Metrolink Rail Zone 1,2,3 query

[AndyP]

Hello,

Could someone tell me whether Rail Zone 1/2/3 tickets can be used like a ranger ticket?
I want to travel from Sale to Piccadilly via Tram, then train to Middlewood.
Then later, get the train to Stockport and then later on, get the train back to Piccadilly.

Is this valid or do I need a Tram/Train saver instead?

 

[northwichcat]

It looks like you're effectively doing a Sale-Middlewood return journey with breaks in rail part of the return journey:

For journeys within Greater Manchester, single and return
tickets are also available from ticket machines on Metrolink
stops outside the Manchester city centre zone.

http://www.gmpte.com/upload/library/08_1441_Combi_leaflet_030309.pdf

I don't see a problem with alighting at Stockport even if a break in journey is not permitted as not all trains call at Heaton Chapel and Levenshulme and not all trains continue beyond Piccadilly so there's no reason for anyone to question you boarding or alighting at Stockport.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Hello,

Could someone tell me whether Rail Zone 1/2/3 tickets can be used like a ranger ticket?
I want to travel from Sale to Piccadilly via Tram, then train to Middlewood.
Then later, get the train to Stockport and then later on, get the train back to Piccadilly.

Is this valid or do I need a Tram/Train saver instead?

I suspect that is perfectly valid. What you are doing by train is really only 1 return journey from Piccadilly to Middlewood with a break of journey at Stockport on the way back, which would be fine with a normal ticket so should be fine with a ticket from Sale. Middlewood is in Rail Zone 3, so a Sale to Rail Zone 3 return ticket should cover that journey.

A rover ticket is only really required for multiple journeys on different routes.

 

[WatcherZero]

One problem is the new ticket machines cant yet issue rail tickets beyond the all day train+metro ones until they recieve a software update, so if you use the old ones you can get a rail zone ticket but if theirs new ones at sale you will have to get a £6.30 (I think) rail+metro 'saver'.

I cant remember if Sales had the new machines installed yet or not.

 

[northwichcat]

Last time I went along the line most stops seemed to have both the old and new machines with at some stops a sign telling you to not use the new machines.