Lampshade
Established Member
Hi All
I regularly commute in Manchester from the Bolton direction, and while the closest station to my office is Salford Crescent (so I usually alight there in the morning and walk), I buy my ticket through to Manchester as firstly it’s the same price, and secondly it gives me the flexibility to return from a city centre station in the evening. Being an Anytime Day Return (not advances) I’m perfectly entitled to do this - am I not?
Every morning passengers using Northern’s app/e-tickets are funnelled through a single gate at Salford Crescent, having to scan their tickets on a seperate machine, with staff barking at mobile users to use that gate, and a team waiting for anyone who's ticket isn't accepted.
Now is my ticket ever accepted? Of course it isn't. Then invariably the guy I'm directed to doesn't have a clue, last summer I got challenged by them for alighting there with a SEASON TICKET, and the most recent encounter:
"This ticket is to Manchester"
Me: "Yes"
"This is Salford, this is not Manchester"
Me: *resisting the temptation to be massively sarcastic* "Yes, it's a valid ticket"
"Oh - are you going that way?" *gesticulating northbound*
Me: "No - I am breaking my journey here" - and walked out
Dare I ask - what is the need for this? If it's an issue with Northern not trusting passengers to use app/e-tickets then withdraw them, the above is just not okay.
I regularly commute in Manchester from the Bolton direction, and while the closest station to my office is Salford Crescent (so I usually alight there in the morning and walk), I buy my ticket through to Manchester as firstly it’s the same price, and secondly it gives me the flexibility to return from a city centre station in the evening. Being an Anytime Day Return (not advances) I’m perfectly entitled to do this - am I not?
Every morning passengers using Northern’s app/e-tickets are funnelled through a single gate at Salford Crescent, having to scan their tickets on a seperate machine, with staff barking at mobile users to use that gate, and a team waiting for anyone who's ticket isn't accepted.
Now is my ticket ever accepted? Of course it isn't. Then invariably the guy I'm directed to doesn't have a clue, last summer I got challenged by them for alighting there with a SEASON TICKET, and the most recent encounter:
"This ticket is to Manchester"
Me: "Yes"
"This is Salford, this is not Manchester"
Me: *resisting the temptation to be massively sarcastic* "Yes, it's a valid ticket"
"Oh - are you going that way?" *gesticulating northbound*
Me: "No - I am breaking my journey here" - and walked out
Dare I ask - what is the need for this? If it's an issue with Northern not trusting passengers to use app/e-tickets then withdraw them, the above is just not okay.