Yahoo news article regarding Railcards and Trainline

[father_jack]

​

Trainline announces Railcards will no longer work on all trains​

Katie Collier
Tue 22 October 2024 at 10:35 am BST2-min read

Customers with a Railcard will need to check if they can get on earlier trains than what they have paid for (Image: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire)
Trainline has issued an update for customers with a Railcard to help them avoid being fined when travelling on trains.
The change means passengers can no longer use their Railcard on all trains.
Customers will need to check if they are able to get on earlier trains than what they have paid for as some railcards “can only be used on fares that’re above a certain price, at a certain time.”

Trainline announces change to flexibility of Railcards​

In an explanation to customers, Trainline said: “Generally, all Railcards can be used for discounted train fares during Off-Peak times, weekends, and public holidays.
“Some, like the age-related Railcards, can be used during Peak times with a minimum fare, and the Disabled Persons Railcard can be used at any time.

“Some Railcards have specific restrictions on the times you can travel.

“Others can only be used on fares that’re above a certain price, at a certain time.”

Further explaining the change to customers, Trainline gave an example of where the change would come into effect.

The full terms and conditions for each Railcard can be found on the Trainline website.
It said: “For example, if you’re travelling between 04:30 am and 10:00 am, some Railcards can only be used on fares that cost £12 or more.

“This is especially important when you buy Anytime tickets or other flexible tickets.

“If you travel on a train before 10:00 and have used your Railcard to buy your ticket, make sure you didn’t pay less than £12. Your ticket won’t be valid before 10:00 am - even though it's an Anytime ticket. You could be fined!

“When you search for tickets via Trainline with a Railcard applied, it's best to travel on the train you searched for. If you end up travelling on an earlier train, make sure to double-check any restrictions.”

Trainline announces Railcards will no longer work on all trains

Trainline has shared an update to customers regarding a change to the flexibility of using some Railcards.

uk.news.yahoo.com

Not seen this mentioned yet in the light of the recent minimum fare/ deliberate fraud/ unclear conditions debate.

 

[signed]

That's just nothing changed then. There is still no warning/messages on the booking process about railcard validity.

 

[The exile]

Trainline announces Railcards will no longer work on all trains

Trainline has shared an update to customers regarding a change to the flexibility of using some Railcards.

uk.news.yahoo.com

Not seen this mentioned yet in the light of the recent minimum fare/ deliberate fraud/ unclear conditions debate.

Otherwise known as “Journalist invents headline that is so misleading it’s effectively a lie” and third party ducks out of its responsibility to do things properly.

 

[John R]

Otherwise known as “Journalist invents headline that is so misleading it’s effectively a lie” and third party ducks out of its responsibility to do things properly.

It reads as though it has been written by AI, not a journalist.

 

[SuspectUsual]

It reads as though it has been written by AI, not a journalist.

“can only be used on fares that’re above a certain price, at a certain time.”

World's worst AI then

 

[Doctor Fegg]

It reads as though it has been written by AI, not a journalist.

It’s a story from a Newsquest paper so that’s very possible - they have an AI tool which they use to reword press releases into newspaper stories.

 

[Hadders]

As I understand, it there are now some pop-ups during the booking process that day say, where appropriate, that the ticket cannot be used before 10am.

 

[30907]

As I understand, it there are now some pop-ups during the booking process that day say, where appropriate, that the ticket cannot be used before 10am.

If that's the case, it's good if belated news.

However, if Trainline are claiming that there has been a change in the rules, they are being at best disingenuous.

 

[Bletchleyite]

However, if Trainline are claiming that there has been a change in the rules, they are being at best disingenuous.

I don't think they are, just that awful article is. As someone else said it reads like an AI written article.

 

[30907]

OK thanks.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

If that's the case, it's good if belated news.

However, if Trainline are claiming that there has been a change in the rules, they are being at best disingenuous.

This is what the linked to TheTrainline webpage is actually saying...

Railcards and travel restrictions

Generally, all Railcards can be used for discounted train fares during Off-Peak times, weekends, and public holidays. Some, like the age-related Railcards, can be used during Peak times with a minimum fare, and the Disabled Persons Railcard can ...

support.thetrainline.com

Relevant text...

Railcards and travel restrictions
Generally, all Railcards can be used for discounted train fares during Off-Peak times, weekends, and public holidays. Some, like the age-related Railcards, can be used during Peak times with a minimum fare, and the Disabled Persons Railcard can be used at any time.

Some Railcards have specific restrictions on the times you can travel.

Others can only be used on fares that’re above a certain price, at a certain time.

For example, if you’re travelling between 04:30 am and 10:00 am, some Railcards can only be used on fares that cost £12 or more.

This is especially important when you buy Anytime tickets or other flexible tickets. If you travel on a train before 10:00 and have used your Railcard to buy your ticket, make sure you didn’t pay less than £12. Your ticket won’t be valid before 10:00 am - even though it's an Anytime ticket. You could be fined!

When you search for tickets via Trainline with a Railcard applied, it's best to travel on the train you searched for. If you end up travelling on an earlier train, make sure to double-check any restrictions.

 

[Bletchleyite]

This is what the linked to TheTrainline webpage is actually saying...

Railcards and travel restrictions

Generally, all Railcards can be used for discounted train fares during Off-Peak times, weekends, and public holidays. Some, like the age-related Railcards, can be used during Peak times with a minimum fare, and the Disabled Persons Railcard can ...

support.thetrainline.com

Relevant text...

Nothing on there says the rules have changed.

 

[James H]

I saw a post on Reddit which suggested that Trainline's implementation was so clumsy it incorrectly marked a ticket to which the minimum fare had been applied as invalid in the morning peak

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I saw a post on Reddit which suggested that Trainline's implementation was so clumsy it incorrectly marked a ticket to which the minimum fare had been applied as invalid in the morning peak

Link? That post might just need to be fact-checked.

 

[James H]

This was the Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/uktrains/comments/1g9ct8z/comment/lt6r2ew/

I always buy the Anytime Day Return incase a colleague wants an ad hoc meeting after 4pm when I usually leave. This has always cost me £12, discounted from £17.40 with the railcard.

I’ve been doing this commute for 3 years, just once a week and using the 26-30 railcard. However, today I noticed at the bottom of my ticket is says “Travel on services after 10:00 am. Your Railcard has been applied. As a result, this ticket is only valid on services after 10:00 am.”

It clearly states in the T&Cs the minimum is £12, which I pay exactly (£12.59 with admin charge).

 

[Hadders]

Here's an example of what you see when you book online. I assume there are siilar warnings when purchasing via the app:

 

[Mcr Warrior]

This was the Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/uktrains/comments/1g9ct8z/comment/lt6r2ew/

Mentions that the journey is Derby to/from Leicester, which is £17.50 for an undiscounted Anytime Day Return, or £11.65 with 26-30 Railcard discount applied. Isn't it?

 

[James H]

Yes, but it sounds like Trainline is putting a warning on a £12 discounted e-ticket to say it's not valid before 10am, which is wrong.

£12 is the correct discounted fare in the morning peak

In any event, the article mentioned by the OP won't help public understanding of what is already a poorly comprehended issue.

 

[87electric]

Will someone please explain to Trainline that only Courts can issues “fines”. No wonder the passengers are confused by what is and isn’t a fine with railway ticketing issues.

 

[AdamWW]

Will someone please explain to Trainline that only Courts can issues “fines”. No wonder the passengers are confused by what is and isn’t a fine with railway ticketing issues.

Or maybe they're just using the dictionary definition?

 

[AlterEgo]

Will someone please explain to Trainline that only Courts can issues “fines”.

No, because that wouldn’t be true.

 

[island]

Will someone please explain to Trainline that only Courts can issues “fines”. No wonder the passengers are confused by what is and isn’t a fine with railway ticketing issues.

I don't think that would be useful.