Fares via Manchester including Metrolink validity: has this changed recently?

[Tetchytyke]

Are there direct trains between the two?

Direct TPE Airport-Victoria then change there, rather than changing at Piccadilly or Deansgate for the tram to Victoria.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Direct TPE Airport-Victoria then change there, rather than changing at Piccadilly or Deansgate for the tram to Victoria.

If the timings work, why not, but the direct TPE to Victoria runs only once per hour and doesn't normally operate on Sundays.

 

[yorkie]

The route "Via Metrolink CTLZ" only used to apply to rail journeys between pairs of stations in the TfGM area requiring (or having as an option) a need to cross Manchester between Piccadilly and Victoria using Metrolink. Every other journey required the passenger to pay for a Metrolink ticket. Has this changed?

That's what this thread is trying to find out.

I remember the odd time in the old days getting a via Manchester Central Zone ticket to say Bolton and being told you had to travel via Metrolink. One instance was future advisory and one was an argument, If I recall. Either way I never went by Metrolink or bought the higher any permitted / Manchester fare ever in my years travelling, though I don’t think I ever bought one after switching to e tickets or on a physical ticket with an Aztec, as I didn’t have reason to do one of those journeys that were route Manchester Central Zone.

My understanding was that all cross Manchester tickets, where the origin and destination were both within GM, were routed with the additional Manchester central zone validity.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Today at 19:57 ==

Are there direct trains between the two? Surely you'd have to change at Manchester Victoria or maybe at Salford Crescent?

Yes change at Victoria. But due to the poor frequency, it's often quicker to walk, though.

Even if a train is due, a quick walker isn't much slower than the train.

 

[MrBeanie]

An open ticket from Huddersfield issued at the ticket office states 'valid for one journey to/from Manchester stations'. My understanding is that this does not include travel on the Metrolink, but does include the tpe services to or from Redcar and Manchester airport (via Victoria) or the stopping service that runs through Stalybridge via Guide Bridge to Piccadilly.

Although a single zone 1 tram journey is under 2 pounds if you need to use it.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

An open ticket from Huddersfield issued at the ticket office states 'valid for one journey to/from Manchester stations'. My understanding is that this does not include travel on the Metrolink...

It doesn't. From Huddersfield, you'd need the through ticket to be to destination 'GM METROLNK Z1' to travel in the City Centre.

Although a single zone 1 tram journey is under 2 pounds if you need to use it.

It's an extra £1.40 for an adult single within Metrolink Zone 1 if/when such ticket is needed to be bought separately.