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West Midlands Buses in Discussion => National Express West Midlands => Topic started by: BigDaddyCool on September 03, 2017, 11:26:50 AM

Title: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: BigDaddyCool on September 03, 2017, 11:26:50 AM
I see that NXWM have introduced yet another daysaver to the following areas

- Bearwood
- Longbridge
- Selly Oak
- Maypole
- Longbridge
- Sutton Coldfield
- Castle Vale
- Smethwick

I have to say all these new tickets and subsequent restrictions on boundaries is getting awfully confusing. I'd like to say I'm fairly clued up when it comes to navigating around the Midlands on buses, however these are even starting to baffle me! I could no longer tell you the cheapest option to get from A to B - God knows how a regular bus traveller would cope? Furthermore, it's not like they can get the answers from the drivers, the majority look like at you like you're speaking in Russian.

Why not just simplify it all and re-introduce and market one standard daysaver priced at £3.50 to use anytime & anywhere?

Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: 2206 on September 03, 2017, 11:31:36 AM
Quote from: BigDaddyCool on September 03, 2017, 11:26:50 AM
I see that NXWM have introduced yet another daysaver to the following areas

- Bearwood
- Longbridge
- Selly Oak
- Maypole
- Longbridge
- Sutton Coldfield
- Castle Vale
- Smethwick

I have to say all these new tickets and subsequent restrictions on boundaries is getting awfully confusing. I'd like to say I'm fairly clued up when it comes to navigating around the Midlands on buses, however these are even starting to baffle me! I could no longer tell you the cheapest option to get from A to B - God knows how a regular bus traveller would cope? Furthermore, it's not like they can get the answers from the drivers, the majority look like at you like you're speaking in Russian.

Why not just simplify it all and re-introduce and market one standard daysaver priced at £3.50 to use anytime & anywhere?
http://nxbus.co.uk/localdaysaverjune17
New Outer Birmingham local daysaver, (including Outer Birmingham, North Solihull, Coleshill, Water Orton and some parts of Sandwell). The inner border is the Outer Circle.
Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: DJ on September 03, 2017, 12:21:41 PM
Quote from: 2206 on September 03, 2017, 11:31:36 AM
http://nxbus.co.uk/localdaysaverjune17
New Outer Birmingham local daysaver, (including Outer Birmingham, North Solihull, Coleshill, Water Orton and some parts of Sandwell). The inner border is the Outer Circle.

I still find it stupid that there's a Sandwell and Dudley daysaver that doesn't cover the whole of Sandwell. It's a bit confusing if you don't know the boundaries.
Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: karl724223 on September 03, 2017, 12:58:26 PM
I'm a driver and I'm confused now
Our Sandwell and Dudley daysaver is valid from start of service valid to quinton
But is quinton to bearwood daysaver only valid after 0930 ??
Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: Jack on September 03, 2017, 01:05:30 PM
Quote from: 2206 on September 03, 2017, 11:31:36 AM
http://nxbus.co.uk/localdaysaverjune17
New Outer Birmingham local daysaver, (including Outer Birmingham, North Solihull, Coleshill, Water Orton and some parts of Sandwell). The inner border is the Outer Circle.
North Birmingham boundaries sounds good even though I don't live there anymore. But I don't get why some routes will have two local daysavers. E.g. the 51 has the Walsall low fare zone and will now have the New Outer Birmingham local daysaver. Serves both Perry Barr and Great Barr, not forgetting its lower deck windows are plastered with Walsall low fare zone stickers. Quite a silly one tbh. I think Wolverhampton or Solihull should have a low fare zone.
Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: DJ on September 03, 2017, 01:32:33 PM
Quote from: Jack on September 03, 2017, 01:05:30 PM
North Birmingham boundaries sounds good even though I don't live there anymore. But I don't get why some routes will have two local daysavers. E.g. the 51 has the Walsall low fare zone and will now have the New Outer Birmingham local daysaver. Serves both Perry Barr and Great Barr, not forgetting its lower deck windows are plastered with Walsall low fare zone stickers. Quite a silly one tbh. I think Wolverhampton or Solihull should have a low fare zone.

Same with the 11/13, it has the Walsall low fare zone from Walsall to Wednesbury, which is often plastered over the windows on the crimson B7RLE's, and then there's the Sandwell and Dudley one from Wednesbury to Dudley. It's better value for a lot of people, but it also makes it a fair bit more confusing.
Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: Trident 4194 on September 03, 2017, 01:43:46 PM
Quote from: DJ98 on September 03, 2017, 01:32:33 PM
Same with the 11/13, it has the Walsall low fare zone from Walsall to Wednesbury, which is often plastered over the windows on the crimson B7RLE's, and then there's the Sandwell and Dudley one from Wednesbury to Dudley. It's better value for a lot of people, but it also makes it a fair bit more confusing.

Same with the 4/4H/4M
Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: Jack on September 03, 2017, 01:53:17 PM
Quote from: DJ98 on September 03, 2017, 01:32:33 PM
Same with the 11/13, it has the Walsall low fare zone from Walsall to Wednesbury, which is often plastered over the windows on the crimson B7RLE's, and then there's the Sandwell and Dudley one from Wednesbury to Dudley. It's better value for a lot of people, but it also makes it a fair bit more confusing.
The WB 46 now aswell. West Brom to Newton Road where the M5 goes underneath. I'm not sure about Hamstead. I think the Sandwell boundaries are quite daft. Only half of the Newton Road and and not in Hamstead.The 451 too. Too confusing. Should be all of Sandwell.

The Walsall low fare zone on the 311/13 should only be up to J9 island as that's where the Walsall boundary ends for the 311/13. Wood Green, The Myvod and Wednesbury are Sandwell.
Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: Westy on September 03, 2017, 08:05:56 PM
As Walsall depot only operate 2 routes into South Staffs, surely they should be included in the Walsall zone?
Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: Cheese on September 03, 2017, 08:27:22 PM
Quote from: Westy on September 03, 2017, 08:05:56 PM
As Walsall depot only operate 2 routes into South Staffs, surely they should be included in the Walsall zone?

Other than the handful of X51 journeys to Cannock, which other Walsall depot routes run into South Staffs?  The 6, 10 and 937 (one journey) run into Lichfield District but can't think of another Walsall route in South Staffs, apart from school service 868.
Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: Stuharris 6360 on September 03, 2017, 10:40:00 PM
If drivers are getting confused, then what chance do ordinary passengers stand.

Wonder how the revenue protection inspectors will get on?
Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: 2206 on September 03, 2017, 10:56:53 PM
Quote from: karl724223 on September 03, 2017, 12:58:26 PM
I'm a driver and I'm confused now
Our Sandwell and Dudley daysaver is valid from start of service valid to quinton
But is quinton to bearwood daysaver only valid after 0930 ??
Yes, valid after 09:30 Monday to Friday and all day weekend.
http://nxbus.co.uk/localdaysaverjune17
Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: Stuharris 6360 on September 03, 2017, 11:27:31 PM
Isn't the point of having a range of tickets to make them as uncomplicated as possible, surely you cannot punish people for using tickets incorrectly if the faare structure is so complicated that the drivers are confused.
Title: Re: Regional tickets and daysavers
Post by: JoNi on September 08, 2017, 06:02:12 PM
In the age of Swift there is a proliferation of Operator based products (tickets to you and me) when the Buses Bill should act as enabler for simplification rather franchising.