Concessionary Bus Passes

[dca529x]

RE: Concessionary Bus Passes

(16/08/2017 14:20)St Helens Rider Wrote:  This was the case and the price wasn't an issue with regular drivers but caused a few problems with those unfamiliar. There were some weeks when it felt like I was being charged a different fare every day. Also for the first few years, Arriva didn't have the machines were passes are scanned - the driver just pressed a button. I don't know if it is still the case but on the 34 before 9.30, if a GM Concessionary Plus Pass Holder was coming into Merseyside, it was a lower fare than if someone with Merseyside pass was going in the other direction even though the service is in Merseyside for a longer distance.

That, on the face of it does seem inconsistent, but pass availability is driven by time restriction and that will combine with a departure time and running time to the validity point. Lots of variables in that, but it isn't that difficult regardless of what ticketing equipment is used. Drivers on cross border services (such as Arriva's Chester - Wrexham 1) seem to manage OK with that and the added combination of Welsh/English passes. But it seems that some drivers can struggle with what should be reasonably straightforward. All down to staff training.