Should railcard discounts work in conjuction with TOC special offers?

[Schweir]

So I went to London from Weymouth last weekend booking using the £15 SWR single offer. However railcard discounts do not work on top of this. What is the explanation behind this? Personally I think that railcard discounts should be able to be used alongside the special offer, else it seems increasingly pointless buying railcards, especially since a railcards primary use is for off peak travel (weekends and holidays) , which often coincides when TOC's release offers.

 

[Harpers Tate]

How much would the fare have ordinarily been, without the offer? More or less than £15? If more then I don't see cause for complaint - and, if less, then I'd buy that instead.

I just spent the entire weekend travelling on Northern for £17.50. A bargain to anyone, without any further discount.

 

[3141]

Some people are never satisfied! The £15 offer is brilliant if you're taking a longer journey, never mind if there's no Railcard discount as well. If you think buying a railcard is becoming pointless, don't buy one. Last weekend I went from Overton to Manchester and back, first class on VTWC both ways, for about £85. It would have been nearer £150 without my railcard.

You can regard the SWR £15 offer as an extension to everyone of the kind of benefits a railcard provides, whether or not they're eligible for a card.

 

[6Gman]

Can we have it extended to staff discounts too?

Weymouth - London for £3.75 sounds OK.

 

[A0]

So I went to London from Weymouth last weekend booking using the £15 SWR single offer. However railcard discounts do not work on top of this. What is the explanation behind this? Personally I think that railcard discounts should be able to be used alongside the special offer, else it seems increasingly pointless buying railcards, especially since a railcards primary use is for off peak travel (weekends and holidays) , which often coincides when TOC's release offers.

More irritating to my mind is the fact some of the day rangers / rovers don't allow F&F railcards but will allow 2 together ones.

I know some of them have a 'family' rover, but that assumes you've got more than 1 adult and more than 1 child to make it viable - if it's just 1 adult, 1 child the prices are almost as much as the family one.

 

[Indigo Soup]

It shouldn't be prohibited by ATOC, but nor should it be required.... promotions are a commercial offering and TOCs should be free to offer them in the way that aligns best with their business priorities.

 

[Bennski]

Here is a picture of two tickets I bought through one of TPE's online website offers, 25% off on Scotland journeys I believe. On top of my 1/3 discount from my railcard and the 25% off from the offer these tickets were dirt cheap! Cannot complain about that at all! However this is for the North and Scotland which I suppose doesn't compare to how it is down south perhaps? Nevertheless, discounts can be applied to tickets with a railcard from what I've seen but maybe this is limited to just advanced singles. Perhaps you were commenting on other offers for other ticket types? as some rovers do allow railcard discounts too. Even Virgin offer First Class upgrades every now and then for a small cost on Sundays so would that be classed as a discount too?

 

[hooverboy]

there's a lot of pointless day ranger and rover tickets out there.
They should do what they do in germany and have regional rangers for the day(ie bavaria costs about €25.no ICE trains but RE is not that much slower.).The closest thing we have is anglia plus..That's quite nice if you fancy some seaside.

.. FWIW there should be a better spread of railcards as well.I would jump at the chance for an individual "off peak" railcard.Even for £100 a pop per year.
Primarily because I travel on business quite a lot so end up getting tickets for heathrow/gatwick/stansted on a very regular basis.It works out a lot cheaper than airport parking.

 

[GW43125]

My view: if they give child discounts (which they always do), why not railcard discounts?
A 16 year old is usually on the same income as a 15 year old (0 or thereabouts)

 

[Mag_seven]

So I went to London from Weymouth last weekend booking using the £15 SWR single offer. However railcard discounts do not work on top of this. What is the explanation behind this? Personally I think that railcard discounts should be able to be used alongside the special offer, else it seems increasingly pointless buying railcards, especially since a railcards primary use is for off peak travel (weekends and holidays) , which often coincides when TOC's release offers.

Think of those who are not eligible for a Railcard - this levels the playing field.

 

[westv]

As someone that can't take advantage of any railcards I'd obviously say no, you shouldn't get two bites of the cake.

 

[Mikey C]

My personal grouse is the minimum fare of £13 when using a Network Railcard during the week, which makes the card pointless for shorter journeys out of London during the week.

 

[38Cto15E]

I have just had a Special Offer from Virgin Trains and looking at some test fares they worked out more expensive than using my Railcard.

 

[Dougal2345]

I'm not particularly happy about the concept of the 'Two Together' railcard.

This effectively creates a single supplement for solo travellers, doesn't it? Which doesn't seem quite fair.

Although on the other hand most solo travellers seem to do their best to occupy two (or four) seats, so maybe that's the thinking behind it.

 

[Scotty]

This effectively creates a single supplement for solo travellers

No, it's a discount. You're looking at it from the wrong angle.

 

[MotorcycleAlan]

Agree with that Scotty. It is just that, and helps tip the balance, whereby for 2 people travelling at full price it is nearly always much cheaper by road. Less so for a single traveler although still can be. Therefore when I had a two together railcard I drove less often and took the train. The railway gained as a result. It also encouraged an upgrade to 1st sometimes too. Even more money for the railway. Many couples are unaware of it and when I worked in the ticket office I always suggested it, sometimes paying for itself on the first use.

 

[Dougal2345]

I wouldn't object if there were a "One Alone" Railcard too. At exactly half the price of the Two Together, of course...

 

[JonathanH]

My personal grouse is the minimum fare of £13 when using a Network Railcard during the week, which makes the card pointless for shorter journeys out of London during the week.

We are somewhat lucky it still £13. Based on inflation since it was last increased it should now be about £17 and it is rather surprising that this hasn't happened since it will be a big step when it does next increase.

 

[Harpers Tate]

...a single supplement for solo travellers, doesn't it? Which doesn't seem quite fair.....

It depends on perspective. If one considers this to be a commercial activity in part designed to attract leisure travellers out of their CARS, then it becomes clear. After all, there is a huge single supplement for motorists - or to put it another way, their accompanying family or colleagues (etc) up to most typically four, but in some cases six, more in number travel practically free.

 

[SaveECRewards]

It depends on the offer. I think fixed fare offers are fine not to offer railway discounts - if you say from XXX-YYY for £15 then that's straightforward.

If the offer is a percentage discount and is less than the railcard discount I think they should be combined even if the combined discount is not a further 33% off the discounted price. For example the offer could be 30% off the fares but 40% off for railcard holders.

There has been times when Virgin (both east and west) has sent discount offers of between 20 and 30% as a thank you and all it's done has create disappointment as they are railcard holders so have no use for this offer.