CAN you believe it could cost just £99 to entertain the whole family for a year at some of Merseyside’s top tourist attractions?
Well, that was certainly the case until a few days ago when I discovered that the bargain annual pass issued by Mersey Ferries is now sleeping with the fishes.
Upon my attempt to renew my yearly ticket to the Big Mersey Adventure - unlimited access to ferry cruises, Spaceport, the U-boat Story and Beatles Story, - an assistant told me it wasn’t possible because the firm behind the swipe card software had gone into liquidation.
I also noticed that the new combined tickets, now exclude the Beatles Story. Should you wish to take this in too, it will add a whopping £38 to your family day trip - taking the total before refreshments to £78. A Ticket to Ride too far!'
Bosses at Merseytravel, owners of the attractions, scoffed at the idea, claiming the annual pass had been “suspended”, pending a pricing review. It begged the question: why would you suspend something before the review had taken place?
Until I realised that Merseytravel is now championing a new, all singing smart card called Walrus which is being introduced on a staggered basis.
Right now, it is the time for work commuters who use the ferry to switch over to this card. Can it be coincidence that the annual pass card has suddenly been withdrawn?
There has been no announcement on the ferries website, no media notices issued, just a quiet vanishing act. Until now.
I contacted Merseytravel chairman Mark Dowd’s office. No reply. I have missed a trick though. When I tried to renew my pass at Seacombe ferry terminal on Sunday, Cllr Dowd was right outside watching a parade of veterans. Maybe I should have taken the opportunity to buttonhole the great man.
Matthew And Kate
Turnbull Looking GlumMind you, I knew it wouldn’t last. If they can persuade day-tripping families to part with £40 (the standard price for a trip on the ferries with attractions thrown in), why give it away at a bargain bucket rate to local families?
It makes no sense in other ways though: during the quiet winter months at least locals could keep the coffee bars and gift shops ticking over.
I also noticed that the new combined tickets, now exclude the Beatles Story. Should you wish to take this in too, it will add a whopping £38 to your family day trip - taking the total before refreshments to £78. A Ticket to Ride too far!
Here’s the succinct official view from a spokesperson: “The annual pass has been suspended while we carry out a review on ticket pricing.”
I also contacted several Merseytravel board members. Sefton representative Cllr Gordon Friel, a member of Merseytravel but who does not sit on the board, said its decision was regrettable: "It may be that the cost of the pass was too low but the answer would have been to increase it, not stop it. The board appeared to make the decision on the basis of changing systems but even then they could have brought in interim measures.
"I will try and use what influence I have to try and get something in place."
Cllr John Salter, Wirral member, said: "The annual pass was discontinued for commercial reasons at the end of March this year (we are honouring the ones out in the marketplace until they come up for renewal).
“The technology platform for the pass has been discontinued and could no longer be efficiently supported going forward.
"We had not sold many in the last 12 months and supporting the pass was costing more than the income generated so there was no commercial justification to keep it. Any potential new/replacement pass will be considered by Merseytravel’s Smart and Integrated Ticketing Team as part of our Walrus Smartcard initiative."
Not commercially viable? A bargain like this?
Farewell dear ferries.
