Liverpool to Chester inter-available fares.

[hexagon789]

Just a quick query.

Wanting to do Liverpool to Chester and back as a day trip soon and ideally I'd like to use Merseyrail one way and the TfW service the other.

Am I correct in thinking that the Anytime Day Return at £16.20

Purchase flexible walk-up fares for any British train journey

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is the only fare valid on both Merseyrail (via Birkenhead) and TfW (via Runcorn) with all the other cheaper fares being restricted to a specific route?

Many thanks

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Anytime Day Return Liverpool Stns to/from Chester (route "via Birkenhead") is £9.45 and a one way change of route excess to route "via Runcorn" for the journey back should be an extra ~ 5p.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

If you combine a £6.40 Merseyrail day ranger with a £7.10 via Runcorn single (or if you can get an advanced ticket) that might offer good value if you are going to make more Merseyrail journeys.

 

[hexagon789]

Anytime Day Return Liverpool Stns to/from Chester (route "via Birkenhead") is £9.45 and a one way change of route excess to route "via Runcorn" for the journey back should be an extra ~ 5p.

If you combine a £6.40 Merseyrail day ranger with a £7.10 via Runcorn single (or if you can get an advanced ticket) that might offer good value if you are going to make more Merseyrail journeys.

Thank you both for the suggestions.

For the excess, my understanding is that one can board the train and obtain it onboard without detriment?

I was thinking the Dayranger was the way to go, before I decided I'd kind of like to do both routes.

I may just use Merseyrail both ways, due to the better frequency.


Anyway, thank you both, inputs much appreciated and given me something to think about.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

Thank you both for the suggestions.

For the excess, my understanding is that one can board the train and obtain it onboard without detriment?

I was thinking the Dayranger was the way to go, before I decided I'd kind of like to do both routes.

I may just use Merseyrail both ways, due to the better frequency.


Anyway, thank you both, inputs much appreciated and given me something to think about.

Be aware that Merseyrail don't have on-board facilities to issue or excess tickets.

Whilst there is a theoretical ability to obtain an excess on Transport for Wales, you will find it much easier to do at a ticket office, both Liverpool Lime Street and Chester will be more than able to assist you.

 

[hexagon789]

Be aware that Merseyrail don't have on-board facilities to issue or excess tickets.

Whilst there is a theoretical ability to obtain an excess on Transport for Wales, you will find it much easier to do at a ticket office, both Liverpool Lime Street and Chester will be more than able to assist you.

Thank you, duly noted

 

[Haywain]

Be aware that Merseyrail don't have on-board facilities to issue or excess tickets.

That doesn't change the fact that they can't do more than issue an excess fare in the circumstances described.

you will find it much easier to do at a ticket office, both Liverpool Lime Street and Chester will be more than able to assist you.

But there is absolutely no obligation to use a ticket office for this. And some would find it challenging anyway.

 

[NormalPerson7]

Based on my personal experience (see here https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/excess-fares-between-chester-and-liverpool.282939/#post-7199372), you will struggle to obtain an excess at Lime Street ticket office. I would personally suggest to just buy it on board the TfW service. In my experience, guards always check tickets on those services so I would expect them to sell you the excess.

 

[Watershed]

Just a quick query.

Wanting to do Liverpool to Chester and back as a day trip soon and ideally I'd like to use Merseyrail one way and the TfW service the other.

Am I correct in thinking that the Anytime Day Return at £16.20

Purchase flexible walk-up fares for any British train journey

Purchase flexible single/return tickets & Travelcards – in 3 clicks, at face value with no fees. Every British rail fare shown, railcard discounts included.

www.brfares.com

is the only fare valid on both Merseyrail (via Birkenhead) and TfW (via Runcorn) with all the other cheaper fares being restricted to a specific route?

Many thanks

That fare shouldn't really exist, since the principle is that higher priced geographically routed fares are also valid on the routes permitted by cheaper fares.

Via Warrington is the next most expensive fare. As the "via Runcorn" and "via Birkenhead" fares are cheaper, the "via Warrington" fare is also valid via those routes. Therefore it should simply be changed to "Any Permitted" to replace the confusing and unnecessary current route "dot" fare.

Similarly, the "via Runcorn" fare is valid via Birkenhead. (It's also valid that way by virtue of the 'split route check', as Chester to Runcorn is permitted via Birkenhead and Liverpool)

 

[NorthWalian]

That fare shouldn't really exist, since the principle is that higher priced geographically routed fares are also valid on the routes permitted by cheaper fares.

Via Warrington is the next most expensive fare. As the "via Runcorn" and "via Birkenhead" fares are cheaper, the "via Warrington" fare is also valid via those routes. Therefore it should simply be changed to "Any Permitted" to replace the confusing and unnecessary current route "dot" fare.

Similarly, the "via Runcorn" fare is valid via Birkenhead. (It's also valid that way by virtue of the 'split route check', as Chester to Runcorn is permitted via Birkenhead and Liverpool)

I wonder if the same applies to season tickets where a “via Runcorn” is much cheaper?

 

[Watershed]

I wonder if the same applies to season tickets where a “via Runcorn” is much cheaper?

The same principles apply to all ticket types, yes.

 

[jfollows]

I wonder if the same applies to season tickets where a “via Runcorn” is much cheaper?

For a Chester-Liverpool ticket, yes, as @Watershed says.
But the routeing guide is not recursive.
So don’t think it applies to a Wrexham-Liverpool ticket, which is what I think you’re going to do. Wrexham-Runcorn is not valid via Birkenhead and therefore the ‘split route check’ which works for Chester-Liverpool won’t apply.

 

[Statto]

Cheshire Day Ranger could be an alternitive, valid on both Merseyrail & TfW Chester - Liverpool services but it £31.20, & if going on a weekday, only valid after 9am Monday to Friday.

Cheshire Day Ranger | National Rail

Special offer: Cheshire Day Ranger. The portal into UK rail travel, including information on ticket purchase and promotions, train times and delays, and more.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

[NorthWalian]

For a Chester-Liverpool ticket, yes, as @Watershed says.
But the routeing guide is not recursive.
So don’t think it applies to a Wrexham-Liverpool ticket, which is what I think you’re going to do. Wrexham-Runcorn is not valid via Birkenhead and therefore the ‘split route check’ which works for Chester-Liverpool won’t apply.

How complex

Still baffles me why one needs to split at Hamilton Square in the first place

 

[Kite159]

If you combine a £6.40 Merseyrail day ranger with a £7.10 via Runcorn single (or if you can get an advanced ticket) that might offer good value if you are going to make more Merseyrail journeys.

Although wouldn't a £6,50 Saveaway be a better option, as that allows the OP the ability to use buses, the ferry across the Mersey & other trains (Northern/TPE etc).

The £6,40 Merseyrail only ticket in comparison isn't the best value for money.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Although wouldn't a £6,50 Saveaway be a better option, as that allows the OP the ability to use buses, the ferry across the Mersey & other trains (Northern/TPE etc).

The £6,40 Merseyrail only ticket in comparison isn't the best value for money.

I just checked which rovers were valid at Chester when I did the search, railrover.org didn't display the saveaway for that search.
It looks like the via Runcorn ticket is the same price from Chester to either Liverpool South Parkway or Lime Street, so splitting at South Parkway wouldn't save any money (unless better advances are offered)

 

[WirralLine]

I just checked which rovers were valid at Chester when I did the search, railrover.org didn't display the saveaway for that search.
It looks like the via Runcorn ticket is the same price from Chester to either Liverpool South Parkway or Lime Street, so splitting at South Parkway wouldn't save any money (unless better advances are offered)

The Saveaway is a Merseytravel product, it does show on BR fares under rangers and rovers (type in Mtrav). It can be used on any bus or train within Merseyside and also into Cheshire (Hooton to Chester/Ellesmere Port) and Lancashire (Ormskirk) on Merseyrail ONLY. The all area Saveaway can also be used on the Mersey Ferry for a single crossing only (Cant return to your origin without getting off first).

You can usually get some cheaper advance fares on TfW between LIV/LPY and Chester, so I would probably go for those.

If you want an excess for a via Birkenhead ticket Chester booking office are usually quite good at these things, failing that TfW guards are usually good at selling them too. Saveaways are available in CCST train ticket format from the ticket office at Chester - if you buy one from a Merseyrail station you would need to pay £1 for a "Metro" smartcard. TfW guards can also sell Saveaways onboard, if they can't find it, tell them to go to rangers/rovers and type in Mtrav. The Merseyrail only daysaver as mentioned above for 10p less, can be bought at the TVMs at Chester or at the ticket office. We can sell them onboard too, but the way to do it has changed and I cant remember how. I think it was under normal fares with a Merseyrail served station as an origin and Mrail All Zone or something as the destination. It used to be NORTHWIRRALLINE or something but came up with no fares last time. Dont quote me!

Hope this helps.

 

[Statto]

The Merseyrail Daysave is quite poor value (i know Merseyrail keeps the money from it though) compared with the Saveaway, both have the same Morning peak restrictions, & quite odd for an off peak ticket, you can use them before 6.30am Monday to Friday, don't know of any other off peak multi mode/journey ticket that allows this, that's for another thread though.

 

[Djgr]

The Merseyrail Daysave is quite poor value (i know Merseyrail keeps the money from it though) compared with the Saveaway, both have the same Morning peak restrictions, & quite odd for an off peak ticket, you can use them before 6.30am Monday to Friday, don't know of any other off peak multi mode/journey ticket that allows this, that's for another thread though.

The Daysaver scam ticket rears its ugly head again. Saveaway is so much better value.

Merseytravel | Saveaway Ticket & Prices

The Merseytravel Saveaway ticket is a one-day, off-peak ticket providing unlimited travel on bus, train and Mersey Ferries.

www.merseytravel.gov.uk