Digital Railcard Warning

[WelshBluebird]

4G is pretty widespread now, and by 2020 EE will have 95% geographic coverage (meaning I'd imagine nearly all railways will be covered). Vodafone is also rapidly catching up; as it puts fibre in to serve old 2G sites, they are able to offer excellent 4G coverage.

We must travel on different lines then!
I get dumped down to 2G or no signal quite a lot on EE while travelling. Even when visiting a friend in London the weekend just gone I ended up on Edge for a few minutes between Penge and Victoria. And that ignores the many many tunnels that we have on the network.

 

[Clip]

So the issue is finally fixed as of yesterday! Accidentally opened the app and saw the railcard was orange, and to my displeasure it now has a big photo of me on it! + the words 'Bought Online' as opposed to 'Expired'

I hate cheques by the way. Had to wait 5 working days (a whole calendar week) to get my 99.50 back

If you had read a few p[ages back you would see that they knew of the issue and was because the current card people were using hadn't expired on the database so it showed the new one as expired. All explained on the railcard websites

 

[philthetube]

4G is pretty widespread now, and by 2020 EE will have 95% geographic coverage (meaning I'd imagine nearly all railways will be covered). Vodafone is also rapidly catching up; as it puts fibre in to serve old 2G sites, they are able to offer excellent 4G coverage.

It's more a case of the industry giving staff the necessary equipment. That will happen, but the same machine that reads a barcode will also manage smartcards too, or be able to validate a digital railcard.

95% of population leaves out all Scotland excluding four cities, the north Yorkshire moors, the lakes excluding Windermere Ambleside and Keswick and big chunks of Kent, Devon and many other counties.

 

[jon0844]

We must travel on different lines then!
I get dumped down to 2G or no signal quite a lot on EE while travelling. Even when visiting a friend in London the weekend just gone I ended up on Edge for a few minutes between Penge and Victoria. And that ignores the many many tunnels that we have on the network.

I rarely get 2G anywhere. If it does go to 2G and EDGE, it will usually jump back pretty smartish because most 2G only sites were updated to 2G and 4G only (so 3G users will always be on 2G in those locations).

EE hasn't put 3G on the really old sites because ultimately 3G will be turned off before 2G.

And the other thing is that I have a phone that supports VoLTE on EE, which means that I have access to the 800MHz sites. If your phone doesn't support this, you'll be missing out on the frequency that has the longest range and can work better indoors.

 

[jon0844]

95% of population leaves out all Scotland excluding four cities, the north Yorkshire moors, the lakes excluding Windermere Ambleside and Keswick and big chunks of Kent, Devon and many other counties.

It's geographic, not population. And EE has always had an aim to get as close to 100% as possible. It gets to 95% in 2020 and after I believe it will continue to grow, just as Vodafone has a 'grow the grid' initiative to add loads of new sites.

EE is building a network for the next generation network for the emergency services, so coverage is paramount. I've seen maps showing the hundreds of new sites around Scotland, the Lakes and so on. It is going to be like nothing we've seen before, as nobody ever covered these areas.

Many of these sites will also be able to offer Vodafone, O2 and others to use the sites to offer coverage to their customers - but not all. It depends on who funded the site (Government, EE or a mix).

A lot of these sites are essential for 5G. Remember, there's a belief that one day everything will be connected and communicate not only via networks, but with each other. 5G requires even more sites.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Does DORIS validate the barcodes on the railcard app or are you talking about something different here?

Sorry just had it confirmed that DORIS does validate the Digital Railcard.

 

[Scotty]

Having been using the railway for some years, I can assure you that the likelihood of any electric device I may have being out of action, is a lot greater than the likelihood of me forgetting my railcard. This is because I keep railcard, tickets and metro card together in a plastic wallet. Therefore I will not be switching to any sort of electronic "app" except by compulsion.

But if your railcard is on your phone, you will take extra care to ensure it is in a usable condition when required. Just like you make the effort now with your railcard, tickets, etc.

 

[Sprinter153]

I saw my first Digital Railcard today.
Well, I say 'saw', what I actually saw was a completely flat iPhone and an owner furiously trying to beg, borrow or steal a Lightning cable.

In the interests of balance though September always seems to be silly season for 16-25 discounted tickets sans valid railcard.

 

[Harbouring]

But if your railcard is on your phone, you will take extra care to ensure it is in a usable condition when required. Just like you make the effort now with your railcard, tickets, etc.

But there are reasons beyond your control which might mean your railcard cannot be used eg. Software/OS updates unexpectedly (if you have auto update on) your phone crashes (less likely these days but not impossible) or a service network issue. All these are feasible, not your fault yet would mean that you would be open to being accused of travelling with no railcard. The only reason beyond your control for no card railcard is wallet getting stolen.

Ido think there is market for it, especially for 18-25/Two Together and family and friends but senior and disabled railcards will be less popular. So it's important to maintain the option of either open to all users.

 

[yorksrob]

But if your railcard is on your phone, you will take extra care to ensure it is in a usable condition when required. Just like you make the effort now with your railcard, tickets, etc.

Well, it depends on the amount of effort it takes.

To ensure my phone is in a useable condition, I have to take extra batteries, charging cables, choose seats in pubs next to a socket, ration my phone usage and switch it off at times to ensure I can turn it on again to show the ticket. In short, a lot of rigmarole.

To ensure my railcards are in a useable condition, all I have to do is check my ticket wallet is in my trouser pocket.

One of my biggest mistakes was foregoing a watch as I could supposedly always check the time on my phone ! Very naive.

 

[gswindale]

When I'm out & about and know that I might need internet on my phone at some point in the day, I tend to turn both wi-fi and data off for the most part - turning it on if/when it is needed.

It is surprising how much longer the battery lasts if you don't leave yourself permanently connected!

I'd also insist on app updates etc taking place on wi-fi only.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Clip]

But there are reasons beyond your control which might mean your railcard cannot be used eg. Software/OS updates unexpectedly (if you have auto update on) your phone crashes (less likely these days but not impossible) or a service network issue. All these are feasible, not your fault yet would mean that you would be open to being accused of travelling with no railcard. The only reason beyond your control for no card railcard is wallet getting stolen.
.

And how many times do we have to keep saying this before you lot will take your heads out of the sand and actually listen


You will be treat exactly the same as if you had misplaced or had your paper railcard stolen.

Its not a difficult concept, it really isn't but it seems that you will all clutch at as many fading straws but using exactly the same arguments over ALWAYS be the same.


Admit it - you're luddites. Go on just admit it and move on.
#

Digital railcards are here and they are here to stay and no one and I repeat NO ONE is currently forcing you to have one.:roll:

 

[jon0844]

Digital railcard appear to be doing very well and lots are being shown to staff. There are a few tweaks coming to the cards displayed, but otherwise I think they're deemed a success so far.

I also hear that the next step is a new digital railcard for 26-30 year olds, starting with a trial for people living within the Greater Anglia region. These will be digital only, but I am not sure when the cards go national after the trial if you will have physical card options too?

 

[Bletchleyite]

26-30s? Why not just a National Railcard? Or should 40-60whatevers just drive?

 

[IanXC]

The 16-30 Railcard concept is being discussed in this thread: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=154195

 

[Wallsendmag]

If the take up figures I've heard are correct they'll be here to stay


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[GaryMcEwan]

As well as having the railcard specific app, I hope that in the future they will implement adding railcards to Apple Wallet and Android Pay.

Everything that I use is via my phone, it's getting to the stage where I hardly even use my physical debit card or credit card these days.

 

[yorksrob]

26-30s? Why not just a National Railcard? Or should 40-60whatevers just drive?

Why not just a National Railcard indeed !

Our forward thinking TOC's seem to be against the idea.

 

[ooo]

Why not just a National Railcard indeed !

Our forward thinking TOC's seem to be against the idea.

Perhaps their calculations suggest that it wouldn't result in a revenue increase for the railway

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

[philthetube]

Well, it depends on the amount of effort it takes.

To ensure my phone is in a useable condition, I have to take extra batteries, charging cables, choose seats in pubs next to a socket, ration my phone usage and switch it off at times to ensure I can turn it on again to show the ticket. In short, a lot of rigmarole.

To ensure my railcards are in a useable condition, all I have to do is check my ticket wallet is in my trouser pocket.

One of my biggest mistakes was foregoing a watch as I could supposedly always check the time on my phone ! Very naive.

I really wish my biggest mistakes were of a similar magnitude.

 

[yorksrob]

[/B]

I really wish my biggest mistakes were of a similar magnitude.

Well, it's one of my biggest mistakes in terms of consumer purchasing. There are, alas bigger ones in other areas

 

[viale-calle]

Crikey. Some of archaic dross in here is incredible!

1. It's 2017. Telephones can now be mobile, TV's display programs in colour, Railcards don't have to be on paper!

2. Digital Railcards only went on sale about 6 weeks ago, it's a brand new product. This customer happens to really love it!

3. My digital Railcard works perfectly well. My old plastic Railcard also worked well. Now I have a choice

4. Just to play devils advocate... RDG, or ATOC as they once were, I believe act on behalf of the Train companies.
4a. When people on this thread moan that the Railcard isn't in apple wallet or similar, it's probably because a train company complained that it wouldn't be secure enough and wanted protect their bottom line against fraud.
4b. When you complain that you can't get both a plastic AND a digital Railcard, it's likely because a train company has said that they won't pay the extra money required to provide the customer with both
4c. When you feel aggrieved that there is no Railcard for a 32 year old who travels by themselves outside of the London area, lets remember that this is dictated by a train company not wanting to offer that person discount, as they'll likely pay full price.

5. Apps are tricky. There are hundreds of different android phones, using different software. Bugs appear. It's really normal.

I'm sure in the future my digital Railcard will look and behave very differently. But it has to start somewhere!

 

[yorksrob]

Crikey. Some of archaic dross in here is incredible!

1. It's 2017. Telephones can now be mobile, TV's display programs in colour, Railcards don't have to be on paper!

2. Digital Railcards only went on sale about 6 weeks ago, it's a brand new product. This customer happens to really love it!

3. My digital Railcard works perfectly well. My old plastic Railcard also worked well. Now I have a choice

4. Just to play devils advocate... RDG, or ATOC as they once were, I believe act on behalf of the Train companies.
4a. When people on this thread moan that the Railcard isn't in apple wallet or similar, it's probably because a train company complained that it wouldn't be secure enough and wanted protect their bottom line against fraud.
4b. When you complain that you can't get both a plastic AND a digital Railcard, it's likely because a train company has said that they won't pay the extra money required to provide the customer with both
4c. When you feel aggrieved that there is no Railcard for a 32 year old who travels by themselves outside of the London area, lets remember that this is dictated by a train company not wanting to offer that person discount, as they'll likely pay full price.

5. Apps are tricky. There are hundreds of different android phones, using different software. Bugs appear. It's really normal.

I'm sure in the future my digital Railcard will look and behave very differently. But it has to start somewhere!

Just so long as it remains a genuine choice what format we have the railcard in, it's fine by me.

It's if businesses try to force us to have digital railcards for their own commercial convenience that I will have a problem.

 

[Clip]

Just so long as it remains a genuine choice what format we have the railcard in, it's fine by me.

It's if businesses try to force us to have digital railcards for their own commercial convenience that I will have a problem.

Sadly I think in time you will not be able to have that choice I'm afraid so you either get with the digital railcard revolution or get left behind.

 

[SaveECRewards]

I decided to get a network railcard on a mobile device (it's the only one I qualify for when travelling alone!). I'm happy as I don't like carrying around excess cards, so I'd only take my other (2TG) railcard with me if I was travelling with it. When you're travelling with someone else you're more likely to know you'll be needing it.

Having the network railcard on me all the time via my phone is quite handy for short notice trips.

I'm hoping in future there'll be some integration with ticket buying apps, where they can verify the railcard and then show your railcard entitlement on the eTicket alongside the photo as at the moment it's a bit fiddly if you have an mTicket or eTicket switching between that and the railcard. There's a few challenges for this to happen but I hope it's being looked into.

Out of interest, has anyone ever managed to get their company to pay for their railcard on expenses? It seems none are prepared to do it because even if it'll save them money as it can be used for personal travel it has tax implications that they'd rather not bother with.

 

[WelshBluebird]

5. Apps are tricky. There are hundreds of different android phones, using different software. Bugs appear. It's really normal.

Which is great - until someone ends up having to cough up money for a brand new ticket because of a bug in the app!

 

[Clip]

Which is great - until someone ends up having to cough up money for a brand new ticket because of a bug in the app!

As do those who forget or lose their railcard so we come full circle once again!!

 

[BestWestern]

Perhaps their calculations suggest that it wouldn't result in a revenue increase for the railway

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Perhaps an Off Peak Railcard is what's needed? No travel before 09.00 or between 16.00 - 19.00 perhaps? Utilise some of that daytime capacity, might be particularly beneficial for increasing off peak demand on routes where Advances aren't available?

 

[yorksrob]

Sadly I think in time you will not be able to have that choice I'm afraid so you either get with the digital railcard revolution or get left behind.

And therein lies the problem. The 'Tomorrow's World' brigade can extol the virtues of the digital revolution all they like, but until I'm satisfied that my current arrangements which work perfectly well for me are not under threat, I shall kick back like a mule (proverbially speaking).

 

[jon0844]

And therein lies the problem. The 'Tomorrow's World' brigade can extol the virtues of the digital revolution all they like, but until I'm satisfied that my current arrangements which work perfectly well for me are not under threat, I shall kick back like a mule (proverbially speaking).

Until everyone has a smartphone, I am sure physical railcards are safe. However I'd expect usage to be massively reduced over time to the point where most cards will be digital. Students will probably be 99%.

Plus we may never truly know if there are serious problems with the app (bugs, compatibility issues) because those without a railcard will likely make up excuses and blame the app unfairly.