Essex.

However, it seems to be one of the most obscure, least marketed products I've seen and consequently, drivers don't seem to know about it. Have I just been unlucky or have other people had problems with acceptance?

 

[Simon75]

I will be posting details of my trials and tribulations with this ticket on the Trip Reports. However, I was wondering if other people have used this ticket and experienced any issues?

For the uninitiated, it's a multi-operator ticket as this extract from the Essex County Council website states...



However, it seems to be one of the most obscure, least marketed products I've seen and consequently, drivers don't seem to know about it. Have I just been unlucky or have other people had problems with acceptance?

Pity they can't get Southend and Thurrock councils for a proper all Essex ticket (Staffordshire for example has a ticket which is for the whole country, not ust the country council, which would exclude Stoke-on-Trent)

 

[pjnathanail]

I will be posting details of my trials and tribulations with this ticket on the Trip Reports. However, I was wondering if other people have used this ticket and experienced any issues?

For the uninitiated, it's a multi-operator ticket as this extract from the Essex County Council website states...



However, it seems to be one of the most obscure, least marketed products I've seen and consequently, drivers don't seem to know about it. Have I just been unlucky or have other people had problems with acceptance?

I periodically purchase and use such tickets, and find fewer issues than would be expected with a ticket valid on so many operators. Occasionally you have to explain it to a driver, but I've never been refused travel. You may wish to purchase before you travel on an M-Ticket app such as myTrip to avoid the issue of a driver not knowing how to issue it on their ETM.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I periodically purchase and use such tickets, and find fewer issues than would be expected with a ticket valid on so many operators. Occasionally you have to explain it to a driver, but I've never been refused travel. You may wish to purchase before you travel on an M-Ticket app such as myTrip to avoid the issue of a driver not knowing how to issue it on their ETM.

I guess I had a bad day. I had five different drivers who either didn't recognise it, or did but didn't know the rules

I have to say it is not well publicised. Almost as secret as the Cotswold Discoverer...

 

[pjnathanail]

I guess I had a bad day. I had five different drivers who either didn't recognise it, or did but didn't know the rules

I have to say it is not well publicised. Almost as secret as the Cotswold Discoverer...

Out of interest, do you mind sharing which operator(s) you had this issue with?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Out of interest, do you mind sharing which operator(s) you had this issue with?

No worries, and without wishing to shame anyone. They were:

• Ipswich Buses - one driver didn't know about it and couldn't issue, and the other confused it with Colchester Boroughcard
• Hedingham - one driver at Sudbury said it wasn't valid as it was a Stephensons ticket and in Suffolk, whilst a Clacton driver just hadn't seen it (though she believed me)
• Flagfinders - driver was adamant that they didn't accept the ticket (and I will shame him - he acted like a right berk)

The Essex CC website states "The TravelEssex Saver ticket allows users unlimited same day travel on every registered local bus service within the administrative boundary of Essex County Council, and into neighbouring authorities, providing the journey starts or finishes in the Essex administrative area (managed by Essex County Council)." and so that should include Ipswich Buses services to Manningtree and Colchester. However, it doesn't appear on the IB website.

 

[greenline712]

Back in the 1980s, my company recognised that pass recognition was a problem ... on one route there were over 20 different OAP passes valid, some with wildly different conditions of use.

Part of my then job was to find a way to inform drivers ... I produced a "manual" with pictures and details that drivers could refer to, and more importantly carry with them whilst on duty.

Loose leaf format to enable easy updating, and including relevent farecharts for each garage, they were well received ... but this was 1988; I changed jobs in 1989, the company was sold in 1990, and they didn't survive much longer.

And let's see who can guess the company .... !!