Tram inspector told mum her baby 'isn't a child'

A tram inspector told a mum using a family ticket that she could be fined because her baby and toddler were "too young" to be classed as children.

Cassie took the Metrolink into Manchester city centre from Droylsden in Tameside earlier this month for a church service with her husband and their two children.

Using a £7.10 off-peak family day travel card, Cassie was told by a ticket inspector that because under-fives travel for free, they did not count as "children" under ticketing terms and conditions.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has since apologised and said it would "make sure that all staff are aware that there is no minimum age for children travelling on a family ticket".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said the inspector had told Cassie and her husband that they should instead have each purchased a £4.30 adult day ticket.

"I felt shocked," said Cassie, whose last name is not known. "Obviously we are a family - I do not know how we are not a family."

Metrolink is part of Greater Manchester's Bee Network.

After being warned she could have been fined for travelling without a valid ticket, Cassie checked online.

The Bee Network's website says: "A family travelcard is for group travel on Metrolink trams for one to three children (aged under 16) accompanied by one or two adults.

"Any adult can buy this ticket. Children travelling as part of a family group must be aged under 16 and, if aged 11 to 15, will need proof of age ID.

"There is no minimum age for children travelling on a family ticket."

With this information contradicting what the inspector had told them, Cassie said she then spoke to a Bee Network customer service representative who wrongly reiterated the "under-five rule".

"If you are travelling with two children under five, you would need to purchase two adult tickets as under-fives travel for free," the representative said online.

"I appreciate that the family ticket is cheaper, but as under-fives do not qualify under this ticket, you need to ensure you have the correct tickets when travelling to avoid a penalty."

Having been told that her kids did not count as children, Cassie contacted the LDRS.

Fran Wilkinson, TfGM's customer and growth director, acknowledged that Cassie had been given "incorrect information".

She confirmed that the information provided on the Bee Network website was correct.

Ms Wilkinson added: "It appears that the customer who has raised this issue was given the incorrect information by a member of our team.

"We're sorry [for] any confusion this has caused and will be making sure that all staff are aware that there is no minimum age for children travelling on a family ticket."

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