Season Tickets and Recreational Travel in Greater Manchester
'A Fare Deal For You' over the last century (Page 2)
Contents
- Introduction
- Diminishing Returns
- On Board for Increased Patronage
- Ticketing Timeline
- Tickets Past and Present
Though the then Tory Government virtually outlawed cheaper bus fares (following Lord Denning's ruling in favour of Bromley Council over subsidies on London Transport's 'Fares Fair' scheme), cheaper off-peak season tickets were still on the agenda. A project in cooperation with the Peak National Park saw the launch of the Peak Wayfarer ticket. Self-validating by means of a scratchcard, this allowed passengers unlimited bus and rail travel within Greater Manchester and Derbyshire on most buses and scheduled British Rail services for a single day.
1982 saw the dawn of the 'Shop'n'Save' Clippercard, which allowed 10 journeys for the price of 9 at a lower price than the standard Clippercard. Also introduced the same year was the 'Sunday Rover' ticket. With an initial price of 80p, it allowed unlimited bus travel in Greater Manchester on most buses during Sundays and Bank Holidays.
The following year also saw the launch of the Teen Travel Club for 16 - 17 year olds. A reduced rate Clippercard was made available for Teen Travel Club members. A weekly season ticket was made available shortly after.
The start of the 1980s also saw SaverSales outlets moving beyond the bus station. Where the extra expense of opening a bricks and mortar SaverSales outlet were unrenumerative, Greater Manchester Transport introduced mobile SaverSales outlets. These appeared at outdoor markets and on some car parks. Stopping points for mobile SaverSales outlets included Partington's outdoor market and the car park of Ashton-in-Makerfield's Duwit hardware store. If desired, companies could hire the mobile SaverSales van. This would park outside the factory or office during lunch breaks.
By 1985, the number of outlets for Greater Manchester Transport's range of season tickets expanded to include main post offices. For the first time, its tickets were advertised on television. Airing in the Granada region, an animated Cheshire cat showed its contentment with saving money on single fares by purchasing a Clippercard. The choice of slogans were "They Cut The Fares, They Cut the Fuss" and "Get a Clippercard and you're laughing".
Land of Confusion: Deregulation and Through Ticketing
Besides the fragmentation of 50 years work into integrating public transport in Greater Manchester, the 1985 Transport Act saw further complications in terms of through ticketing. Before the 26th October 1986, Greater Manchester's bus network had Greater Manchester Transport, A. Mayne and Son, and a handful of National Bus Company routes operating into the city centre. In the run-up to bus deregulation, the then independent Citibus and Finglands gained licences to run a limited number of routes.
From the 26th October 1986 a wave of locally owned independents competed with the newly renamed GM Buses. In the beginning this led to chaos over the validity of GMPTE's Saver Travel Club tickets. For example, the SaverSeven may be valid for use on the Bee Line Buzz Company services as well GM Buses' but probably not on Stuarts' journeys. Soon after came the Every Bus Saver, a pass which did everything said on the ticket; (almost) every bus in Greater Manchester.
Soon after, companies started offering single operator tickets to ensure passengers stayed loyal to their services. In response to this, GM Buses launched the Busabout ticket, designed for travel on its own services. This was rebranded in 1993 as the SuperGeM range of tickets.
Gaining in greater popularity within that decade were single operator tickets. In some areas, the Every Bus Saver would have been a luxury where a Busabout would have sufficed. The one thing which was holding back progress of such tickets was the technology.
Till the mid 1990s, ticket machines only tendered single, return and day rover tickets. This was to change in 1993 when the Network 7 ticket became available to purchase on board the bus. Soon, the photocard and trip to the SaverSales office was almost obsolete.
Off-Bus Ticket Sales and Information
Traditionally, bus information and season tickets were available from the bus depot's traffic office or the bus operator's time office. For example, the time office at West Didsbury or Levenshulme (Lloyd Road) (as well as ensuring drivers stuck to the timetable) would enable passengers to gain timetables as well as tickets and fare enquiries. As with most areas up to the 1980s, bus depots also served as bus stations.
Soon, bus stations and tram termini started to offered such facilities. In Greater Manchester, this was to change by 1975 when the SaverSeven bus and rail season ticket was launched. Separate to bus information offices, came SaverSales kiosks, where bus and rail season tickets would be purchased. These appeared at all main bus stations throughout Greater Manchester.
With its increased popularity, the SaverSeven led to the Clippercard and an increase in the number of outlets. This ranged from mobile outlets to post offices. The SaverSales office and local post offices became the first stop for most Mancunian bus passengers who wish to renew their season tickets.
This changed again in 1995 when the SaverSales outlets were ditched in favour of the Travelshop. Some information offices, such as the one in Hyde bus station closed with the SaverSales kiosk becoming its Travelshop. The mobile SaverSales outlets were ditched with Travelshop provision maintained at main bus stations.
The Travelshop concept remains in use today with information and ticket sales available under one roof at most main GMPTE bus stations. There are some exceptions, like Altrincham and Hyde bus stations where bus information is available outside Travelshop opening hours. Since then, off-bus ticketing has extended to local off-licences and newsagents where a PayPoint sign is displayed. In 2008, Stagecoach Manchester launched off-bus ticket machines where Manchester Megariders and System One Bus Only season tickets are available to credit and debit card holders on the 192 route.
On board for increased patronage
The middle part of the 1990s saw an increase in the number of bought on the bus weekly tickets. Whereas a journey to the SaverSales office would warrant payment of bus fares to the nearest branch, single operator tickets became a more convenient option.
The newly split GM Buses North and GMS Buses launched separate weekly tickets. Whereas GMS Buses retained the Network 7 pass, GM Buses North launched 'The Big Orange'. As well as its main ticket, The Big Orange spawned regional spin-offs within its operating area. These included The Bury Segment which offered unlimited travel on GM Buses North routes to, from and within Bury. Covering a more smaller area was, for example, the Moston Slice. This was valid on GM Buses North routes with Moston.
