Understanding using 16-25 railcard use before 10am 20 March 2022 at 7:34AM in Public transport & cycling 8 replies 288 views

Spendless

My daughter has just got a job that means commuting. She needs to start before 10am. I understand that she can use her 16-25 railcard before 10am so long as the fare costs a minimum of £12. 

Looking on-line single fares came up for the outward leg of the journey below £12 f using the 16-25 railcard but the fare is only pushed to £12+ when also purchasing the other single ticket for the return leg.

Is this allowed, Can I buy 2 single tickets for there and back so long as the whole cost comes to at least £12, or does the first part of the journey have to cost £12 or can't I buy 2 singles at all if the journey starts before 10am and can only buy a return that costs at least £12? 

Any help appreciated as I'm confused. 

unforeseen

There and back is 2 journeys. The £12 is for each journey (not ticket) in the Peak hours. 

For journeys made between 04:30 and 10:00 Monday to Friday, a minimum fare of £12 is payable.

Spendless

unforeseen said:

There and back is 2 journeys. The £12 is for each journey (not ticket) in the Peak hours. 

For journeys made between 04:30 and 10:00 Monday to Friday, a minimum fare of £12 is payable.

Ok, so can I buy a return ticket or not or do I need to make sure that the journey there costs at least £12 plus the fare for the journey home? 

unforeseen

Spendless said:

unforeseen said:

There and back is 2 journeys. The £12 is for each journey (not ticket) in the Peak hours. 

For journeys made between 04:30 and 10:00 Monday to Friday, a minimum fare of £12 is payable.

Ok, so can I buy a return ticket or not or do I need to make sure that the journey there costs at least £12 plus the fare for the journey home? 

Return won't work. The cost of the first journey is still under £12 whether you base the price on a single or 50% of the return.

As I said and the rules state. It is based on the journey cost and not ticket cost. A return ticket is 2 journeys

tehone

There is some misinformation in this thread (a return ticket is NOT 2 journeys)

The short version is that for journeys before 10am M-F (excluding July+August) there is a minimum fare of £12 that applies to a ticket (you can't can't get discount on "Advance" tickets).

So if the return costs for example £15, after 10am it would £10, but before 10am it would be £12) - figures may be rounded slightly - but also and this is one to watch out for if the fare is normally £10 - then after 10am it would be £6.70 - BUT before 10am some tickets machines will apply the £12 rule and if you use your railcard it will show as £12


If you want to give the exact example then I could give some real figures or ask on railforums.co.uk who are experts in tis kind of thing (you've not mentioned your daughters age but there are other railcards that might work such as 16-17 saver)

Spendless

tehone said:

There is some misinformation in this thread (a return ticket is NOT 2 journeys)

The short version is that for journeys before 10am M-F (excluding July+August) there is a minimum fare of £12 that applies to a ticket (you can't can't get discount on "Advance" tickets).

So if the return costs for example £15, after 10am it would £10, but before 10am it would be £12) - figures may be rounded slightly - but also and this is one to watch out for if the fare is normally £10 - then after 10am it would be £6.70 - BUT before 10am some tickets machines will apply the £12 rule and if you use your railcard it will show as £12


If you want to give the exact example then I could give some real figures or ask on railforums.co.uk who are experts in tis kind of thing (you've not mentioned your daughters age but there are other railcards that might work such as 16-17 saver)

Hi, Thank you. Daughter is 18 nearly 19. We had the 16-17 saver for her for college(commuted to the same city) that was a godsend. I know the 16-25 doesn't have same advantages. The travel is between Doncaster and York. The contract is 0 hours and she will be training next week. I'm guessing she'll eventually know her hours a week or so in advance.  Some times she will need to be in York to start work at 9am and will finish after 5pm. 

jbuchanangb

To arrive in York at 8.41 and leave at 5.32 the fare is £14.75, i.e. an Anytime Day Return with 16-25 Railcard. Arriving in York later (e.g. 10.31) makes the Off-peak Day Return possible for £13.30. Cheaper train specific fares are available.

macman

If not, would upgrading to a 1st Class ticket take it over the single journey minimum of £12?

Spendless

Thanks for the replies. We have been doing as @jbuchanangb said, buying an anytime day return which takes us over the min £12 fare.