Transport for Greater Manchester have announced that one day travelcards will no longer be available for purchase through the get me there app from mid-June as part of a continued crackdown on fare evasion. Its said that a number of passengers chose not to travel with a ticket and then when they see inspectors board the trams quickly purchase this ticket on the app and so the hope is the removal of this ticket will stop that occurring again.
In speaking about the decision, Daniel Vaughan, TfGM Head of Metrolink, said: “We are operating in an extremely challenging financial environment, and whilst most passengers are honest and travel on Metrolink with valid tickets, we know that a minority blatantly try to travel without paying, only buying a single ticket via the app when they see ticket inspections taking place. This type of behaviour is dishonest and unfair on fare-paying passengers. Fare evasion also takes potential revenue away that could be invested into network improvements and extensions which benefit all users, plus ensures that we can continue to operate current services, which millions of people across Greater Manchester rely on to access work, leisure, and essential services.”
Although the one day travelcard option will be removed from the app there remain many options for this type of ticket. Using a contactless card sees fares automatically capped at the usual day ticket rate and the travelcard will still be available to purchase through ticket machines. The app will also still allow for the purchase of 7 day and 28 day travelcards.
Mr Vaughan continued: “We have made the decision to remove certain ticket options from the app, particularly as contactless travel popularity continues to grow. Approximately 150,000 contactless journeys are made every week and growing, and we would encourage anyone with a contactless enabled bank card that requires a single or 1-day travelcard to use this method of payment. Contactless works out the best fare for you, just remember to touch-in and touch-out at the start and end of each journey, using the same card or device, and you’ll never pay more than the daily or weekly cap.”
The one day travelcard will be removed from the get me there app from 13th June.
Just screams… actual revenue protection (i.e Guards/Conductors) instead make it more difficult for the majority.. (at time when passengers numbers still recovering)
Just imagine the fair increase to cover that, 100+ trams out a day, let’s say a full day’s service could be covered by one Guard in the AM and one in the PM, that’s 200+ extra staff every weekday alone to recruit/pay.
Still allowing contactless travel with a daily cap hardly makes it more difficult, does it. Surely ‘flashing your card’ is less time consuming and fiddly than enabling a function on an app.
To be honest I suggest that if TfGM are withdrawing those options from the App that significant numbers are actually sold through that medium. Using the App to buy tickets isn’t exactly the easiest or quickest of transactions so I do wonder how many people use it regularly. There is no doubt that using contactless is the easiest way to purchase a ticket. I doubt that very many genuine honest farepaying passengers will be inconvenienced by the move.
As for introducing conductors safety and security of on tram staff is a consideration especially where coupled sets are in use. I certainly wouldn’t relish undertaking selling tickets alone on the rear tram of a coupled set.