STORM brews over broken machines

TICKET machine problems . . . on the Metrolink network

A PASSENGER watchdog is highlighting problems with machines on the Metrolink network that may not be just the ticket for travellers.

STORM ­- Support The Oldham Rochdale Manchester lines ­- says a host of issues surround tram ticket machines at local stations.

One member told the group's latest meeting about when he tried to purchase an off-peak ticket from Milnrow.

He said: "The machine on the Manchester-bound platform was tarpaulined over and the machine on the Rochdale-bound platform was only accepting coins.

"The note accepter has been blanked off and the card accepter was stuck, showing a previous customer's £4 fare and would not clear whatever buttons were pushed.

"As I didn't have sufficient coinage I opted to travel to Shaw without a ticket hoping an explanation would suffice should an inspection occur.

"But at Shaw only one of the two ticket machines on the Manchester-bound platform was in service.

"In order to ensure full validity I had to buy a £5 day travel pass rather than a return to Manchester (40p more than the return from Milnrow) otherwise I would have again been invalid for the return leg to Milnrow."

Another STORM member cited problems at Hollinwood with ticket machines jammed by vandals and a screen on another machine smashed.

"It seems to be a problem at most stops," he added. "Hollinwood tram stop has been without a note accepter for a year. It seems any machine that has been vandalised doesn't get replaced.

"It would be interesting to know what the legal position would be if a passenger were fined for not having a ticket and decided to fight it in court."

The meeting was told many Metrolink ticket machines have the note acceptor plated off, allegedly due to thieves tampering with the machines.

"They have been like this for months with no public explanation or information on the Metrolink website," he claimed.

STORM was originally formed more than 25 years ago to campaign to keep open the Oldham loop line from Rochdale via Oldham to Manchester Victoria.

It now continues to monitor and lobby Transport for Greater Manchester, the local council through the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, MPs and train operators to improve services and raise passenger-related concerns.

And the group watches all aspects of bus provision around Rochdale and Oldham including cross-county services serving Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

TfGM's Metrolink director Peter Cushing, said: "A number of machines across the network have been targeted by thieves and, as a result, are not able to accept bank notes.

Aware

"The issue of coin chutes being deliberately blocked is something we are very aware of and are working with the police and operator to address.

"With more than 250 machines across the network it's simply not possible to monitor them all at the same time at all times of the day and night.

"We monitor and actively check machines at key stops or those targeted persistently and are always on the lookout for known offenders.

"While we will do all we can to combat this, our customers can help us to, by being alert and vigilant to anything untoward occurring and, importantly, letting us know immediately if they don't receive any change when they should.

"We are working with our contractor to repair the machines as quickly as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused."