00:00Midlands Metro passengers are used to buying tickets from conductors on the tram, but that's
00:07now changing. From now on, all tickets must be brought before boarding, using machines
00:12at every stop. The aim is to speed up journeys and cut down on fare dodging, which has been
00:17a problem, especially during busy periods. Travel for West Midlands says this move brings
00:23the Metro in line with other tram networks, making things fairer and more efficient. Conductors
00:28won't disappear, but will focus on checking tickets instead. Some passengers may welcome
00:33the change, seeing it as a step towards a smoother service, but others might find it
00:39inconvenient, especially those who are used to paying on board. The Metro says staff will
00:44be around to help people adjust, but for those who rely on conductors, this is a big shift.
00:50So what do passengers think?
00:53No problem. It's been used for lots of years. I don't see what the difference is. The only
00:59problem that's going to end up is they're going to get vandalised.
01:03I still think you should be able to buy them on the tram. Because if you're, say if a tram's
01:08coming now and I'm here, I'd better go and rush to a ticket machine and get in. You're
01:14probably going to miss a few trams, but I can see why they're doing it.
01:18It doesn't really apply to us. We're pensioners. So all we worry about is they're going to
01:23take off the passes off us, aren't we? But before, when it first was introduced and you
01:31had to buy a ticket, there was no conductors. And most of the time, either the machines
01:36were broken or people just didn't bother paying. They lost a lot of money that way.
01:41Metro bosses believe this change will make things fairer for paying passengers. Instead
01:46of conductors selling tickets, they'll now be making sure everyone has one, cutting
01:51down on people riding for free. Some say this will improve the system, making
01:56boarding quicker, but others worry about confusion, especially for those unfamiliar with the machines.
02:03Travel for West Midlands says alternative payment options like the My Metro app and
02:07Swift cards remain available, so passengers still have some flexibility. But what about
02:12those who aren't comfortable with ticket machines or digital payments?
02:18I think it would be more difficult, to be honest. I mean, if I'm already getting late
02:23and I have to buy a ticket beforehand as well, it's just going to make me even more late,
02:27to be honest. It's a bit inconvenient for me, I think.
02:30Most of these boxes don't work. That's why I wait to get the thing on when they come
02:37around on the train. According to me, it's like a more smoother
02:40because before getting a tram, it's going to be easy for you to buy a ticket online
02:44as per whatever you want. If you just want a single or the bike, or whenever you're going,
02:50if I talk about myself, I'm just coming from the Wolverhampton to Wiltshire, so I just
02:54want a ticket from there. So that's a good option.
Comments