Borderlands line passengers could be overpaying at station terminals, Flintshire councillor warns
A motion going before Flintshire County Council this week calls for a public warning over contactless payment terminals at Borderlands line train stations, after warning that some passengers are being charged more than they need to pay.
The motion, put forward by Cllr Alasdair Ibbotson of Flintshire People’s Voice, says the terminals installed at stations including Shotton, Hawarden, Caergwrle, Hope, Penyffordd and Buckley cannot offer discounted fares to children, railcard holders, older people, disabled people or veterans.
Those passengers are charged a full adult fare if they use the terminals.
The motion also says some signage wrongly suggests the terminals will give passengers the lowest available fare, when that is not always the case.
Transport for Wales’ own fares guidance confirms that the pay as you go service behind the terminals does not currently offer child or railcard discounts, and that in some circumstances a standard walk-up ticket will be cheaper.
Stations on the Borderlands line, which runs between Wrexham and Bidston on Merseyside through Deeside, do not have conventional ticket machines.
Passengers can buy a ticket from the guard on board, but the motion says those without contactless payment may not realise that option is available because no signs explain it.
Flintshire County Council’s main line stations, such as Flint, have conventional ticket machines and are not affected in the same way.
If passed, the motion would instruct the council’s chief executive to write to Transport for Wales asking for notices to be placed next to the terminals explaining that children and railcard holders will not get discounted fares, and that tickets can still be bought on board.
The council would also put out a public warning about the risk of overpaying, publish Transport for Wales’ reply, and look at other ways of informing passengers if Transport for Wales does not act.
Transport for Wales has been asked for comment.
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