Special Offers Discussion

[styles]

Lumo definitely  do take standing passengers, I've stood from Newcastle to Edinburgh before now.

Though I'd strongly recommend making a reservation on one to avoid having to do exactly that!

I stand (heh) corrected! My understanding was they had the handful of unreserved spaces but wouldn't take any beyond that.

 

[Kite159]

I stand (heh) corrected! My understanding was they had the handful of unreserved spaces but wouldn't take any beyond that.

Even if they banned standing passengers it would be nearly impossible to enforce at Morpeth/Newcastle.

 

[styles]

Even if they banned standing passengers it would be nearly impossible to enforce at Morpeth/Newcastle.

Yeah realistically it would be a King's Cross or Edinburgh measure, much like their baggage checks.

 

[185143]

Even if they banned standing passengers it would be nearly impossible to enforce at Morpeth/Newcastle.

Certainly at first, no idea about now, they wouldn't issue reservations for travel just between those two stations.

 

[Kite159]

Certainly at first, no idea about now, they wouldn't issue reservations for travel just between those two stations.

Which makes sense, if someone has to stand between Newcastle & Morpeth its not the longest journey, better than having the seat blocked from a potential London to Edinburgh booking.

 

[hvshe]

I don't know when this happened, but at NX Rewards, buying tickets from TfW has had its cashback amount raised from 10% to 12%

TPE, trainline, trainpal and trip.com are still at 10%

 

[styles]

I don't know when this happened, but at NX Rewards, buying tickets from TfW has had its cashback amount raised from 10% to 12%

TPE, trainline, trainpal and trip.com are still at 10%

Worth remembering that you can buy a ticket from like Matlock to Matlock Bath to get the monthly fee waived. Or London Victoria Coach Station to London Victoria Railway Station.

I use NX Rewards all the time because the discounts are better than any other platform, but you need to play the game.

 

[ajp999]

agreed - I meant to say the reason for the better clarity is that the non northern lines on the paper version (eg Merseyrail) - seem to appear much fainter to the eye than they do on my computer screen when looking at the pdf - so it's clearer to infer that they are not Northern operated routes.
However, the key could be clearer.

The paper one is the same as the pdf I believe - at the moment anyway.

I picked up a paper one today and the format appears very similar to that used by a number of bus companies. I suspect it may have been an Alex Hornby initiative.

 

[WesternLancer]

I picked up a paper one today and the format appears very similar to that used by a number of bus companies. I suspect it may have been an Alex Hornby initiative.

Thanks for that thought.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Northern are currently running one of their regular promotions with the Chester Chronicle. Collect two vouchers from the paper, attach them to a redemption form and take them to your "local ticket office to redeem". This allows you to purchase up to four day ranger tickets for £12 or four weekend rover tickets for £20 giving unlimited off-peak travel on the Northern network.

However these tickets are not on sale at Ellesmere Port ticket office which is, in theory at least, on the Northern network (two trains a day which are frequently cancelled). When I complained to Northern, I was told that they were not available as the Ellesmere Port ticket office is run by Merseyrail not Northern.

True though this is, Northern don't operate a staffed ticket office anywhere near Chester. The nearest is probably Northwich. Chester station is operated by Transport for Wales but they do sell the aforementioned tickets. Just another example of the contempt with which Northern regards Ellesmere Port. The sooner the Helsby service is transferred to Merseyrail the better.

 

[WesternLancer]

Northern are currently running one of their regular promotions with the Chester Chronicle. Collect two vouchers from the paper, attach them to a redemption form and take them to your "local ticket office to redeem". This allows you to purchase up to four day ranger tickets for £12 or four weekend rover tickets for £20 giving unlimited off-peak travel on the Northern network.

However these tickets are not on sale at Ellesmere Port ticket office which is, in theory at least, on the Northern network (two trains a day which are frequently cancelled). When I complained to Northern, I was told that they were not available as the Ellesmere Port ticket office is run by Merseyrail not Northern.

True though this is, Northern don't operate a staffed ticket office anywhere near Chester. The nearest is probably Northwich. Chester station is operated by Transport for Wales but they do sell the aforementioned tickets. Just another example of the contempt with which Northern regards Ellesmere Port. The sooner the Helsby service is transferred to Merseyrail the better.

That's a fob off (and perhaps the blame lies with Merseyrail) - this is the current Northern newspaper voucher offer - I've bought them from EMR ticket offices where Northern trains stop - and I would think Sheffield sells plenty at the ticket office there which IIRC is run by EMR - so why not Merseyrail - have you tried taking it up with them?

 

[Winthorpe]

Northern are currently running one of their regular promotions with the Chester Chronicle. Collect two vouchers from the paper, attach them to a redemption form and take them to your "local ticket office to redeem". This allows you to purchase up to four day ranger tickets for £12 or four weekend rover tickets for £20 giving unlimited off-peak travel on the Northern network.

However these tickets are not on sale at Ellesmere Port ticket office which is, in theory at least, on the Northern network (two trains a day which are frequently cancelled). When I complained to Northern, I was told that they were not available as the Ellesmere Port ticket office is run by Merseyrail not Northern.

True though this is, Northern don't operate a staffed ticket office anywhere near Chester. The nearest is probably Northwich. Chester station is operated by Transport for Wales but they do sell the aforementioned tickets. Just another example of the contempt with which Northern regards Ellesmere Port. The sooner the Helsby service is transferred to Merseyrail the better.

That's a fob off (and perhaps the blame lies with Merseyrail) - this is the current Northern newspaper voucher offer - I've bought them from EMR ticket offices where Northern trains stop - and I would think Sheffield sells plenty at the ticket office there which IIRC is run by EMR - so why not Merseyrail - have you tried taking it up with them?

There’s always a lot of debate on here about where these tickets can and can’t be sold. I don’t know the official answer.

It should be available anywhere served by Northern. It is a National Rail ticket, a Northern Day or Weekend Rover, so potentially it should be available everywhere.

This is the BR fares entry for ticket.

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

I bought my last one at Manchester Oxford Road (a Northern Rail major station). Some staff do sometimes scratch their heads. Not because they can’t or won’t sell it, but because presumably they don’t sell them very often. But they always work it out.

 

[WesternLancer]

There’s always a lot of debate on here about where these tickets can and can’t be sold. I don’t know the official answer.

It should be available anywhere served by Northern. It is a National Rail ticket, a Northern Day or Weekend Rover, so potentially it should be available everywhere.

This is the BR fares entry for ticket.

Yes - the doc you download from Northern website surely provides the official answer - you might think....

Unlimited train travel from £12

Northern | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times

www.northernrailway.co.uk

In the FAQs for the offer it says as below - the link takes you to stations served by Northern (which includes ones run by other TOCs) - I tried it and Ellesmere Port comes up - so you should be able to buy it there:

I don't live near to a staffed railway station so I can't buy a ticket.​

This offer is only available at staffed railway stations, please visit our stations page https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/stations to find the nearest staffed station.

The redemption form generated by the Northern Website says as below - so any staffed station where a Northern train calls - my bold:

7. Affix 3 tokens from participating newspapers to the application form and take to any staffed station serviced by Northern Trains. The tickets for this offer cannot be purchased on trains.

This isn't vague.
and
The adverts in the published newspapers direct you to these web pages where it says "For redemption instructions visit..."

I suspect it's Merseyrail pretending they are not part of the National Rail network once again...and this issue should be taken up with both them and Northern Rail

I did also wonder if it's in the ticket database if in reality any staffed ticket office anywhere could issue them in theory - but they may be instructed not to. Any ticket office staff on the forum could probably tell us - if they work at a ticket office not served by Northern

 

[Winthorpe]

Yes - the doc you download from Northern website surely provides the official answer - you might think....

Unlimited train travel from £12

Northern | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times

www.northernrailway.co.uk

In the FAQs for the offer it says as below - the link takes you to stations served by Northern (which includes ones run by other TOCs) - I tried it and Ellesmere Port comes up - so you should be able to buy it there:


The redemption form generated by the Northern Website says as below - so any staffed station where a Northern train calls - my bold:



This isn't vague.
and
The adverts in the published newspapers direct you to these web pages where it says "For redemption instructions visit..."

I suspect it's Merseyrail pretending they are not part of the National Rail network once again...and this issue should be taken up with both them and Northern Rail

I did also wonder if it's in the ticket database if in reality any staffed ticket office anywhere could issue them in theory - but they may be instructed not to. Any ticket office staff on the forum could probably tell us - if they work at a ticket office not served by Northern

Thank you for posting the above. It’s completely unambiguous: anywhere served by Northern.

And the ticket is in the ticket database per my reply. Just search either ‘NORTHERN DAY RGR‘ or ‘NORTHERN WE ONLY’ in the
BR fares website.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you for posting the above. It’s completely unambiguous: anywhere served by Northern.

And the ticket is in the ticket database per my reply. Just search either ‘NORTHERN DAY RGR‘ or ‘NORTHERN WE ONLY’ in the
BR fares website.

Would be interesting to try other merseyrail ticket offices that have more northern services that call and see what happens.

 

[Winthorpe]

Would be interesting to try other merseyrail ticket offices that have more northern services that call and see what happens.

Yes indeed.

I think the problem is the ticket office staff don’t sell them very often.

I bought my last one at Manchester Oxford Road. I can’t think of any ticket offices run by Northern that are much busier than that one. Even there the staff didn’t instantly know what to do. They don’t sell them very often.

 

[WesternLancer]

Yes indeed.

I think the problem is the ticket office staff don’t sell them very often.

I bought my last one at Manchester Oxford Road. I can’t think of any ticket offices run by Northern that are much busier than that one. Even there the staff didn’t instantly know what to do. They don’t sell them very often.

Pleased to report that EMR staff at Nottingham sold me one without batting an eye

But I agree with you. It’s odd. Perhaps down to staff training and briefings maybe.

 

[Winthorpe]

Pleased to report that EMR staff at Nottingham sold me one without batting an eye

But I agree with you. It’s odd. Perhaps down to staff training and briefings maybe.

I nearly always forget to ‘affix the tokens’ to the form. I don’t have a stapler at home and plan to do it at the office beforehand (I’m going to buy one now!). I apologise profusely, which they always say is ok while they scramble to find their own office stapler!

 

[WesternLancer]

I nearly always forget to ‘affix the tokens’ to the form. I don’t have a stapler at home and plan to do it at the office beforehand (I’m going to buy one now!). I apologise profusely, which they always say is ok while they scramble to find their own office stapler!

I’ve found a way to sellotape the tokens with 2 strips if sellotape.

 

[Winthorpe]

I’ve found a way to sellotape the tokens with 2 strips if sellotape.

Anyway is fine, best probably is Pritt Stick. Just mentioned it because it is so old fashioned. I doubt the deal will last much longer, so enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[A S Leib]

Newcastle (LNER-managed) is another station where I haven't had any issues buying the Northern day tickets at.

 

[WesternLancer]

Anyway is fine, best probably is Pritt Stick. Just mentioned it because it is so old fashioned. I doubt the deal will last much longer, so enjoy it while it lasts.

I hope it lasts a while longer - I can't recall when I learned of it - might have been 2017 or 2018. I think I was using one 2 or 3 days before the actual original 2020 lockdown as I recall.
I then fell out of the habit of using it so can't recall when they re-started it - and then my local paper didn't have the tokens any more - but this year I made a point of getting tokens from further afield - and learned it has become a lot more difficult to easily find hard copies of printed papers to buy to get the tokens.

I think first time I used it was a period when my local paper was actually being given away metro style - so getting the tokens cost nothing.

Anyone know when it originally started?

And in recent years has there been another one in May - June time? I seem to recall there weas pre 2020 - unless I have mis-remembered.

 

[pwharley]

Northern are offering £10 day tickets to supporters of Rugby Super League clubs in the North of England.

Supporters can apply for up to four unique codes from their club. These can be passed on to friends and family.

It's not clear whether a supporter is someone who has a club season ticket, a ticket to a match or simply someone who watches Rugby Super League on TV.

Northern offers fans discounted tickets and names train to celebrate Super League’s 30th birthday | Northern News

Northern has named a train to celebrate Super League’s 30th birthday and is now offering fans tickets which allow them to travel anywhere in the North for just £10 a day.

media.northernrailway.co.uk

 

[Peter Sarf]

Northern are offering £10 day tickets to supporters of Rugby Super League clubs in the North of England.

Supporters can apply for up to four unique codes from their club. These can be passed on to friends and family.

It's not clear whether a supporter is someone who has a club season ticket, a ticket to a match or simply someone who watches Rugby Super League on TV.

Northern offers fans discounted tickets and names train to celebrate Super League’s 30th birthday | Northern News

Northern has named a train to celebrate Super League’s 30th birthday and is now offering fans tickets which allow them to travel anywhere in the North for just £10 a day.

media.northernrailway.co.uk

Or even someone who knows someone involved in the rugby ?.

 

[MichaelTrains]

Northern are offering £10 day tickets to supporters of Rugby Super League clubs in the North of England.

Supporters can apply for up to four unique codes from their club. These can be passed on to friends and family.

It's not clear whether a supporter is someone who has a club season ticket, a ticket to a match or simply someone who watches Rugby Super League on TV.

Northern offers fans discounted tickets and names train to celebrate Super League’s 30th birthday | Northern News

Northern has named a train to celebrate Super League’s 30th birthday and is now offering fans tickets which allow them to travel anywhere in the North for just £10 a day.

media.northernrailway.co.uk

I emailed my local club and they have sent me four separate codes for four £10 rover tickets.

It is as easy as that.

 

[185143]

I emailed my local club and they have sent me four separate codes for four £10 rover tickets.

It is as easy as that.

Did you have to prove you are a fan?

I've not been to a game since I was a kid. But I do still take a bit of an interest and like to see them doing well, and try to watch any televised games if I get chance. But I highly doubt the club will have any record of me being a fan.

 

[MichaelTrains]

Did you have to prove you are a fan?

I've not been to a game since I was a kid. But I do still take a bit of an interest and like to see them doing well, and try to watch any televised games if I get chance. But I highly doubt the club will have any record of me being a fan.

It’s definitely worth emailing them.

Maybe explain you'd like to use the codes to watch them away on the rails and that you'll use the Day Rovers for that purpose.

 

[styles]

Did you have to prove you are a fan?

I've not been to a game since I was a kid. But I do still take a bit of an interest and like to see them doing well, and try to watch any televised games if I get chance. But I highly doubt the club will have any record of me being a fan.

I emailed a club I'd never heard of and they sent me four codes. I didn't pretend to be a fan. They didn't ask any questions.

 

[WesternLancer]

I emailed a club I'd never heard of and they sent me four codes. I didn't pretend to be a fan. They didn't ask any questions.

Sounds easier than finding hard copies of local papers in some areas to obtain tokens for the Northern newspaper offer!

 

[styles]

Sounds easier than finding hard copies of local papers in some areas to obtain tokens for the Northern newspaper offer!

Yeah I didn't get round to that one in the end!

I emailed the newspaper publisher about back copies, more out of curiosity than anything. They didn't reply.