Is ENCTS valid on this bus service

[gray1404]

I have this afternoon had an ENCTS pass refused on this service https://bustimes.org/services/329-st-helens-mersyd-warrington-ches

I stood my ground and didn't pay but I want to check I'm in the right.

 

[greenline712]

I have this afternoon had an ENCTS pass refused on this service https://bustimes.org/services/329-st-helens-mersyd-warrington-ches

I stood my ground and didn't pay but I want to check I'm in the right.

Does it have a registration? If so, then it should be valid, UNLESS there is an exemption. An example exemption might be that the service is intended for "non-local" passengers (ie a Tourist route); or the route is a "closed door" school service that runs with individual fares for each passenger (not a flat fare for all passengers). As the route seems to run several times a day, then I suspect not the latter, and I'm not familiar enough with the area to posit the former.

In any case . . . this forum is not the place to seek definative clarification. You should contact the operator and ask them directly. It may be that the driver made a genuine mistake (is your ENCTS pass local, or issued by another LTA, for example); or simply needs reminding of the rules. Did the ETM itself reject the pass . . . in which case the programming of the machine is at fault, and needs correcting.

I'd be interested to know . . .

 

[TUC]

There is nothing on the relevant Merseytravel page https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/tickets-and-pricing/over-60s/ which suggests the 329 is not part of the scheme.

None of the possible reasons given above are a good enough reason for refusing a pass.

 

[Dai Corner]

I don't claim any local knowledge but according to the operator's website

Local Bus Service | Md Bus And Coach Ltd

MD BUS & COACH LTD LOCAL BUS SERVICE Passenger transport School Transport Bus Private Hire

www.mdbus.co.uk

Welcome to MD BUS and Coach, we are a small family run business currently serving the boroughs of St helens, warrington and Wigan. Within these boroughs we run a stage carry services between St Helens and warrington and also serve the community by providing buses for local schools and colleges.

It would be unusual for a stage carry (sic) service not to accept ENCTS passes, subject to any local time restrictions.

 

[gray1404]

The machine rejected the ticket. Message displayed was "no ticket". The driver said that my ticket doesn't work on here. He also refused someone with a locally issued ENCTS pass. Mine is Merseyside issued. I was boarding in Warrington going to St Helens.

I refused to pay and sat down. The service was also terminated one stop short, by St Helens Central train station on the bridge, of the final stop on the service and the driver insisted everyone got off.

The journey was made in the afternoon so between the 09.30-2300 Monday to Friday minimum allowance.

 

[overthewater]

You could phone the council to see if the service is included?

 

[Simon75]

The machine rejected the ticket. Message displayed was "no ticket". The driver said that my ticket doesn't work on here. He also refused someone with a locally issued ENCTS pass. Mine is Merseyside issued. I was boarding in Warrington going to St Helens.

I refused to pay and sat down. The service was also terminated one stop short, by St Helens Central train station on the bridge, of the final stop on the service and the driver insisted everyone got off.

The journey was made in the afternoon so between the 09.30-2300 Monday to Friday minimum allowance.

Apart from London (Transport for London (TFL)) , ticket machines should accept them (subject to above restrictions) .
If not like on TFL buses the driver enters the card manually on the machine .
Otherwise the only other reason could be it's out of date ?

 

[gray1404]

Apart from London (Transport for London (TFL)) , ticket machines should accept them (subject to above restrictions) .
If not like on TFL buses the driver enters the card manually on the machine .
Otherwise the only other reason could be it's out of date ?

The card is valid, in date and not damaged.

 

[markymark2000]

May I ask which area issued your concessionary card?

 

[Renown 3B3RA]

I have now had my ENCTS pass issued by TfGM for a couple of years and in my experience it doesn’t work on several other operators machines, not just TfL. Stagecoach in the Midlands Vix machines invariably reject it and so do Stagecoach East, although I don’t have problems with Stagecoach East Midlands. I have never had any issues with Arriva, First, Transdev etc though it didn’t work on Grant Palmer Ticketers.

 

[Statto]

I would make a complaint to Link Network, as ENCTS passes should be valid on them [i've had no issues using my ENCTS pass on Link Network, although haven't used Link Network for a few years], also make a complaint about the driver terminating one stop short & ordering everyone to leave the bus.

 

[gray1404]

May I ask which area issued your concessionary card?

Merseyside

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 May 2025 ==

I would make a complaint to Link Network, as ENCTS passes should be valid on them [i've had no issues using my ENCTS pass on Link Network, although haven't used Link Network for a few years], also make a complaint about the driver terminating one stop short & ordering everyone to leave the bus.

Is link network the equivalent of say Merseytravel in Liverpool?

 

[Leedsbusman]

Merseyside

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 May 2025 ==


Is link network the equivalent of say Merseytravel in Liverpool?

No they are the operator of the bus you used.

 

[PeterC]

Looking at Google the Merseyside card says "Merseytravel" rather than the name of a local authority. If the card failed to scan I can understand that an inadequately trained driver might interpret this as indicating restricted validity. A properly trained driver should be aware that the rose hologram indicates all-England validity.