Flexi Season tickets

What is a Flexi Season ticket?

A Flexi Season ticket gives you 8 days of unlimited travel in 28 days, between two named stations.

Plus, you get to choose the days that you travel, giving you more freedom and flexibility to travel on the days you want and need.

Why are Flexi Season tickets not available on my route?

We have conducted a great deal of research to ensure Flexi Season tickets can be used on the majority of routes used by commuters. We’re always wanting to improve your journey, so if Flexi Season tickets are not available on your route, we’ll keep your feedback in mind for future updates.

Is a Flexi Season ticket the same as a Season ticket?

Not quite. A Flexi Season ticket gives you 8 flexible travel days in 28 days, so it’s the perfect train ticket if you commute 2–3 days a week.

A regular Season ticket is more suited for use between 4–5 days a week.

Which ticket type is right for me?

Use our commuter ticket tool, it compares options and shows where you can save.

How much can I save with a Flexi Season ticket?

Flexi Season tickets cost less than buying 8 separate day returns. Use our commuter ticket tool to see how much you can save.

Can I use it with other train operators?

Yes, unless it’s marked for a specific route or operator. This will be shown when you buy your ticket.

Can I buy more than one Flexi Season ticket?

Yes. Just make sure your new ticket starts after your current one ends to avoid losing travel days.

How can I buy a Flexi Season ticket?

You can buy a Flexi Season ticket through the website or in the Northern app. You can pick up a Smartcard version at any Northern ticket office.

Flexi Season tickets come in two formats:

Smartcard - A physical ticket card you tap with each journey

Barcode - A digital ticket that you can store on your phone

Buying a Smartcard Flexi Season ticket

• Already got a Smartcard? Just buy your ticket online and collect it by tapping your card at a yellow reader (on the gate, platform validator, or some ticket machines).
• You can also collect it in the Northern app.
• Don’t forget: you’ll need to tap in before you travel.
• New to Smartcards? Order yours [link] here, they’re free! Please allow up to 5 days to arrive by post.

Buying a Barcode Flexi Season ticket

• Buy online or in the Northern app
• We’ll email your ticket either as a PDF or it will be stored in the app
• Just remember to activate your ticket in the app before each journey.

If buying your ticket through the website, select ‘advanced search’ under ‘ticket type’ to get your Flexi Season ticket.

Can I get an off-peak Flexi Season ticket?

No, Flexi Season tickets can be used during peak and off-peak times.

Can I buy a child Flexi ticket?

Not currently — Flexi Season tickets are only available for standard adult fares.

Can I travel to other stations with my Flexi Season ticket?

With a Flexi Season ticket you can make unlimited journeys between your named start and end stations.

You can also break, start or end your journey at any station on your permitted route.

Your day pass will be valid from the time you activate it until 04:29 the next morning.

Can I use my Flexi Season ticket on any train operator?

Most of the time, yes, you can travel with any operator between your start and end stations.

There are a few exceptions:

●    If your ticket is valid with one operator only, and you want to travel with a different one, you will need to buy a new ticket for your journey.
●    If your Flexi Season ticket is restricted to a particular route, you can change the route it covers and pay the difference in fare.

Please note:  Flexi Season tickets are not valid for travel on Merseyrail services. You can buy tickets to Liverpool stations, but they won’t cover onward travel on Merseyrail.

How much does a Flexi Season ticket cost?

Flexi Season tickets offer at least 20% off compared to the equivalent Monthly Season ticket.

They’re a smart way to save you money if you’re commuting during peak-times at least two days a week.

Try our Commuter Ticket Finder to see the exact price of the ticket and how much you could save on your journey.

Can I get a refund on a Flexi Season ticket?

Yes, but how much you get back will depend on how many days you have used.

We’ll work out the refund by comparing what you paid for the cost of Anytime Return tickets for each day that you have travelled.

An admin fee of up to £10 will apply. Make sure you apply for your refund before your 28-day ticket window ends.

It is possible that no refund will be available if you have got one or two journeys remaining on your ticket.

Can I claim back on my Flexi Season ticket with the Delay Repay scheme?

Yes, if your train is delayed or cancelled after you’ve activated a day's travel, you can still claim through Delay Repay, just like any other ticket.

Make your Delay Repay claim here.

I bought a Flexi Season ticket, but I need to travel more than I realised. Can I exchange my Flexi Season ticket for a Season ticket?

Flexi Season tickets can’t be exchanged, but you do have options,

If you’ve already started using your Flexi Season ticket, we’d recommend using up your remaining journeys before getting a Season ticket.

If you’d rather swap sooner, you can request a refund (minus the £10 admin fee) and then buy a Season Ticket.

Can I use a Railcard with a Flexi Season ticket?

Yes, if you have a 16-17 Saver or Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card, you’ll get 50% off your Flexi Season ticket.

Other Railcards and group discounts don’t apply, as the Flexi Season tickets are already discounted.

Can I use a Disabled Persons Railcard with a Flexi Season ticket?

Flexi Season tickets are already discounted, so Railcards (including the Disabled Persons Railcard) can’t be used with them. But you’ll still be saving compared to Daily tickets.

I didn’t use my Flexi Season ticket as I’ve been unwell, can I get a refund?

Yes, if you weren’t able to use your Flexi Season ticket due to illness, you can apply for a refund as long as you have at least one unused day left. Please remember to apply for your refund within the 28-day window before your ticket expires. A £10 admin fee applies.

If your illness meant you couldn’t apply in time, just send us proof (like a doctor’s note) and we’ll do our best to help.

How do I travel with my Flexi Season ticket?

Smartcard users: Tap in and out at the ticket gates or platform validators at the start and end of your journey. That’s how your day’s travel gets activated.

Barcode ticket users: Open the Northern app and activate your ticket before boarding.

If you don’t activate your ticket or tap in you will not have a valid ticket and you could be charged a penalty fare.

How do I load my Flexi Season ticket onto my Smartcard?

Once you’ve bought your ticket, you’ve got a couple of options:

Fastest: Use the Northern app, your Flexi Season ticket will be ready to collect to your Smartcard five minutes after purchase.

At the station: You can load your ticket at a Northern ticket machine or a ticket gate, please allow two hours for this to load.

What should I do if the ticket barriers aren’t working?

If the gates are out of order or left open, just tap in or scan your Flexi Season ticket as normal, as you will need to activate your ticket for your journey.

If you’re unsure, our Northern colleagues will also be on hand to help.

How can I tell how many tickets are left in my bundle?

If you’re using a Smartcard, you can check your balance by logging into ‘MyAccount’, using the orange NFC reader in the Northern app, or at a ticket machine.

If you’ve got a Barcode Flexi Season ticket, just open the Northern app to see how many days you’ve got left.

What do I do if I have problems with my Smartcard or loading a ticket?

If something’s not working as it should, give our Customer Experience Centre a call on 
0333 222 0127. Our station team will be happy to help.

To help us get things sorted quicker, it’s useful to have:

●    The date and time of the issue
●    Any transaction references or error messages
●    Your 18-digit Smartcard number (you’ll find it on the front)
●    The name of the ticket you’re trying to load