Railcard Rage

[jubieanna]

I travel to Scotland as a single traveller via train regularly to see my Mum. It really irritates me as I can't get discount of a third off as I don't fit any of the categories for a railcard!
I'm not travelling with family and friends
I'm not under 25
I'm not over 60
I'm not travelling 2 together
I'm not disabled
I want a single traveller railcard introduced please.
I try booking in advance to get it cheaper but my journey involves 3 changes each way and booking a return always seems to be around the same price.

Any ideas on how to get discounted travel on trains???

[cassa333]

If you go regularly it might be worth getting a family discount card and booking your one ticket that way. I've used our family card for my single journeys.

[jubieanna]

Do you mean the family and friends discount card cassa? I don't think you can travel on your own with it you must have at least one child with you.

[bednobs]

have you ever tried split ticketing?

[jubieanna]

I tried it once bedknobs to take advantage of 12 weeks in advance discount but it was so hard to get the timings right! Why can't they just give a discount on my return journey for me lol

[baza]

Sometimes it works out cheaper to book single tickets for each leg , have you tried your local station during a quiet time, some clerks can be really helpful when not under pressure.

[jno]

I don't want to seem harsh, but surely somebody has to pay the standard fare? Otherwise what's the point of having them?

[EDDIE51]

^^ most if not all rail cards are only valid 'Off Peak' you can't use them in the rush hours when a large majority have to travel.

[jubieanna]

Thanks baza that's a good suggestion I'll try my local station.

I don't need to travel at peak times so a railcard would be beneficial if I fitted the criteria Eddie

Jno does it not seem harsh if I'm sat next to someone who's paid a third less than me for exactly the same journey!

[jno]

not if they've had to have themselves disabled before they could do it!

(Or had to have a family... or had to live 60 years...)

[jubieanna]

I've had a family thank you. Let's agree to disagree jno I didn't want an argument just some helpful advice

[Buenchico]

Try providing us with your travel dates and preferred times for a forthcoming trip, Jubieanna (plus, of course, the stations you're travelling between). There are three ABers with particularly good knowledge of the rail system. (Me, 'cos I used to run a railway station, Mushroom25 and Dzug2). If there's a cheap way to do it it, one of us should be able to tell you what it is!

[gingejbee]

...the Disabled Adult Railcard is not time dependant....valid throughout the day.

[jno]

sorry, wasn't really trying to argue, just point out why it might be you couldn't find a discount: because if they gave them to everyone, it wouldn't be a discount any more. But Buenchico might be able to fiond something for you.

[jubieanna]

Thank you so much buenchico :)

I usually travel from Chepstow to Gleneagles with 2 changes at Birmingham new street and Edinburgh Waverley. I sometime change at Edinburgh Haymarket if connect times are tight. Was thinking of popping up end of October but it's not set in stone when I go.

[Buenchico]

^^^ Senior Railcards also have no time restrictions outside of the old 'Network Southeast' area (where they're not valid during the morning peak).

The same applies to Family & Friends Railcards.

16-25 Railcards are valid at all times but are subject to a £12 minimum fare before 1000 on weekdays (except in July and August).

[jubieanna]

jno take no notice of me I'm a cranky pants today! lack of sleep last night due to OH snoring!

[bednobs]

i just put a random dte in october in in splitticketing and there was an approx 50% discount on the trainline charge - £75.70 as opposed to £148.20 exactly the same amount of changes (in different plces tho)

[jubieanna]

Thanks for taking the time to do that bedknobs. I'll look into doing it that way

[bednobs]

the problem is,if you want to be flexible or miss a connection the rest of the connections are no good

[Buenchico]

First thoughts on splitting the fares:

The Off-Peak Return fare from Chepstow to Gleneagles is £171.20, so that's what I'm trying to better.

I've used the dates of 24 October outbound and 27th October, providing just a short break, as my examples.

Splitting the journey into three ('Advance') fare sections (Chepstow to Birmingham, Birmingham to Edinburgh and Edinburgh) suggest the following:

Depart Chepstow 1018
Arrive Birmingham NS 1145
(Direct) £10.30

Depart Birmingham NS 1230
Arrive Edinburgh 1721
(Change at York, Arr 1439, Dep 1454) £53.20

Depart Edinburgh 1733
Arrive Gleneagles 1902
(Change at Stirling, Arrive 1829, Depart 1842) £8.40
____________________________________________

Depart Gleneagles 1253
Arrive Edinburgh 1437
(Change at Stirling, Arrive 1312, Depart 1337) £8.40

Depart Edinburgh 1451
Arrive Birmingham NS 1905
(Direct) £26.00

Depart Birmingham NS 1946
Arrive Chepstow 2149
(Direct) £10.30

So that gives a total fare of £116.60, which is 32% cheaper than the Off-Peak Return fare (and thus compares favourably with the 34% discount that Railcard users receive).

Give me some more time though and I might be able to better that!