UK Railcards – who can’t get one
Back to Forum- This topic has 18 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 29 Dec 2022
at 11:02 by TonyR.
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Bath_VIPParticipantHigh rail fares are a frequent complaint in the UK so railcards giving you a 1/3 off are welcome. I myself have a disabled persons railcard.
I was looking at this list of railcards and I hadn’t realised the sheer extent of railcards available. It seems that nearly all now give 1/3 discounts to anytime, off peak and advance fares at least in standard class.
https://www.gwr.com/your-tickets/railcards
As far as I can make, you CANNOT get 1/3 off your rail fare if all of these conditions apply.
1. Aged between 31 & 59
2. Not disabled
3. Not unemployed
4. Not a member of the armed forces
5. Not a veteran
6. Not travelling with children
7. Travelling on your ownIf at least one of these don’t apply to you, there is a railcard you can take advantage of.
I’m wondering what % of rail travellers actually tick all the boxes above?
As often happens with the railways, a bewildering array of options may lead to confusion. I think there is a case for having a single national railcard for which certain people can apply for.
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6 Dec 2022
at 15:25
DavidSmith2ParticipantWell we are only occasional rail users but we will be travelling from London to Penzance (return) in May/June. My son, very helpfully but quite cheekily, pointed out that, from January, I will be eligible for an Over 60s card. So we should save the cost for two people on one trip. Happy days! I think the last time I had one was as a student.
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6 Dec 2022
at 15:29
ImissConcordeParticipantDavidSmith2 If you know someone with an annual season ticked (Gold Card) they can purchase your ralcard for you for £10 Alternatively you can also purchase it with £10 Tesco Clubcard vouchers!! Every little helps as they say!!!
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6 Dec 2022
at 17:28
AspirationalFlyer2ParticipantI do tick all of those boxes, but I DO have a railcard you may not have considered. The Network Railway works for me and covers my frequent journeys between London and East Anglia, although it doesn’t work for many parts of the country. Well worth £30 per annum despite the area it covers being limited.
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6 Dec 2022
at 20:31
Bath_VIPParticipantAspirationalFlyer, I originally had the Network card in my list but took it out because as you say it only applies to journeys starting and ending in the London/SE area.
There are similar railcards for Devon/Cornwall, Cotswolds and Pembrokeshire but you have to be resident in those areas.
7 Dec 2022
at 08:52
TimFitzgeraldTCParticipantNetwork Railcard used to be much better until they butchered the benefits a few years ago.
now only gets you a 1/3 off if ticket value is over £13 (Mon-Fri) – applies to any fare level on a Weekend. Also only valid on trains after 10:00 weekdays.
So great for say a trip Brighton to London after 10:00 but not so much for a weekday off peak trip Brighton to Lewes for example (which I do quite often).
About time they considered a national railcard. Been talked about for years but never materialised
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7 Dec 2022
at 09:20
Bath_VIPParticipantTim,
Interesting to hear that a National Railcard is not a new idea.
One issue that may get in the way is the growth of Oyster like cards around the country. I only ended up on the railcard link because I followed a GWR ad about their new “Oyster” card for the West England (Bristol) area.
https://www.gwr.com/your-tickets/smart-tickets/payg
Whilst a railcard can be attached to Oyster so that you automatically get the 1/3 off, oysters can’t be paired up for companions. So my wife who normally gets a 1/3 off because she travels with me, wouldn’t get a 1/3 off if she used the Oyster-like card. She would need her own railcard to get that.
7 Dec 2022
at 11:24
AMcWhirterParticipant[quote quote=1271845]About time they considered a national railcard. Been talked about for years but never materialised[/quote]
Indeed. Something akin to DB’s Bahncard.
It was hoped Great British Railways would have led to fares simplication and, hopefully, something like the Bahncard.
But as rail author Christian Wolmar noted last September Great British Railways “GBR is dead. There is no legislation and they will have to muddle through. The grand ideas did not really accord. Does this government really like the idea of a strong arms-length organisation running the railways ?”
7 Dec 2022
at 11:58
AMcWhirterParticipantSimon Calder has just posted this piece. Follows on from my previous posting.
7 Dec 2022
at 13:31
Tom OtleyKeymasterThe £13 limit applies to Network Railcard – I go to St Albans which is £12.80 and it doesn’t kick in.
Then I go to Gatwick for a morning flight, and it doesn’t work for that either (peak time).
But going to London tonight, I get the saving (£17.80 instead of £27.00)
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7 Dec 2022
at 14:33 -
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