Merseyrail Daysaver vs Saveaway (+ early morning validity)

[jednick]

I'm in Merseyside for two days. I can't decide whether to get a Saveaway or a Daysaver ticket.

Are the main differences betwwen the two the fact that the Saveaway can be used additionaly on the ferry, buses and the railway line to St Helens (and also is slightly more expensive)?

Also, both tickets can be used before 6.30am on weekdays. What happens if I get on a train, for instance, at Southport just after 6am and arrive at Liverpool just before 7am. Are both these tickets valid as I boarded my first train before 6.30 but I am still on the same train for some time beyond 6.30?

 

[Djgr]

I'm in Merseyside for two days. I can't decide whether to get a Saveaway or a Daysaver ticket.

Are the main differences betwwen the two the fact that the Saveaway can be used additionaly on the ferry, buses and the railway line to St Helens (and also is slightly more expensive)?

Not just St Helens but also Lime Street to Hough Green, Lime Street to Newton le Willows, Lime Street to Garswood, Headbolt Lane to Rainford, Southport to Meols Cop and Bidston to Heswall (any TOC)

 

[Polarbear]

Daysave only allows travel on Merseyrail services, whereas (as outlined by @Djgr) a Saveaway is valid on almost all public transport within Merseyside. For the very small price difference, I would always recommend getting a Saveaway for added flexibility.

Regarding journeys starting early morning, as long as your journey starts before 06:30, the journey can be completed after 06:30.

 

[gray1404]

Does the starting before 6:30 a.m. allow for a change of train?

 

[nwales58]

Does the starting before 6:30 a.m. allow for a change of train?

See their web sites:
Merseyrail Day Saver (https://www.merseyrail.org/tickets-passes/daily-travel/day-saver/)

If you are using a Day Saver ticket and need to change trains to complete your journey during the morning peak (06:31 – 09:29) a Day Saver ticket will not be valid.

Merseytravel Saveaway (https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/tickets-and-pricing/ticket-types/saveaway-ticket/)

Each time you board and alight a bus, or pass through a rail or ferry terminal, barriered or not, it counts as a separate journey. If you are making consecutive journeys, both journeys MUST start during off-peak time for this ticket to be valid. If you commence any journey during peak time, you must buy a separate ticket

 

[Fawkes Cat]

See their web sites:
Merseyrail Day Saver (https://www.merseyrail.org/tickets-passes/daily-travel/day-saver/)

Merseytravel Saveaway (https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/tickets-and-pricing/ticket-types/saveaway-ticket/)

If the two days in Merseyside include today, it might be worth noting that the morning peak restriction doesn't apply on bank holidays.

 

[Djgr]

If the two days in Merseyside include today, it might be worth noting that the morning peak restriction doesn't apply on bank holidays.

or weekends

 

[1D54]

Doesn't look to be railcard reduced tickets available.

 

[JBuchananGB]

Railcard discounts are not available with Daysaver or Saveaway, but are available with Anytime tickets, and with OffPeak tickets to stations off the Merseyrail network. This can result in fares below the Daysaver/Saveaway fare.

 

[Djgr]

Doesn't look to be railcard reduced tickets available.

But the all zone Saveaway for Young Persons is half price (£3.40 instead of £6.80) and young person means 18 and under.

 

[1D54]

Ah yes, remember i now purchased a day return from Liverpool Central to Sandhills from a non Merseyrail ticket office and Senior Railcard discount was applied.

 

[lyndhurst25]

Section 5.1 of the Saveaway T&Cs seems to have changed at some point.

It used to be "Each time you pass through a rail ticket barrier, it counts as a separate journey", etc. So you could start a rail journey before 6.30am and, for example, change between Northern and Wirral lines at Liverpool Central, catching the second train after 6.30am, as you would not have to pass through a ticket barrier.

Now it is saying "Each time you board and alight a bus, or pass through a rail or ferry terminal, barriered or not, it counts as a separate journey. If you are making consecutive journeys, both journeys MUST start during off-peak time for this ticket to be valid. If you commence any journey during peak time, you must buy a separate ticket". This is ambiguous - what is the definition of a "rail terminal"?

 

[JBuchananGB]

a day return from Liverpool Central to Sandhills

For short journey like that a discounted Anytime Day return can be cheaper than the single zone Daysaver. MerseyRail ticket office should sell it to you if you ask.

 

[Djgr]

For short journey like that a discounted Anytime Day return can be cheaper than the single zone Daysaver. MerseyRail ticket office should sell it to you if you ask.

There is nothing to suggest that the OP is planning such a short (essentially walkable) journey.

In summary:

If you are planning a short or peak time journey just buy a normal ticket.

If you are planning to explore the local railway network for the day but ONLY MERSEYRAIL then Daysaver.

If you are planning a more comprehensive day using multiple TOCs (Merseyrail, Northern, TPE, TfW, East Midlands, LNWR) and train types and/or including a trip on the unmissable Mersey ferry then Saveaway everytime.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There is nothing to suggest that the OP is planning such a short (essentially walkable) journey.

Not that short if you have a Railcard. A discounted Anytime Day Return is cheaper than a Daysaver if doing a journey as long as Ormskirk to Liverpool.

As for the Saveaway vs Daysaver I would probably choose the former even if a little costlier as it provides the insurance of bus and ferry validity without having to wait for acceptance if there is disruption. Also out of principle as I consider that with the very low difference in price it is just a revenue grab a bit like Northern and TPE Only fares 10p apart and so should not be encouraged through sales.

 

[Djgr]

Not that short if you have a Railcard. A discounted Anytime Day Return is cheaper than a Daysaver if doing a journey as long as Ormskirk to Liverpool.

As for the Saveaway vs Daysaver I would probably choose the former even if a little costlier as it provides the insurance of bus and ferry validity without having to wait for acceptance if there is disruption. Also out of principle as I consider that with the very low difference in price it is just a revenue grab a bit like Northern and TPE Only fares 10p apart and so should not be encouraged through sales.

Current LCR plan is to look to take Merseyrail concession in house and oust our Dutch friends. Can't see a cynical scammy product such as Daysaver surviving this!

 

[Kite159]

Current LCR plan is to look to take Merseyrail concession in house and oust our Dutch friends. Can't see a cynical scammy product such as Daysaver surviving this!

It depends if the Daysaver is an idea from Transport UK/Serco or is an idea from someone within Merseytravel itself, in which case even if you remove the private operators the "Merseyrail Only" ticket will most likely remain.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It depends if the Daysaver is an idea from Transport UK/Serco or is an idea from someone within Merseytravel itself, in which case even if you remove the private operators the "Merseyrail Only" ticket will most likely remain.

For a fairly long time there has been a bus only "Solo" PTE ticket, currently 80p less than the all zone Saveaway (but 70p more expensive than the single area version, but valid all day) so who knows?

 

[Djgr]

For a fairly long time there has been a bus only "Solo" PTE ticket, currently 80p less than the all zone Saveaway (but 70p more expensive than the single area version, but valid all day) so who knows?

It depends if the Daysaver is an idea from Transport UK/Serco or is an idea from someone within Merseytravel itself, in which case even if you remove the private operators the "Merseyrail Only" ticket will most likely remain.

Pretty sure that these resulted from pressure from the private operators, who have yielded significant power in the privatisation era.

But if your vision is an integrated public transport network then you shouldn't base your approach to fares on whether the train is painted yellow or blue or whether the mode of transportation has tyres or not.

 

[gray1404]

Merseyrail need to bring back the Off Peak Day Returns for post 9.30am travel. Most people are making a return journey to Liverpool Central and do not need a ticket allowing unlimited travel.