Northern 'newspaper offer day rangers' on strike days

[roversfan2001]

The Northern website says that "Most tickets, except Advance Purchase tickets, enable you to travel on other operator’s trains on your chosen route, whatever the day of your journey." Does anyone know whether that would allow me to use the TPE trains from Preston to Manchester (taking 40 minutes) or would I have to get the replacement bus (taking 4 times as long). I was thinking of getting the £17.50 Northern weekend ranger ticket but if it's use is extremely limited on Saturday I won't bother.

 

[Starmill]

I would imagine that TransPennine Express would not wish to accept this ticket. However... experience suggests that, on Saturday strike days, unless you travel very early in the morning or are lucky enough to catch a 6 or 8 car diagram, the train will be so busy between Manchester and Preston that not everybody will be able to board. This may be bad for you, if you are left behind. However, it would also mean that no onboard ticket inspection could take place.