train travel with a senior rail card

The_Crunchy_Nutter

Personally I think it is about time a real National railcard was made available, which anyone can buy, as other countries do - such as Germany's BahnCard. Sure, there would have to be some kind of peak restriction as with the Network railcard, but such a card would, in my view, make rail a real alternative to the car for many. There are already plenty of products aimed at families and groups - perhaps it's time the railway started to cater more for individuals and couples.

Livingthedream

The_Crunchy_Nutter wrote: »

Personally I think it is about time a real National railcard was made available, which anyone can buy, as other countries do - such as Germany's BahnCard.

A very good point, it would get a lot more people using the train. As discounted railcard tickets are very competitive compared to the car at the moment, what with the price of petrol.

My example, myself and my son are going to watch the footy in Manchester travelling from Edinburgh this weekend, using split Off peak day tickets I've got the price down to £35 I could never do that price in my car.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

The_Crunchy_Nutter wrote: »

Personally I think it is about time a real National railcard was made available, which anyone can buy, as other countries do - such as Germany's BahnCard. Sure, there would have to be some kind of peak restriction as with the Network railcard, but such a card would, in my view, make rail a real alternative to the car for many. There are already plenty of products aimed at families and groups - perhaps it's time the railway started to cater more for individuals and couples.

Trouble is they are state owned so are able to provide that discount over the country.. With the PTE's that also exist in this country the TOCs wouldn't like having to give further discounts in those areas..Also our intercity routes provide heavily discounted tickets in advance anyway

wealdroam wrote: »

Well almost...

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

Good point

Livingthedream

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

...the TOCs wouldn't like having to give further discounts in those areas..Also our intercity routes provide heavily discounted tickets in advance anyway

I see your point, but surely the Train Companies' could manipulate this to their advantage, ie could only be used for Off Peak tickets or certain Advance tickets dictated by Train Company (very early/late trains).

More bums on off peak train seats must be beneficial to profits.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Oh they could, but then you still end up with the similar situation as mentioned earlier with regards to the network card sales being asked about and being unavailable..

Mind you some off peak cross country trains are just too full anyway at the moment so there would be even more moaning about that..

Livingthedream

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Mind you some off peak cross country trains are just too full anyway at the moment so there would be even more moaning about that..

Lol, that's what happens when one tries to shoe horn a popular intercity route into a 4 car Voyager 220/221.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Indeed..Doubt they have been promised more carriages either.