SENIOR RAILCARDS help please.

ANGLICANPAT

Hi .Im using best fare finder today to book cheap trains to London for myself .Want to buy them online today although travel is in a few weeks time.
My old senior railcard has just expired - Am going to get another one, but obviously want it to last as long as poss, so does anyone know whether I can just fill in the yes I have a railcard box when I buy these tickets, and then buy the railcard to carry with me ,the day before I go (hence it starts its years validity from then), or will I need to purchase it first and then book the tickets ? Thanks

Simon11

First find out how long it will take to get a new Senior Railcard.

If you purchase a train ticket with senior railcard and you don't receive it in time:

With Virgin Trains:-

With Anytime/Off Peak you will only recieve a refund with a £10 admin fee.

With Advance Fares are non-refundable

KeithP

ANGLICANPAT wrote: »

Hi .Im using best fare finder today to book cheap trains to London for myself .Want to buy them online today although travel is in a few weeks time.
My old senior railcard has just expired - Am going to get another one, but obviously want it to last as long as poss, so does anyone know whether I can just fill in the yes I have a railcard box when I buy these tickets, and then buy the railcard to carry with me ,the day before I go (hence it starts its years validity from then), or will I need to purchase it first and then book the tickets ? Thanks

What you are proposing is perfectly ok.... as long as you have the railcard by the time you travel.

cbrown372

You can buy it at some main stations but its very quick to get them sent out.

http://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/buy-senior-railcard/where-to-buy-your-railcard

ANGLICANPAT

Thanks everyone, thats brilliant - fast response too. With being able to buy the Sen card online , I was thinking 'instant' forgetting of course the physical element of getting it in time - duh!. So - if where Im travelling from is a main station (Ill check) then I could just buy my tickets now saying I have a railcard, and purchase just the railcard on the day of travel and get it in my mitt instantly ?

ANGLICANPAT

Apologies cbrowne, only just concentrated on your actual link , so didnt need affirmation. Thanks again all.

KeithP

ANGLICANPAT wrote: »

Thanks everyone, thats brilliant - fast response too. With being able to buy the Sen card online , I was thinking 'instant' forgetting of course the physical element of getting it in time - duh!. So - if where Im travelling from is a main station (Ill check) then I could just buy my tickets now saying I have a railcard, and purchase just the railcard on the day of travel and get it in my mitt instantly ?

But if you want to buy your ticket at a station, you will probably raise eyebrows if you do not have your railcard at that time.
The link mentioned by CBrown says...

Tickets for your journey should be purchased before boarding the train and when buying tickets you must show the Railcard.

although that's difficult when buying tickets online.

ANGLICANPAT

But when tickets are bought already online as I plan to do shortly, you cant/dont show a railcard, you just tick the box that says you have one - that gives you the reduced price ticket ,no serial number from your railcard or anything to quote . When I go on the day of travel in a few weeks, who in the sales desk will know Im actually travelling that day ?When I buy just a railcard , it could be purely for buying tickets in the future couldnt it,or am I missing something?

McKneff

How much are senior railcards these days,
Is there any difference between buying say 2 of these than buying 2
if you are on lowest rate DLA (or is there no such thing as a disabled rail card.

dzug1

ANGLICANPAT wrote: »

But when tickets are bought already online as I plan to do shortly, you cant/dont show a railcard, you just tick the box that says you have one - that gives you the reduced price ticket ,no serial number from your railcard or anything to quote . When I go on the day of travel in a few weeks, who in the sales desk will know Im actually travelling that day ?When I buy just a railcard , it could be purely for buying tickets in the future couldnt it,or am I missing something?

Maybe - but I'm missing what appears to be the non-existent problem you seem to see.

As long as you buy the railcard at latest on the day you travel there's no problem. The ticket clerk who sells you the railcard will neither know nor care whether you are travelling that day or not.

KeithP

McKneff wrote: »

How much are senior railcards these days,
Is there any difference between buying say 2 of these than buying 2
if you are on lowest rate DLA (or is there no such thing as a disabled rail card.

Read here about the Disabled Persons Railcard.
You will see that one costs £18 for one year.

And here is the Senior Railcard website.