Transport chiefs have announced they are scrapping one-day travel cards from the Metrolink app - telling people to instead use contactless machines to tap in and out if they prefer digital tickets. A spokesman said a 'minority' of commuters are taking advantage of ticketing systems to evade fares.
Critics have hit back, saying there are more effective ways to tackle the problem. People have highlighted the fact that with contactless payment, travellers who forget to tap out are charged the maximum ticket price.
Anneka Patel tweeted: "I often buy my ticket on the app when walking to the tram to save time," she wrote. "Contactless machines aren't always working."
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Bronagh O'Brien dubbed it a 'poor decision', claiming contactless machines are often in an unusable state or are busy, which causes issues for people in a hurry.
She said: "[You] can hardly force day travellers to tap in and out when almost always the machines are smashed up at my stop or you’re stuck behind a queue of people tapping ‘off’ on the one working machine when you’re trying to tap on and miss your tram."
Metrolink bosses maintain that the contactless system gives the best possible fare for everyone - and say they recently ran an extensive campaign to remind people to touch in and out.
Others called the app 'convenient', saying tickets could be bought 'en route'. Sarah Dawkins said she stopped using contactless after she was overcharged 'so many times' when she missed a swipe.
It was also pointed out that fare dodgers could always simply neglect to tap in or out - and chance not running into a ticket inspector.
One man we spoke to on a Metrolink platform, who asked not to be named, said: "I think the main issue a lot of people have with paying is that some people pay and some people don't. It isn’t fair.
"I don't think this will work as there are other ways to get around paying."
Several people told the Manchester Evening News they weren't even aware the app was an option. Edward Parsons, from Chorlton, said he always goes contactless.
"It does the best thing for me," he added.
Danny Vaughan, 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.
“With this in mind, 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.”
Single tickets and day travelcards will still be available to purchase from ticket machines, while weekend, 7-day and 28-day travelcards will continue to be available to buy on the app.
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