Railcards rarely checked on Avanti

martindow

I find it varies a lot whether tickets and cards are checked at all. Barriers can be set to stay closed when the ticket uses a railcard. The person on the gateline checks these separately and lets you through.

I've seen this happening occasionally at London terminals and at Oxford (not sure what this implies regarding the honesty of students!). I think they have occasional blitzes and rigorous checks at places where they know there is a large problem.

On the trams in Manchester which has no barriers I have seen a group of about six inspectors who get on a tram to check all passengers have paid before the driver releases the doors.

katejo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82037707#Comment_82037707

My Railcard wasn't immediately visible at the time.

katejo

You do need to have one if you buy the ticket at a station ticket office. My local one insists on seeing it.

SiliconChip

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82038111#Comment_82038111

What if you're not a railcard holder but you're buying a ticket for someone who is? I suspect the person selling tickets at your station is in the wrong.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82038158#Comment_82038158

I believe that ticket office staff are instructed that when selling Railcard-discounted tickets, all persons seeking the discount should be present, together with their Railcards.

It's an obvious way to reduce the purchase of tickets used fraudulently.

Immediately gives rise to all sorts of questions/issues - both realised and imaginary - and, of course, is made rather silly when the same tickets could be bought online or from a TVM, no doubt only metres from the ticket office.

katejo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82038194#Comment_82038194

I saw a complaint from a guy who had shown his Railcard at point of purchase in a ticket office but didn't think he needed to have it with him on the train because he had already shown it. Others pointed out that proof isn't needed online or from a ticket machine.

oldernonethewiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82038464#Comment_82038464

He definitely got that back to front

HillStreetBlues

Don't think I've ever been asked for my railcard on Avanti, I thought it was because I had a honest face! 😇

samal

On a recent LNER trip to Edinburgh we had our tickets checked both ways but never asked for the 2 together card.

katejo

I have just booked another Avanti trip with my Railcard for later this month so I will see what happens then.