Sunday 2nd April will see the latest fare increase in Blackpool affecting both trams and buses. Not only does that date see prices rise but is also sees the removal of return tickets on the tramway (although a 1 day ticket is cheaper than this would have cost and gives you unlimited travel) and possibly more significantly the change from 24 hour tickets to 1 day tickets and validity of saver tickets being until the end of a days service rather than an exact 24 hour/weekly period.
In making the announcement of the changes Blackpool Transport said: “These changes will help us to maintain the frequency, coverage and quality of our network. We would otherwise have to consider cutting services, which would affect the journeys of many of our customers. We appreciate this fare change comes at a difficult time but we still want to deliver a high quality, high value service. We have simplified our ticket range to make it easier to understand. In addition, we have made app and onboard ticket prices the same to guarantee that customers who buy directly from us always get the best value.”
The main changes to fares (related to trams only) are:
- Adult single – £3.20 (was £2.90) This covers any single journey on the tramway regardless of distance
- Adult return – removed (was £5.00)
- Adult Day – £6.00 (previously 24 hour ticket was £6.20 on the app/£6.60 onboard) The ticket is now cheaper but whereas before if you purchased it as 1000 on one day it would last until 0959 the next. Now it doesn’t matter what time of day you buy the ticket it will be valid until the end of the days service.
- Adult 3 Day – £17.50 (was £15.50 on app/£16.50 on board)
- Adult 7 Day – £22.00 (was £17.50 on app/£18.50 on board)
As well as these fare changes, weekly capping will be introduced for anyone who pays via Tap & Go. This means no-one will ever be charged more than the price of a 7 day ticket in any 7 day period. There will also be daily capping so you would never pay more than £6 for travel within a single day.
At the risk of stating the obvious (or perhaps I am not correct) I expect that none of these tickets allows travel on the heritage trams.
The new minimum fare is more than the contactless payment fare for tube in Central London (currently £2.80) but a good deal less than the cash fare of £6.70 to be fair. Maybe Blackpool Transport should consider introducing the equivalent of the London Oyster Card as a prepayment option for ‘pay as you go’ travellers. That would allow them to offer a lower fare for those who would be willing to use such a system and charge more for cash transactions as is the case in London. I expect such a scheme would bring similar benefits to Blackpool Transport as the Oyster Card does for TFL.
Let’s face it, with most other prices in Blackpool approaching those of London (taxis, hotels, restaurants, etc,) and given it is a popular tourist resort, then it seems logical that Blackpool Transport take a leaf out of TFL’s book.
Blackpool and London may both be popular tourist destinations but that’s where the similarity ends… Blackpool is a ‘cheap and cheerful’ seaside resort visited by families on a tight budget, and there are LOADS of cheap hotels, cafes and other things to do! As with so many businesses around the UK, Blackpool Transport seem to want to price most of the common working classes out of using its services.
I think these price hikes are absolutely disgusting – and the idea of a flat fare regardless of whether you want to travel between piers or go to Fleetwood is absolutely stupid. Another nail in the coffin of a once great tramway.
Oh and re: David’s comment – heritage tickets are much more expensive than this!
Flat fares do not work when they are so high! Not being able to use a national concession pass on the prom after 1800 is disgusting and forcing people to pay the high fares to go a few stops. maybe its to stop the chronic overcrowding to price it out?
Get the Conductors to bother actually collecting fares and get some sort of system in place to get fares when its rammed busy instead of makig the fare payers cover the thousands lost.
Can you explain why there is no family ticket any more it makes it expensive for a family now
Blackpool Transport would need to give their reasoning for the change but they have said they have merged the family and group ticket so that any group of five people can buy that ticket now.