No railcards for the 'middle-aged'???

*Rainbow*Warrior*

Am I missing something? It looks like I am in the 'inbetween' group and there is no railcard for me?

I'm 52 (I used quote marks in the title as I'm fully aware some people consider 52 a bit beyond 'middle-aged ) so too old for the young person's railcard and not quite old enough for the senior railcard. Family and friends is no good as (if I'm reading it correctly) you need to travel with a child aged 5-15.

It looks like the only option is the Two Together railcard, but the downside to this is it would mean (obviously) neither one of the named people can use it alone.

Is there another option? I was thinking about getting a railcard for my 17 year old daughter, but if I then want a day out with her, either I pay full price or I get a Two Together railcard - which essentially means I've paid for 2 railcards for my daughter.

Any advice please? I very rarely use the train (so I may be asking a stupid question but I'm just not familiar with the system!). Thanks.

wealdroam

*Rainbow*Warrior* wrote: »

Am I missing something? It looks like I am in the 'inbetween' group and there is no railcard for me?

I'm 52 (I used quote marks in the title as I'm fully aware some people consider 52 a bit beyond 'middle-aged ) so too old for the young person's railcard and not quite old enough for the senior railcard. Family and friends is no good as (if I'm reading it correctly) you need to travel with a child aged 5-15.

It looks like the only option is the Two Together railcard, but the downside to this is it would mean (obviously) neither one of the named people can use it alone.

Is there another option? I was thinking about getting a railcard for my 17 year old daughter, but if I then want a day out with her, either I pay full price or I get a Two Together railcard - which essentially means I've paid for 2 railcards for my daughter.

Any advice please? I very rarely use the train (so I may be asking a stupid question but I'm just not familiar with the system!). Thanks.

You have summed up your options pretty well.

There is no railcard available for you to use by yourself unless you either a) join the armed forces, b) are disabled, c) are unemployed and seeking work, d) become a mature student, or e) live in the Network South East area.

Or to put it another way, if you are not eligible already, you can make yourself eligible for all railcards, except the Senior Railcard, with a lifestyle change of some sort.

daveyjp

If you very rarely use the train why do you need a railcard? The idea of them is to give a discount to those who choose to use the train regularly.

If you use trains rarely you won't make the savings to cover the railcard cost so its a false economy.

*Rainbow*Warrior*

[QUOTE=daveyjp;70890698]If you very rarely use the train why do you need a railcard? The idea of them is to give a discount to those who choose to use the train regularly.

If you use trains rarely you won't make the savings to cover the railcard cost so its a false economy.[/QUOTE]


Because I would LIKE to travel more but train tickets are just too expensive

Tuesday_Tenor

It doesn't seem that you are eligible for any of the NATIONAL discount schemes/railcards, but you should research whether any of the REGIONAL railcards or special offers would be of use to you:

Regional railcards cover a specific geographical area, typically have a small annual cost (£10 for mine) and then enable a one-third reduction on all journeys within that area. Full list and details here:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/46498.aspx

HappyMJ

*Rainbow*Warrior* wrote: »

Because I would LIKE to travel more but train tickets are just too expensive

What is the reason you wish to travel by train?

I live in Burton on Trent and we have a ticket called a Derbyshire Wayfarer which is a discounted ticket that railcards can not be used with as it's already heavily discounted.

That ticket get's me anywhere in Derbyshire on trains and buses and also up to Sheffield and back again for just £12.40. A day return to Sheffield is normally £26.50.

A group ticket (2 Adults and up to 3 children/dogs) is £22.50 compared to £50.15 day return to Sheffield using a friends and family railcard.

You could travel on a ticket like that in your area.

Tuesday_Tenor

The regional railcards mentioned in my last post offer reduced fares in a certain area for a year.

There are also a range of Ranger/Rover tickets designed to encourage exploration of an area by train over a shorter period, typically 1-3 weeks. So, for example, there is a 7-day 'Freedom of Severn and Solent' ticket which for about £46 allows you to travel anywhere across quite a large area which includes Cardiff, Worcester, Bristol. Swindon, Portsmouth, Southampton, Weymouth and Tiverton on any 3 separate days during a seven-day period.

Lots of different such tickets, with own terms and conditions. Full list here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/rangers_and_rovers.aspx

Whereabouts are you, and where do you want to travel, and how frequently?

Torry_Quine

Move to Scotland where there is an over 50 railcard.:rotfl:

force_ten

daveyjp wrote: »

If you very rarely use the train why do you need a railcard? The idea of them is to give a discount to those who choose to use the train regularly.

If you use trains rarely you won't make the savings to cover the railcard cost so its a false economy.

That is not true

My daughter has just bought a 16-25 young persons railcard and saved more than the cost of the railcard with one journey, so anytime that she uses the railcard in the next 12 months she is going to making further savings of 30%

force_ten

i am in the same age group and have the same frustration re no suitable railcard available for me to use, during the winter on our local line i do get some concessions for being over 55 but for the most part of the year I have to pay the full rail fare

we do have a two together railcard but it carries more restrictions than any other railcard and allows no discount for travel before 9.30am which is a big issue for us

katejo

I am 53 and know exactly what you mean. I do get a discount off peak in the network south east area because I have a Gold card for travel to work but that is no good when i want to travel elsewhere.