16-25 railcard v Senior railcard restriction inconsistency

[thedbdiboy]

Are you suggesting that there are railcards which aren't profitable for the TOC's ?

Disabled Person's Railcard and the New Deal Railcard are examples of products targeted at social inclusion rather than profit per se
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Surely ATOC as a trade association is "the TOCs"? It would need agreement between all TOCs to launch a new national Railcard I'd hope (shudders at thought of 2GETH railcard which is only valid on certain TOCs).

Yes, but the balance of power is such that TOCs individually or collectively direct ATOC as to which issues to manage. It isn't like the old BRB!

I get the impression from reading around that ATOC were pressured into trialling a new railcard but were reluctant and so came up with something that was less attractive than many were hoping for.

Whatever you may have heard, I can assure you that the people working on the trial have taken it very seriously and a significant sum of money was committed by TOCs to do a proper trial. It's certainly provided a wealth of info about how this particular market behaves when offered an incentive

 

[island]

Disabled Person's Railcard and the New Deal Railcard are examples of products targeted at social inclusion rather than profit per se

What gives you that opinion?

 

[Deerfold]

Disabled Person's Railcard and the New Deal Railcard are examples of products targeted at social inclusion rather than profit per se

Does it not encourage both classes of people to travel more by rail than they would have done before?

 

[brompton rail]

Railcards were introduced by British Rail for commercial reasons. Their purpose was to encourage more rail travel. I understood at the time of privatisation the Senior Card and the Disabled Card were included in a requirement on the privatised railway for them to continue. ATOC has only ever introduced the recent 2 together card. Family and Student Railcards were also introduced by BR. Not sure about Forces.

Taking the Senior Card as an example, the view was that older people had more available time and could be encouraged to travel by train rather than car. The aim was to sell more rail tickets. It clearly worked and continues to work. The rational behind Student Railcard was similar, as was Family Railcard. Pay an upfront fee, get a discount and spend more money on train tickets by travelling more frequently. The age at 60 was women's retirement age, but many men them could retire early at 60 too.

I can't see the current system changing a great deal.