News

Metrolink axes some in-app ticket purchases to crack down on fare dodgers

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 2nd June 2022

Metrolink has announced a big change to the way passengers buy tickets in a bid to crack down on fare dodgers.

Transport for Greater Manchester’s tram network has said that it wants to stamp out people riding the service without paying.

Metrolink updated people yesterday to say that they know ‘most of our customers are honest’ but that some are travelling without tickets.

Single day travelcards are being axed from the Get Me There app in an attempt to ‘protect Metrolink for the future’.

It means passengers will need to either use contactless, or buy tickets from the machines at stations before boarding.

ADVERTISEMENT
Metrolink trams at Manchester Victoria. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The changes will come into effect on Monday 13 June.

There are no barriers at Metrolink platforms, so at present, people can board a tram without buying a ticket – and get away with it until ticket inspections take place.

ADVERTISEMENT

If inspectors board and passengers are found to be travelling without a ticket, they face a fine of up to £100. But the current Get Me There app allows people to buy a one-day ticket on the spot.

Read more: Two million people estimated to be suffering from long COVID in the UK

Metrolink said: “We know that most of our customers are honest, but we also know that some passengers are travelling without a ticket and using the app to avoid a standard fare during a ticket inspection.

ADVERTISEMENT

“If you do need a single ticket or 1-day travelcard, the best option is to travel contactless. Just touch-in at a smart reader, with your contactless card or device before you board, and touch-out at your destination stop using the same card or device. We’ll work out the single fare, or 1-day travelcard fare, for the zones you’ve travelled through.

“If you travel on multiple days during the week (Monday to Sunday), we’ll charge for each day until the total reaches the weekly cap for the zones you’ve travelled through. The rest of your journeys in those zones will be free until the end of the week.”

Featured image: TfGM

News

Manchester palaeontologist unearths bones of what may be the largest known marine reptile

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A Manchester-based palaeontologist has unearthed the bones of what may be the largest known marine reptile.

This new identification is a crucial part of a fascinating eight-year long discovery journey.

It all started when a seasoned fossil collector named Paul de la Salle found a giant jawbone on Lilstock Beach, near Bridgewater in Somerset, back in May 2016, and then father and daughter, Justin and Ruby Reynolds from Devon, found the first pieces of a second jawbone and another giant bone while searching for fossils on the beach at Blue Anchor, also in Somerset, in May 2020.

And now, a palaeontologist at the University of Manchester (UoM) Dr Dean Lomax, has identified the fossilised remains of the second gigantic jawbone that measures more than two metres long.

Experts have identified these bones as belonging to the jaws of a new species of enormous ichthyosaur – which is a type of prehistoric marine reptile – and astonishing estimations suggest the oceanic titan would have been more than 25-metres long.

Dr Lomax has been working together with Justin and Ruby Reynolds, along with Paul de la Salle and several family members, since the father-daughter duo first contacted them about their groundbreaking discovery in 2020.

A Manchester palaeontologist has unearthed bones of what may be the largest known marine reptile / Credit: UoM

“I was amazed by Justin and Ruby’s find,” Dr Lomax commented.

“In 2018, my team and Paul de la Salle studied and described Paul’s giant jawbone, and we had hoped that one day another would come to light.”

He explained that Justin and Ruby’s new specimen was “more complete and better preserved” than the first find, and that he “became very excited” at the chance to learn more following their discovery.

As mentioned, the Manchester-based research team, led by Dr Lomax, revealed that the jaw bones belong to a new species of giant ichthyosaur that would’ve been about the size of a blue whale, and they have called the new genus and species Ichthyotitan severnensis – which means ‘giant fish lizard of the Severn’.

The bones – which represent the very last of their kind – are around 202 million years old, and date back to the end of the Triassic Period in a time known as the Rhaetian.

During this time, the gigantic ichthyosaurs swam the seas while the dinosaurs walked on land.

The University of Manchester, where Dr Dean Lomax works as a palaeontologist / Credit: UoM

Ichthyotitan is not the world’s first giant ichthyosaur, but the discoveries by Paul, and Justin and Ruby, are said to be “unique among those known to science”, as they appear roughly 13 million years after their latest geologic relatives – including Shonisaurus sikanniensis from British Columbia in Canada, and Himalayasaurus tibetensis from Tibet in China.

Speaking on the confirmation of the bones’ identification this week, Dr Lomax said: “This research has been ongoing for almost eight years.

“It is quite remarkable to think that gigantic, blue whale-sized ichthyosaurs were swimming in the oceans around what was the UK during the Triassic Period.

Read more:

“These jawbones provide tantalising evidence that perhaps one day a complete skull or skeleton of one of these giants might be found.”

Featured Image – UoM

News

Northern Quarter favourite Pie and Ale has sadly closed down

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pie and Ale Manchester closed down

Beloved Northern Quarter eatery and pub Pie and Ale has sadly and quietly closed its doors this week in yet another gutting bit of news for the Manc hospitality sector.

Known for its legendary homemade pies, great selections of ales, craft beers and lagers, not to mention a great little pub when it comes to watching live sport, it’s long been considered an NQ institution.

Unfortunately, however, as confirmed by a sign posted in the window, Pie and Ale has now closed for business after more than a decade.

Safe to say, we’re absolutely gutted, as we’re sure everyone else is.

Credit: The Manc Eats

While no official announcement has been made on their social media as yet, which will no doubt receive love and sadness from its loyal following, the sign in the window simply reads: “Pie and Ale has unfortunately ceased trading. Apologies for any inconvenience.”

The local favourite which was always hailed for being great value for money – celebrated especially for its popular pie and a pint for under a tenner deal – also served up great nibbles and light bites as well as dessert specials.

Although the Lever Street spot previously shut down for a short spell back in 2018 due to what they labelled as “unforeseen circumstances” before reopening just two months later, this latest update looks pretty definitive.

Sister-site Bakerie also ceased trading back in April 2019, with husband and wife founders, Alyson Doocey and David Cook, admitting that all independents had been “feeling the squeeze”.

Read more:

While we have few other details at this stage, it does look like Pie and Ale has indeed closed down for the foreseeable future.

A mainstay on our list of the best pies in Manchester since day dot and just the latest in the list of losses in 2024 so far, they will be sorely missed.

We sincerely hope this is like last time and will keep our fingers crossed that we see the pie pros and expert pourers back in business at some point.

RIP to an NQ icon.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

More News

City Centre

One of Manchester’s largest hotels has reopened after an ‘extensive’ £33m renovation

Crime

Eight arrested and £20k cash seized during early-morning police drug raids in Rochdale

Manchester

Mother of Manchester Arena attack victim to walk to Downing Street to demand new security law

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches