If it's a digital railcard, you should be able to do all of it online. Create an account on the TfL website, add your payment card/device, add your railcard number (which TfL validate with RDG) and away you go.
No timeline, and they haven't confirmed that Network Railcard would give a discount either (noting that it doesn't give a discount on Oyster fares and the practical issue of minimum fares).
Almost certain that Network, Family & Friends and Two Together Railcards will be out of scope for Contactless for the same reasons they're out of scope for Oyster.
I know some people who live in London who can't be bothered! Bewildering to me.
Just for Underground and Lizzie Line services I at least cover costs with my railcard linked to Oyster. National Rail journeys, with paper or online tickets, are a bonus.
There’d still be a problem with Network Card ‘other adults and children’ feature.
Back end calculation doesn't exist yet even for supported railcards. It is only for 'full fare' Oyster Cards.
Yes, I mean once contactless supports railcards at all !
Looking at an image search for UK railcard each 'proper' physical card has a unique number, although it includes letters!
So two people travelling, one goes to the train to get settled in with 10 minutes to spare, the other goes to the toilet or a coffee shop and touches in 5 minutes later. You could compare touches all day, but there would need to be decisions made. One half of a two together might do more travel in the evening which shouldn't invalidate earlier travel together, but how would capping work? Lots to think about.
Same as the gold card, other passengers don't get it.
And Two together.
And the Disabled Persons Railcard. Discount only available for the card holder when using Oyster, not a companion.
Me, I visit London once every 3 months and don’t want an Oyster card. It’s pathetic that it’s still not possible with contactless but I’m going to put up with it until 2024 or 2034 when it’s enabled. For the occasional slight saving it’s not worth it. Of course if I lived in London I would do it.
Ideally that should have been sorted before trying to extend the system across much of the South East. Sadly that didn't fit in with the political imperative from Whitehall.
The new scanner at Martins Heron platform 1 is now in use and can be used for SWR smart cards (only) replacing the old yellow scanner. Presumably if and when oval reaches out there it will also accept bank cards.
This means that the back office now understands discounted fares, which has probably been one of the stumbling blocks.
...to enabling contactless Railcard-discounted fares? Or something else?
Yes. I mean it is minor, probably, but it did need to be done.
Not a new idea, they have been put up in previous years as well. There’s been discussions about the penalty fares people were charged after ignoring the signs and announcements Eg here last year:
www.railforums.co.uk
Possibly needed because it is valid on some buses in the town?