Post 16 student railcard - what they don't tell you!

theyoungones4

If anyone is thinking of college post GCSE's read on. You might want to rethink the cost & effort of any rail travel.

After a year of sending my daughter to college (15mins on the train v 45mins in the car so train is a no-brainer), after putting up with countless train cancelations & delays (not to mention all the road closures due to HS2 works where we live in Lichfield) my patience has run out. I've travelled hundreds of extra miles & wasted hours I don't have to get my daughter to college on time and now I'm re-applying for her student railcard & realising the true implications of our choice. She turns 18 in October so obviously the 16-17 railcard runs out  After that, instead of 50% off all travel she'll only get 1/3 off. We knew this was coming so, although not happy, we begrudgingly accepted it.

HOWEVER - I've just discovered the 17-25 railcard won't work for most college journeys as the discount involves a minimum spend of £12 at peak times! The full price rail fair is £9.50 return. That's well over £1,000 just to finish her course. I'm fuming and also wondering how many kids will be dropping out this year because parents can't afford to send them? It feels like you are lured into a post 16 education choice with the promise of student rail discounts only to have the rug pulled out from under you as your child starts their final year! Why would they give a discount to 16 & 17 year olds on the basis they are students & not extend it to those who turn 18 while still studying?!! 😡

To make matters worse, my daughter has been told to go in 4 days this year instead of the previous 3. Some students are moving from 2 days to 4 this year. Something else they don't tell you when you sign up for college - they don't give you a timetable until a few days before they start. I do get why this is (esp in the final year) but it wreaks havoc with any jobs these kids have or any transport planning you need to factor in as a parent. 

And they say they want to get cars off the roads & encourage public transport use. Honestly, it's beyond a joke! 🤬

43722

 A bus service also runs between Lichfield and Stafford. I know its not ideal, but looks like you may have to pay for the train, or find an alternative for seven months.

Emmia

I appreciate there are unexpected costs, but surely you can see the greater costs of not progressing in her education? It's a bit late now, but could your daughter have gone to a college that was closer or didn't require this type of transport? 

Personally, I went to a 6th form college, which involved taking 3 different trains, and I didn't get any discount on the fares. I also did 2 days a week on placement. As I didn't have a driving licence or the money to pay for driving lessons, I walked, for at least 30 mins each way.

A couple of the placements were further afield, with no good bus or train service and involved an hour and a half of walking each way. My parents did not drive me to college or placement - it was my responsibility to get there and back... 

maman

Have you checked with the college? My granddaughter was 18 in the September of her second year. Her college (Hampshire) had negotiated a reduced price season ticket for 18 year olds. I'm assuming they did it to encourage students to enrol/travel from further afield. 

silvercar

Has anything changed since she started the course? I would have more sympathy if the rules on railcards and passes had changed after the start of the course, but it looks like you didn’t do the research at the start and are now facing up to costs that should have been apparent at the start.

That said, it would be worth seeing if the college knows of cheaper transport options. You can’t be the first to have these problems.

MSE_James

We've merged the two threads on this subject.

It doesn't take away from your main point, but it's worth mentioning that the 16-17 Saver is a very recent creation (launched in 2019) so before that the cliff-edge between child and adult fares was even more acute.

silvercar

Your council has provided a list of support in transport costs for people attending college. You could look at some of the options and see if you can make the journey cheaper.

https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Schooltransport/Post16/Post-16-Transport-Policy-Statement-2023-24.aspx

Spendless

Hi, my daughter used the 16-17 railcard when they first came out. Check in case the ts and cs have changed in the last couple of years BUT you were able to buy a season ticket using the 16-17 discount so long as it was bought prior to child's 18th birthday. From memory I can't remember whether you could have it for 3 or 4 months, you can only buy it once (eg you can't buy this once child is 18) so I'd work out the maths. You have to accept doing it this way means you'll be covering dates that child wouldn't be in college such as Christmas hols, but might still work out cheaper.

If you can still do it this way then that'll take you to Jan/Feb time and only a few months when it's put up with the less favourable 16-25 railcard terms.   

ETA - Here you are   

https://www.16-17saver.co.uk/help/faqs/


:I'm 18 just after the start of the academic year? Will I still be able to use the 16-17 Saver to get to school or college?

Only customers aged 16 or 17 are eligible for the 16-17 Saver. 

The 16-17 Saver will be valid for one year or up until your 18th birthday, whichever comes first. 

If you buy a Season ticket with a 16-17 Saver discount before it expires, you can continue to use it for up to 4 months after the expiry date. The expiry date and the date that you can use your Season ticket until are shown on the 16-17 Saver. 

Some train companies and/or local authorities offer discount products to support students getting to school and college until the end of the academic year, including customers who are 18. Check with your local train company or local authority for more information. 

That will take you to some time in Feb then you'll possibly  have Feb half term. Easter plus May half term when no travel costs are involved and should cut down on the expenses you thought you'd incur.

Just don''t forget to buy it before daughter's 18th! I think I went a couple of days before my DD's to renew just in case something happened and I wasn't able to renew! 

daveyjp

Daughter has a 16-17 Railcard.  It expires next year, the day before her 18th birthday, but the season ticket expiry date is 4 months later.

So if she has a 16-17 Railcard card, buy a season ticket with 50% discount and it will be valid until Feb 24.

t0rt0ise

Fareham college has a deal with the bus company for a cheap annual bus pass.