Disabled Railcard Companion Advice

[Stuwhu]

Hi

I've got a couple of questions about a disabled railcard I was wondering if someone could help with please

1) I'm travelling tomorrow as a companion with a disabled railcard holder. However he is travelling from Crewe to Derby and I am travelling from Stoke to Derby. Do we both have to have the same ticket to get the railcard discount (eg I would start short on a Crewe-Derby ticket), or are we OK to have different tickets if we travel together on the Stoke-Derby trip?

2) On arrival in Derby I would like to use a Plusbus ticket. My travelling companion is over 65 so has a free bus pass. Would I need to get a full price plusbus ticket or am I OK to get a railcard discounted Plus ticket despite the card holder not having a Plusbus ticket

Thanks for any help offered.

 

[yorkie]

Hi

I've got a couple of questions about a disabled railcard I was wondering if someone could help with please

1) I'm travelling tomorrow as a companion with a disabled railcard holder. However he is travelling from Crewe to Derby and I am travelling from Stoke to Derby. Do we both have to have the same ticket to get the railcard discount (eg I would start short on a Crewe-Derby ticket), or are we OK to have different tickets if we travel together on the Stoke-Derby trip?

It's a grey area; the T&Cs say " The accompanying passenger for whom a discounted ticket is purchased must travel with the Railcard holder throughout the journey." but I think that is intended to simply deny the accompanying passenger any rights to use a discounted fare for travel on their own.

A literal interpretation would deny you the right to any form of discount, unless the Railcard holder made two separate journeys, one being from Crewe to Stoke, and another being with you, from Stoke to Derby. I do not believe that is what is intended, however.

 

[najaB]

I do not believe that is what is intended, however.

I agree, the intent would be clearer if the phrase "must travel with the Railcard holder throughout the journey" was replaced by "cannot travel separately from the railcard holder".

 

[Qwerty133]

It's a grey area; the T&Cs say " The accompanying passenger for whom a discounted ticket is purchased must travel with the Railcard holder throughout the journey." but I think that is intended to simply deny the accompanying passenger any rights to use a discounted fare for travel on their own.

A literal interpretation would deny you the right to any form of discount, unless the Railcard holder made two separate journeys, one being from Crewe to Stoke, and another being with you, from Stoke to Derby. I do not believe that is what is intended, however.

I disagree, presumably the allowance of a companion on a disabled railcard holder is to acknowledge that a lot of disabled people struggle or are unable to travel alone and may need accompanying by a carer (whether paid or an unpaid friend or relative) rather than to allow friends and family a discount when travelling for reasons unrelated to helping the disabled passenger. While the railway clearly is not in a position to judge whether a disabled person needs to be accompanied when travelling it would not be unfair to limit the discount to when the companion (or a sequence of companions in the case of longer journeys) accompanies the disabled person for their whole journey, as the absence of a companion for a portion of the journey as good as proves that the companions journey is being made for reasons unrelated to the disabled persons disability.

 

[gray1404]

I am a disabled person's railcard holder and I do not need someone with me travel. However, my friends and I often travel together and a second friend will enjoy the discount as they are with me. My disability has nothing to do with that in terms of if I need someone with me for them to enjoy the discount.

 

[najaB]

I disagree, presumably the allowance of a companion on a disabled railcard holder is to acknowledge that a lot of disabled people struggle or are unable to travel alone and may need accompanying by a carer (whether paid or an unpaid friend or relative) rather than to allow friends and family a discount when travelling for reasons unrelated to helping the disabled passenger.

Equally, it could be recognition of the fact that disabled people often have lower household incomes and providing a companion discount allows and encourages them to make journeys that they otherwise might not be able to afford.

 

[greatkingrat]

The problem would be is if your ticket was checked at Stoke you wouldn't be able to produce the railcard, unless your companion got off at Stoke with you and then resumed their journey to Crewe on a later train.