Manchester Metrolink - Child Fares

[transportphoto]

Hello All,
Chucked this in here as it isn't an NR issue so doesn't deserve a place in the NR Fares and Ticketing area

According to TfGM's website at http://www.metrolink.co.uk/tickets/concession.asp Children over the age of 11 need photo ID to obtain child rate tickets; to quote:

Children under 5 years, who are travelling with an adult, can travel free on Metrolink trams in Greater Manchester.
Children aged 5 to 16 years can purchase a concessionary ‘Child Fare’ up until the 31 August after their 16th birthday. From 11 years proof of age is required to accompany the child fare, details for the Greater Manchester identification is given below..

My Bold - It then goes on about an Igo Pass

This is what I'd call a tourist trap, because it reads\implies that you need an Igo pass to obtain said child rate fares, however you can not get an Igo pass unless you live or go to school in GM.

I am heading to Manchester for a 'holiday' (in want of a better word) and obviously would like to travel on the metrolink, my question exactly is:

What other photo ID's do they accept for Child fares?

I do have a passport but in all honestly I'd prefer not to take it with me for a domestic trip, will they accept a ATOC Child Rate photocard (RSP 3588/11 - Example attached) for this purpose? I could go through the hassle of getting a PASS ID card but I'd prefer not too... Any Ideas?

Cheers,

TP

(Photocard example source : ATOC)

 

[northernrail]

As far as i am aware they only accept the Igo Pass, dont hold me to this as i either use my Igo, or whenever i loose it i pay full fare.

 

[transportphoto]

Right... OK, I would still like verification - if you are correct I will be complaining to Metrolink/TfGM sharpish! This is a classic example of penalising tourists!

 

[142094]

Right... OK, I would still like verification - if you are correct I will be complaining to Metrolink/TfGM sharpish! This is a classic example of penalising tourists!

Many PTEs do this, as it is the PTE who offers the discounted prices and the people of that area who pay for the PTE.

They should offer a child commercial rate which is normally only 20-30p above the discounted one. If not, tough luck.

 

[transportphoto]

Reading the website again, picking quotes here:

From 11 years proof of age is required to accompany the child fare...

...When you are 11 you need to carry proof of your age to pay the child fare on Metrolink trams. You can use an igo pass to do this.

Doesn't say you have to use the igo pass, it says you can. I get the bus for free so that doesn't bother me, I should imagine that they will accept a passport... I'll take it if I have too :roll:

TP

 

[northernrail]

Myself and many other people i know do not like the Igo Pass, weve gone from kowing every time we got on a bus was 80p to not knowing how much were paying.....GMPTE or TfGM or whatever they call themselves need to enforce the rule with companies.
Many bus drivers allow child fares to be given out without an Igo and when an inspector comes along to check tickets were the ones who end up in trouble for it.

 

[142094]

Doesn't say you have to use the igo pass, it says you can. I get the bus for free so that doesn't bother me, I should imagine that they will accept a passport... I'll take it if I have too :roll:

TP

Probably badly-worded. Certainly in other PTE areas you have to live within that area to qualify.

Send off an e-mail to their Customer Services.

 

[transportphoto]

I will be - Cheers for the help

TP

 

[WestCoast]

As far as I am aware, TfGM/Metrolink doesn't offer 'commercial child fares' and 'igo child fares', there is just one rate. It doesn't work like NEXUS on the Tyne & Wear Metro.

On the Supertram in Sheffield 11-15 year olds have to pay full fare if they don't have a PTE pass (i.e. live outside South Yorkshire). Metrolink offers child fares to all but requests proof-of-age.

 

[142094]

As far as I am aware, TfGM/Metrolink doesn't offer 'commercial child fares' and 'igo child fares', there is just one rate. It doesn't work like NEXUS on the Tyne & Wear Metro.

I've had a quick look and can't find anything, so you are probably right.

 

[transportphoto]

As far as I am aware, TfGM/Metrolink doesn't offer 'commercial child fares' and 'igo child fares', there is just one rate. It doesn't work like NEXUS on the Tyne & Wear Metro.

On the Supertram in Sheffield 11-15 year olds have to pay full fare if they don't have a PTE pass (i.e. live outside South Yorkshire). Metrolink offers child fares to all but requests proof-of-age.

Thank you very much, I shall email them tomorrow.


TP
I get sheffield supertram for free... Oh the joys of being disabled

 

[150222]

I have used my West Yorkshire Metro half fare pass to obtain child fares on the metrolink previously.

 

[WestCoast]

If you're only going on a few journeys, it's unlikely that you'll have to show anything on Metrolink of course, as it's a proof of payment system with ad-hoc ticket inspections (although they do occur daily). However, the penalty fare of up to £100 is much more strict than other PTEs (including TfL actually).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I have used my West Yorkshire Metro half fare pass to obtain child fares on the metrolink previously.

Did it pass on a ticket inspections? Out of interest only, as unfortunately I don't qualify for child fares! :cry:

 

[150222]

If you're only going on a few journeys, it's unlikely that you'll have to show anything on Metrolink of course, as it's a proof of payment system with ad-hoc ticket inspections (although they do occur daily). However, the penalty fare of up to £100 is much more strict than other PTEs (including TfL actually).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Did it pass on a ticket inspections? Out of interest only, as unfortunately I don't qualify for child fares! :cry:

Yes it did however I'm not sure if they saw it. Other times there was no inspection. I do not hold an igo pass (obviously).

 

[WestCoast]

Yes it did however I'm not sure if they saw it. Other times there was no inspection. I do not hold an igo pass (obviously).

Ah, I see. The staff will often tend to use their discretion and own personal judgement with child fares.

Metrolink is a proof-of-payment system like many other urban rail networks across the UK & Europe, so inspections will not occur on every journey.

 

[transmanche]

I don't think TfL even have child fares any more on their bus services. Under 11s travel free. 11-15s travel free with a Zip card - if you don't have one, you have to pay adult fare. (However, you can get an 11-15 Zip card even if you don't live in London.)

 

[tom1649]

On the Supertram in Sheffield 11-15 year olds have to pay full fare if they don't have a PTE pass (i.e. live outside South Yorkshire). Metrolink offers child fares to all but requests proof-of-age.

Supertram never charged me full fare when I was between 11 and 15 and I live outside South Yorkshire. Maybe the rules have changed since then. Maybe I got lucky with conductors.

 

[WatcherZero]

Its partly the Government cuts, with transport budgets slashed by a third councils and PTEs across the country are concentrating the remaining resources on their own citizens, same can be seen in pensioners bus passes, formerly a universal benefit now becoming a local one.

 

[jnrsnr]

Supertram never charged me full fare when I was between 11 and 15 and I live outside South Yorkshire. Maybe the rules have changed since then. Maybe I got lucky with conductors.

supertram would not accept an TfGM igo pass so i had to pay full fare i would like to think metrolink would accept other forms of ID but i dont think they will. I personally think that there should be a national under 16's concessionary pass but hey...

 

[WestCoast]

Supertram never charged me full fare when I was between 11 and 15 and I live outside South Yorkshire. Maybe the rules have changed since then. Maybe I got lucky with conductors.

You probably got lucky, technically it's full adult fare on the Supertram if you don't have a SYPTE pass.

If you travel on the train to Sheffield, just buy a Plusbus to travel on the Supertram (only one of two tram systems along with NET to accept them) - just £2.35 all day for railcard holders or £1.75 all day for under 16s!

 

[Jonfun]

They appear to have changed the wording since bringing in the scheme (good, because it was unfair).

Original publicity stated that if you're aged 11 to 16 you'd need an igo pass to travel at the concessionary fare on buses and Metrolink trams. Now the publicity only appears to state buses, and that you simply need to prove your age on trams, which suggests matters have changed.

HTH

Jon.

 

[Samtron2000]

I thought only 11-16yo who lived within the PTE area qualified for concessionary fares, hence each PTE had their own ID card! I'm 35 and I remember having to have an ID card!!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I thought only 11-16yo who lived within the PTE area qualified for concessionary fares, hence each PTE had their own ID card! I'm 35 and I remember having to have an ID card!!

This was also my understanding of the matter.

 

[185]

Some confusion arises:

Child fare:
All those 12-15 should hold an igo pass. Valid at any time. Without this, it's at the inspectors discretion & judgement if the person is 15 or under. XXXXGM residents onlyXX can apply for an igo pass.

A scholars permit is available to an from college (not uni) for ages 16, 17, and 18. Valid to and from college.

Having a beard, being bald and looking about 30 don't really help matters.

 

[transportphoto]

Child fare:
All those 12-15 should hold an igo pass. Valid at any time. Without this, it's at the inspectors discretion & judgement if the person is 15 or under. All, regardless of location can apply for an igo pass.

Hello 158,

Can you source this? TfGM's igo pass website seems to contradict you, http://www.tfgm.com/igo/ under the 'apply' tab:

You can only get an igo pass if you live or go to school in Greater Manchester.

TP

 

[WestCoast]

You used to be able to get a GMPTE Under 16 ID pass regardless of where you lived, but igo replaced this and is for those living in Greater Manchester only.

 

[transportphoto]

Update for you all, I have recieved a reply from Metrolink customer services saying that the NR Child Rate photocard as shown in post 1 ([post]965209[/post]) is infact a valid proof of age, I have just sent off a scan to double check this with her, this rules out any chances of saying that there was a mis-understanding with what I was on about

TP

 

[185]

You used to be able to get a GMPTE Under 16 ID pass regardless of where you lived, but igo replaced this and is for those living in Greater Manchester only.

Woops, sorry. Tis correct. Didn't realise it had changed, the thing that threw me was someone I found not too long ago produced an expired igo pass as ID, but gave a Cheshire (Knutsford) address as their home address.

For the record, despite living outside the county, many years ago I used to hold an ID-16 card - it was during the war (well, Merseybus v GM Buses).

 

[transportphoto]

I have now been told explicitly by an official metrolink representative in their customer experience team that said photocard (RSP 3588/11) will 'be fine' as proof of eligibility for child fares on Metrolink

Cheers for Help all,

TP

 

[WatcherZero]

Woops, sorry. Tis correct. Didn't realise it had changed, the thing that threw me was someone I found not too long ago produced an expired igo pass as ID, but gave a Cheshire (Knutsford) address as their home address.

For the record, despite living outside the county, many years ago I used to hold an ID-16 card - it was during the war (well, Merseybus v GM Buses).

There are some exceptions for people who live in Cheshire but go to school in Greater Manchester