Background
For many years Stagecoach has sold one day Explorer tickets
and longer period Goldrider tickets that were valid not just on local
routes but right across its bus network in Southern Britain (with a few
exceptions).
The Stagecoach network in Southern Britain is made up of a
number of local companies. For example, Stagecoach services
around Milton Keynes are provided by Stagecoach East. Services in
Oxford are provided by Stagecoach Oxfordshire. Each company set
its own prices for Explorer and Goldrider tickets but accepts other Stagecoach
company tickets even though they may be sold at a different price.
Internet Sales
During 2008 Stagecoach was keen to introduce more online ticket sales. It
launched a website to sell period tickets on behalf of
all its local companies.
Unfortunately selling these tickets online presents a new problem.
Given that each company sets its own price, there is nothing to stop a
customer buying online from the cheapest company and then using the
ticket somewhere else in Southern Britain. This could result in
companies with the cheapest tickets receiving more than their fair share
of the online revenue.
Geographical Changes
To avoid the problem of customers living in a more expensive area
(e.g. Northampton) buying online from a cheaper area (e.g. South Wales),
Stagecoach decided to redesign its ticket range.
From 2008 its Goldrider period passes will not be valid across
Southern Britain. Instead each Stagecoach company will have a
ticket valid on on its services and perhaps some neighbouring routes.
In the interests of simplicity it was thought a good idea to align
day ticket validities with period passes. Therefore it was planned that
Explorer tickets would no longer be valid across Southern Britain.
Re-think
Fortunately there has been a further re-think and it has now been
agreed that the Explorer day tickets can continue to be valid across
Southern Britain - subject to a few exceptions. It also seems that the
boundaries for the period Goldrider tickets may be more generous than
first envisaged although no details have been confirmed yet.
Other Changes
The re-vamp of the ticket range was accompanied by changes to the
names of some ticket types. In particular, the one day Explorer is being
re-named Dayrider Gold. As indicated in the previous paragraph, the
Dayrider Gold (Explorer) will be valid across Southern Britain except in
Devon and excluding the Oxford to London Express service. Premium fares
will be charged on the X5 service (Oxford to Cambridge), any passenger
carrying an ordinary Explorer or Dayrider Gold ticket will be required
to pay a £1 supplement on the X5.
The Goldrider is renamed Megarider Gold. These period tickets will not be
valid across Southern Britain.
Due to escalating fuel costs during early 2008, many Stagecoach companies
chose to increase fares alongside these changes. A case of less for
more.
Complications
So what are the areas covered by the new Megarider Gold period
tickets?
According to the Stagecoach Megarider website, a Stagecoach
East Megarider Gold is only valid on the buses of Stagecoach East
(although another part of the Stagecoach website defines a more
generous area).
This is likely to be confusing for passengers as most Stagecoach
buses have the same livery whether operating in Perth or Plymouth - so
it is no good simply looking at the bus. Even the name of the operating
company does not help much. For example, the X5 bus from Oxford to
Cambridge via Milton Keynes is not operated by Stagecoach Oxfordshire
nor is it operated by Stagecoach Cambridge, in fact it is
operated by Stagecoach East.
It seems inevitable that, until Stagecoach do some more work
on clarifying boundaries, drivers, managers and customers will be
confused about where they can use these tickets.
Note that a new 4 week
Southern Britain pass will be sold online (not on the bus). It
is not available for periods shorter than 4 weeks.
Any reader who is unhappy about these changes could try complaining to the Marketing
Manager at one of the following addresses.
Milton Keynes, Bedford & Northampton Area
Stagecoach East
Rothersthorpe Avenue
Northampton
NN4 8UT
Oxfordshire Area
Stagecoach in Oxfordshire
Horspath Road
Cowley
Oxford
OX4 2RY
Swindon Area
Stagecoach West
3rd Floor
65 London Road
Gloucester
GL1 3HF
Cambridge Area
Stagecoach in Cambridge
100 Cowley Road
Cambridge
CB4 0DN