Isle of Man Tickets

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Any advice on a 1 day ticket for IOM steam & electric railway.
Do you have to apply by post for a Go Explore card or are they available on the day at the station?

 

[cool110]

You don't need the card, 1 day tickets are available on paper.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Any advice on a 1 day ticket for IOM steam & electric railway.
Do you have to apply by post for a Go Explore card or are they available on the day at the station?

Just to add to what others have said, you can easily buy it on any Bus Vannin bus from the driver too, which is worth considering if you are travelling to any station by bus and want to save time upon arrival.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The one day version is available on paper, you can buy it from a bus driver as well as at the railway stations and tram guards.

The multi-day version has to be on the Go card, but you can buy them in advance or on the first day of travel at railway stations or at the Welcome Centre in the Sea Terminal in Douglas. My experience is that, bizarrely, the best place to buy it is at the Welcome Centre and not at a railway station.

 

[philthetube]

also from the visitor centre at Douglas harbour.

 

[randyrippley]

also from the visitor centre at Douglas harbour.

Isn't that the same place?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

You don't need the card, 1 day tickets are available on paper.

What's the actual cost for the 1 day ticket? And having bought one, what validity does it then allow?

 

[AlastairFraser]

What's the actual cost for the 1 day ticket? And having bought one, what validity does it then allow?

£21 for the 1 day Go Explore (everything apart from the night buses, which are half fare. So the steam trains, electric trams, mountain railway, buses etc.).
£7.50 for the 1 day Go Saver (just the buses, so maybe useful if you were doing a non railway day of holiday).

 

[Tetchytyke]

also from the visitor centre at Douglas harbour.

That is the Welcome Centre.

What's the actual cost for the 1 day ticket? And having bought one, what validity does it then allow?

All the fares are available here: https://www.iombusandrail.im/media/2926/new-fare-chart-2024.pdf

The 1-day Go Explore is £21. It is valid all day on all daytime service buses, the steam railway, the electric railway, the Snaefell railway, the Groudle Glen railway (when operating), the Laxey Mines railway (when operating), and the horse tram. It gives you half fare on the Night Owl/Hullad Oie night buses (these are double fare so effectively you just pay the night bus premium).

Given a Douglas-Snaefell return is £19, it's very good value.

There's also a 3-day version for £42 (+£2 card fee) if you're staying for a while, but that has to be on the smartcard. You can buy the smartcard at the Welcome Centre when you arrive.

The 1-day Go Saver bus ticket is £7.50, again valid on all daytime service buses but only worth it if you will be doing a lot of travelling- the maximum daytime bus fare on the island is £3.60, so if you're only going on a couple of buses it's cheaper to buy singles.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

Isn't that the same place?

The one day version is available on paper, you can buy it from a bus driver as well as at the railway stations and tram guards.

The multi-day version has to be on the Go card, but you can buy them in advance or on the first day of travel at railway stations or at the Welcome Centre in the Sea Terminal in Douglas. My experience is that, bizarrely, the best place to buy it is at the Welcome Centre and not at a railway station.

You can also get the Go card at the airport, or at any rate you could when I went about three years ago.

 

[Tetchytyke]

You can also get the Go card at the airport, or at any rate you could when I went about three years ago.

You can in theory, but it's very hit and miss whether the information desk at the airport is staffed now. I wouldn't rely on it.

 

[philthetube]

Isn't that the same place?

yes, sorry

Worth bearing in mind that if the ferry is half an hour late the office will be closed.