train travel with a senior rail card

The_Crunchy_Nutter

Right. I've been looking into this further (just for the sake of making sure there is no conflict of interest, I work for a train operating company, but outside the SE).

The information available to ticket office staff relating to Senior Railcards states this:

No time restriction is applied to the Railcard although for journeys wholly inside the Network Railcard area (see map in previous post) discounts are not available on any ticket type until the corresponding Off-Peak Day (CD) or Off-Peak Day Travelcard (ODT) fare becomes available.

For the journey quoted by the OP from Bognor Regis to London Victoria, the Off Peak Day return (Cheap Day Return in old money), is available on trains ARRIVING IN LONDON AFTER 09:50.
That means the first train an Off Peak Day ticket is valid on is the 08:26, arriving at London Victoria at 10:16. So for this train, you can have a discounted Off peak day return, or a discounted Anytime (open) return (or indeed single). Posts above are correct - you can have an Off Peak (Saver) return (discounted or not) from 09:30.

So to clarify (for this specific journey):

Depart Bognor before 08:26, return same day: Anytime Day Return (No discount)
Depart Bognor before 08:26, return another day: Anytime Return (No discount)
Depart Bognor at or after 08:26, return same day: Off Peak Day Return (With discount)
Depart Bognor at or after 08:26 but before 09:30, return another day: Anytime Return (With discount)
Depart Bognor at or after 09:30, return another day: Off Peak Return (With discount)

I should note at this point that the above does not take into account any evening restrictions on returning from London, but hopefully it will clear the waters a little.
I should also reiterate that I do not work in the SouthEast, therefore I rarely come into contact with these restrictions, and as such the above is my interpretation of the (over complicated) rules, and should be taken as a rough guide only.

sandraroffey

thanks so much to you all. more information on here in a day or so than i have ever got out of national rail enquiries. xxxxx

Jeff_Bridges_hair

The_Crunchy_Nutter wrote: »

Just as an addendum, the former Network South East area (now known confusingly as the Network Railcard area, covers much more than just the 'London' area - it includes the likes of Worcester, Northampton, and even Exeter! But Wealdroam is right - Ipswich is (just) outside.

See this link for a map.

Not really a confusing name change seeing that Network Southeast does not exist any more..

Unless you get to see some unpainted choo choos

The_Crunchy_Nutter

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Not really a confusing name change seeing that Network Southeast does not exist any more..

Unless you get to see some unpainted choo choos

I'm not suggesting the name change is confusing - just that the term 'Network' or 'Network Railcard' doesn't in itself suggest any particular area in the context of the rest of the country :cool:

I work in a ticket office well outside the 'network' area, and still regularly get asked why I either a) can't sell a network railcard or b) can't sell a network railcard discounted ticket - not easy to explain that the 'network' area doesn't extend to the whole fo the rail network! As BR is long gone, the concept of Network SouthEast is alien to many people, expecially the young and recent immigrants. Perhaps a more suitable name shoud be found, in line with other regional railcards.

Anyway... I think we're way off topic now

Jeff_Bridges_hair

The_Crunchy_Nutter wrote: »

I'm not suggesting the name change is confusing - just that the term 'Network' or 'Network Railcard' doesn't in itself suggest any particular area in the context of the rest of the country :cool:

I work in a ticket office well outside the 'network' area, and still regularly get asked why I either a) can't sell a network railcard or b) can't sell a network railcard discounted ticket - not easy to explain that the 'network' area doesn't extend to the whole fo the rail network! As BR is long gone, the concept of Network SouthEast is alien to many people, expecially the young and recent immigrants. Perhaps a more suitable name shoud be found, in line with other regional railcards.

Anyway... I think we're way off topic now

But that's the only regional railcard that's available. Though i can understand your frustration when people ask for things they cant have

The_Crunchy_Nutter

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

But that's the only regional railcard that's available.

Not at all - there are several less publicised regional railcards, most of which are only available for certain routes or areas, such as the Highlands Railcard, Dales Railcard or the Cotswold Line Railcard. Admittedly for the first 2 and some others you need to be a resident of certain postcodes.

See here.

wealdroam

The_Crunchy_Nutter wrote: »

Not at all - there are several less publicised regional railcards, most of which are only available for certain routes or areas, such as the Highlands Railcard, Dales Railcard or the Cotswold Line Railcard. Admittedly for the first 2 and some others you need to be a resident of certain postcodes.

See here.

And interestingly, the Network Railcard isn't on that list of Regional Railcards.

But just so that no-one is confused, we can find the regional Network Railcard listed on the same organisation's list of National railcards.

There... aren't we lucky that rail ticketing has been simplified.

The_Crunchy_Nutter

wealdroam wrote: »

And interestingly, the Network Railcard isn't on that list of Regional Railcards.

But just so that no-one is confused, we can find the regional Network Railcard listed on the same organisation's list of National railcards.

There... aren't we lucky that rail ticketing has been simplified.

:rotfl:
Hadn't actually noticed that - only use NRE website when I have to, as it is so user unfriendly since it's revamp last year.

It's certainly not a national railcard, however, as it can only be used within the defined 'Network' area.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

The_Crunchy_Nutter wrote: »

:rotfl:
Hadn't actually noticed that - only use NRE website when I have to, as it is so user unfriendly since it's revamp last year.

It's certainly not a national railcard, however, as it can only be used within the defined 'Network' area.

Ah yes, but those others are TOC specific within small areas where as the network railcard is for use on a lot of different ones over a much greater area which is why its advertised along with the others

No wonder people get confused mind you lol

wealdroam

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Ah yes, but those others are TOC specific...

Well almost...

if you ignore the Pembrokeshire Railcard and Devon and Cornwall Railcard.