(10 Oct 2021, 6:36 pm)IRHardy wrote Because the Northern line between Blaydon and Sunderland is the only bit that is included within the Network One ticketing system.For great value throughout the region, you can’t beat Network One Explorer North East! It’s one of the most extensive schemes in the country, from the Scottish Borders down to Richmond in the south and Carlisle in the west
If the Explorer ticket was valid on more of the Northern Rail network, the Explorer ticket would be a lot more expensive. For example Northern sell a Tyne & Tees Day Ranger which is valid on LNER; Northern; TransPennine Express; CrossCountry services on the following lines: Morpeth - Darlington, Hexham - Middlesbrough, Bishop Auckland - Saltburn, Middlesbrough - Whitby & Middlesbrough - Northallerton. It is not valid before 09:00 and in 2019 it was £23.40 for Adult ticket - so more than double the £10.90 for the Explorer Ticket and it does not get you to Berwick, Carlisle or Scarborough (although the Explorer ticket is not valid on the Yorkshire Coastliner buses between York and Scarborough which is the only way you can get there by train):
Tyne & Tees Day Ranger
Stagecoach North East & Cumbria services within the Carlisle city boundary
From the Scottish Borders throughout Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham, Teesside and North Yorkshire the Network One Explorer North East Ticket gives you the freedom to plan your days out