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Improving the customer offer
for bus users
BUS passengers travelling around the
Liverpool City Region can benefit from an improved ticket offer, from Monday, 30
January 2017.
The introduction of a new ticket and new way of buying existing ones, are a
result of Merseytravel, Arriva and Stagecoach working together through the Bus
Alliance.
Arriva's Merseyside Adult and Young Person's Weekly Saver tickets and
Stagecoach's Adult and Young Person's 7 day Merseyside Megarider plus+ tickets
are now available to buy and renew on a Walrus Card on the bus.
There is no change to prices or validity and Walrus cards are reusable and allow
customers to simply top it up on the bus when they need to.
This is all about the next stage in the journey to ensuring transport tickets
are available on smart platforms. Customers are asked to retain their Walrus
card for future use especially as there are plans to start an activation fee on
all new cards in the near future.
On the same day, Merseytravel has also launched a new adult One Day Solo bus
ticket. It's available to buy on bus services within Merseyside and gives
customers the freedom to travel on any bus, any time with just one ticket for
£4.70. It is valid through peak times.
Arriva day saver tickets for £4.30 and Stagecoach dayrider tickets for £4 are
unchanged and will remain accepted by either operator on Quality Bus Network
journeys.
Smart card and multi operator ticketing are the key focus of the Bus Alliance a
formal agreement between Merseytravel, Arriva and Stagecoach (who together
operate 90% of commercial bus services in the Liverpool City Region)
with the aim of getting more people travelling by bus and driving up investment
for all who use them.
Significant investment in recent years has seen the customer experience on bus
improved and we expect this progress to continue.
As 80% of public transport journeys in the City Region are made by bus, there is
potential for bus to play a much more significant role in growing our economy,
better linking people with jobs and opportunities, education and leisure.
Said Cllr Liam Robinson Chair of the Merseytravel Committee:- "The Bus
Alliance is transforming the approach to tickets and ticket buying to make the
process more convenient and efficient for customers by making the most of
technology and offering new products.
The new Adult One Day Solo is an example of how we are improving the customer
offer to help make bus a mode of choice rather than last resort.
This ticket could benefit those who don't travel regularly or have different
working patterns including part time workers, students and leisure travellers.
Some of these bus users may be spending unnecessarily, on a weekly ticket or a
season ticket or in a single day, or may have had to buy a number of different
bus tickets across different services."
Howard Farrall, Managing Director Arriva Merseyside said:- "The new one
day multi-operator Solo ticket is a great step forward for the Bus Alliance,
giving increased flexibility to the travelling public in Merseyside. By adding
the Arriva Weekly Saver Ticket range to the already successful Walrus card,
customers will have even more flexibility when choosing their best ticket
option."
Rob Jones, managing director of Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire,
said:- "This is great news for bus users across the Liverpool City Region
who will enjoy a more accessible ticket range as a direct result of the
partnership between Arriva, Merseytravel and Stagecoach.
Using technology is a great way to deliver greater convenience for passengers
and we're pleased that customers purchasing Stagecoach's Adult and Young
Person's 7 day Merseyside Megarider plus+ tickets on the bus can now do so using
the Walrus card.
Dayrider tickets remain available on the bus or the Stagecoach bus app."
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