Future Northern Rail

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It has to be said that some Northern services are seriously underused - off-peak trains in the Manchester area particularly. Even my own line runs more or less empty trains after 7pm. Either offer cheap evening-out fares or consider - sorry to say this - express buses for which train tickets are valid

I note this point that you make about evening rail travel in the Manchester area and I wish to be of assistance with the following information:-

Within the Greater Manchester boundary, there has been such an evening ticket for rail travel available for many years. It is called the EVENING RAIL RANGER that offers unlimited rail travel from 1830 onwards, to and from all stations within the county boundaries. It also gives free travel on the Metrolink in Manchester city centre.

The cost is £2.20 for adult or child, but children under 5 travel free. It is available from all booking offices or on the train if the booking office is closed.

 

[exile]

I note this point that you make about evening rail travel in the Manchester area and I wish to be of assistance with the following information:-

Within the Greater Manchester boundary, there has been such an evening ticket for rail travel available for many years. It is called the EVENING RAIL RANGER that offers unlimited rail travel from 1830 onwards, to and from all stations within the county boundaries. It also gives free travel on the Metrolink in Manchester city centre.

The cost is £2.20 for adult or child, but children under 5 travel free. It is available from all booking offices or on the train if the booking office is closed.

That's the sort of thing I mean. Why not extend it along the route to Warrington and have a similar scheme for travellers into Liverpool?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

That's the sort of thing I mean. Why not extend it along the route to Warrington and have a similar scheme for travellers into Liverpool?

This ticket is part-funded by TfGM and this is the reason why it only extends to the county boundaries of Greater Manchester. I am not sure whether Merseytravel have a similar "evening-only" rail ticket for their area.

Warrington being in-between these two areas is a victim of its own location as not being there to enjoy the budgetry provision for rail travel that is available within the TfGM boundary.