Fare Dealer
RAIL fares expert Barry Doe examines TPE’s new Cities of the North ticket.
SINCE my Rover Review appeared ( RAIL 827), I have been told of several amendments. The first is a new Rover, which is most welcome as it’s the first for some years.
In a silly lack of consistency, it’s impossible to know what it’s really called, as four different names appear on the First TransPennine Express website from where it may be bought: North of England Rover; Cities of North England Rover; Cities of North of England Rover; and North England Rover.
It covers Hull-Leeds-Stalybridge-Manchester Victoria/Piccadilly-Liverpool Lime Street, and is valid only on TPE services: any train from 0930, anytime weekends and Bank Holidays.
It is valid any four days in eight for £79. The usual family of railcards is accepted, including Family & Friends and Forces, for £52.15. Children £39.50. For precise details on using railcards, see my Rover review. See also www.tpexpress.co.uk/special-offers/northof-england-rover.
Next, there is a change to the Central Scotland Rover - it is no longer ‘flexi’, but only valid for three consecutive days. Prices are as shown in the review.
Northern has made a late change to the Dales Rambler Day Ranger. It seems it is now ‘safe’ (my review said its future was in doubt, owing to the potential loss of bus services). However, Northern says it had no time restriction when introduced in 2014, but had an 0930 restriction for the last few years, as stated in my review. It has now decided to remove the restriction.
Incidentally, it’s worth noting that Dales Bus services cover a much larger area, including services connecting with trains run by Western Dales Bus between Dent station (England’s highest interchange) and Sedbergh & Kendal on all Saturdays, plus summer Sundays. See www.dalesbus.org.
Turning to the Wayfarer, I had been told that the new £8 Senior version was available to anyone 60 or over. It seems this is wrong,
although Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), which manages it, offers confusing information.
It now says it is available only to holders of “English National Concessionary Travel Passes for people aged over 60 and disabled people”. I wonder why they discriminate by allowing someone from Penzance to buy one, but not Cardiff or Glasgow.
However, more to the point, they are wrong in referring to the Bus Pass as for those aged 60 or over. Man or woman, you have to be around 63 now (the current pension age for women), and it’s to rise to 67 in due course.
Finally, referring to the season ticket option in lieu of a Rover, I say that a First Class Weekly between Uttoxeter and London offers free food “including up to five free breakfasts and/or evening meals on Virgin Trains West Coast or East Midlands Trains”.
A reader has pointed out that’s not quite correct for evening meals, as EMT only does hot snacks and they’re paid for.
On the matter of food, a new facility on Great Western Railway is the ability to reserve a seat online for any Pullman meal at www.gwr.com/plan-journey/journeyinformation/ on- board/ pullman- dining - although you must possess a First Class ticket.
Previously you could only book for the 1803 and 1903 Paddington to Plymouth. Standard ticket holders are still permitted to dine if there is room - there nearly always is on lunch trains, and might well be on others - but can’t book ahead.