Ticket Purchase at Daisy Hill

Has anyone travelled from Daisy Hill station in the past month - or more specifically been able to buy a ticket from there?

Reason for asking is that both Northern and Network Rail websites have similar info regarding the installation of a lift at Daisy Hill.

Apparently the new lift is being installed in the booking hall, meaning the booking office is temporarily closed and I suspect TVM unavailable.

Northern's advice is here:-
https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/engineering/daisyhill-irlam

Daisy Hill
At Daisy Hill station, a comprehensive £4 million investment will usher in significant upgrades. A pivotal addition will be the installation of a passenger lift, facilitating step-free access to and from the platform. Additionally, enhancements to the station’s accessible car parking facilities will further enhance convenience for passengers with mobility needs. Works at Daisy Hill Station are scheduled to commence in mid-March 2024, with completion expected by December 2024.

While these works will deliver important benefits and step-free access at the station, there will be some disruption for passengers during the construction phase, which will include:

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To install the lift, there will be a change to the ticket office and booking hall at the entrance of the station to create a new lift lobby area. During this phase of internal works, the ticket office will be closed with an alternative option for provision for tickets to be confirmed. Passengers will still be able to purchase tickets from alternative ticket offices, online or via the Northern app.

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The implication to regular punters (unfamiliar with NRCoT 6.1.3) would sound like "if you want to buy or collect a physical ticket, you'll need to go to Hindley, Atherton or Lostock for it".

Whereas this should really mean . . . "Just board the train at Daisy Hill without a ticket, or Promise to Pay chit, and pay the conductor, or at a convenient interchange along the way, or at your destination"

Hopefully Daisy Hill customers can get away with this course of action without let or hinderance from RPIs, Penalty Fares, or untrained Northern gateline contractors when they get to their destination.

Unless, of course, Daisy Hill has some sort of Portakabin booking office and/or relocated TVM in use. Anyone know?

The guard usually walks through the train after departing Daisy Hill (although heading towards Manchester may be after Atherton due to the short distances between Daisy Hill, Hag Fold and Atherton). Alternatively, maybe just make the guard aware as you board (assuming you're in the right place!)

Coincidental(?) related thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/penalty-fare-disability-ocd.266188

Egg Centric said:

Coincidental(?) related thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/penalty-fare-disability-ocd.266188

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My query was coincidental and unrelated to that linked post in the Disputes forum.

But it does sound like the booking office at Daisy Hill is pretty much out of action at the moment. Possibly there is still an operational TVM there (I'm interested more in TOD collection at DSY for split ticket journeys rather than simple purchases). And it certainly seems like Northern RPIs are still hitting passengers with PFs if they board there without a ticket.

Let's hope there is some budget in the £4million to provide something more than the totally inadequate bus shelter on the platform, unlike neighbouring Atherton, Walkden and Swinton which retain their overall roof!