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Author Topic: Expensive Bus Trips  (Read 7099 times)

Ed

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Expensive Bus Trips
« on: March 14, 2012 »
Hi folks,

Ive been getting the bus down to newcastle a lot these days, paying individually, but its 15 quid return, and if youre going thrice a week it soon adds up!

Does anyone know of a Translink card scheme, like the metro card, where I can pay a certain amount a month and then rip the **** out of it? Like smartlink but for ulsterbus services rather than metro. Does such a thing exist?

Ed
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RedLeader

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Re: Expensive Bus Trips
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2012 »
Arrange a trip on NI-Wild and then bum a lift, that's what I do. I find most members will drive for a free McDonalds on the way ;)
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Spud

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Re: Expensive Bus Trips
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2012 »
Quote from: Ed on March 14, 2012
Hi folks,

Ive been getting the bus down to newcastle a lot these days, paying individually, but its 15 quid return, and if youre going thrice a week it soon adds up!

Does anyone know of a Translink card scheme, like the metro card, where I can pay a certain amount a month and then rip the **** out of it? Like smartlink but for ulsterbus services rather than metro. Does such a thing exist?

Ed

You can get a card which you can top up with a set amount of  journeys for your route (belfast to newcastle in your case )10, 40 etc, and then use them as you go, works out a LOT cheaper than paying for day returns, and the good thing is, you dont have to go back the same day if you are camping etc! You buy it in the bus station, its called a smartlink card
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Ed

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Re: Expensive Bus Trips
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2012 »
Quote from: Spud on March 14, 2012
Quote from: Ed on March 14, 2012
Hi folks,

Ive been getting the bus down to newcastle a lot these days, paying individually, but its 15 quid return, and if youre going thrice a week it soon adds up!

Does anyone know of a Translink card scheme, like the metro card, where I can pay a certain amount a month and then rip the **** out of it? Like smartlink but for ulsterbus services rather than metro. Does such a thing exist?

Ed

You can get a card which you can top up with a set amount of  journeys for your route (belfast to newcastle in your case )10, 40 etc, and then use them as you go, works out a LOT cheaper than paying for day returns, and the good thing is, you dont have to go back the same day if you are camping etc! You buy it in the bus station, its called a smartlink card


Cheers Spud, sounds just the ticket (yeah, I went there)

Do I need a separate card for the return journeys or would it deduct those from the same card?

Ed
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Spud

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Re: Expensive Bus Trips
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2012 »
Just the same card, the card itself gets topped up, and it takes them off the card as and when you use a journey, it lasts for a few months too, so you dont have to use them all in a week or a month etc
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Rusty Madra

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Re: Expensive Bus Trips
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2012 »
I would still be fond of the old hitch hiking, it's not to save money I just think it's a lovely way to travel and you meet such nice people. Be warned tho... not many people stop these days and you'd need to be fairly confident you can handle things if anything goes wrong. Although saying that I've never had any hassle. Usually the folk who stop are lovely people.
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Kayakgirl

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Re: Expensive Bus Trips
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2012 »
I'm up that direction 3 or 4 times a week if you needed a lift back.
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Fred

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Re: Expensive Bus Trips
« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2012 »
Ed, if you are travelling on a Sunday, ask for a rambler ticket. It gives you the freedom of the bus network for about £8.

Fred
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Ed

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Re: Expensive Bus Trips
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2012 »
Quote from: Kayakgirl on March 14, 2012
I'm up that direction 3 or 4 times a week if you needed a lift back.

I may well take you up on that some time!
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Pudd

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Re: Expensive Bus Trips
« Reply #9 on: March 26, 2012 »
Quote from: Fred on March 15, 2012
Ed, if you are travelling on a Sunday, ask for a rambler ticket. It gives you the freedom of the bus network for about £8.

Fred

That offer also applies from the end of July to about the start of September if I remember correctly, and isn't restricted to a Sunday.   
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