Activating SWR Tap2Go and loading a Railcard

[fandroid]

I have added Tap2Go on my existing SWR Touch card and received the email confirming that. I nominated Basingstoke as the station to activate it. I have a Senior Railcard which I want to add to the account. It's not offering me this option at present. Can I do this activation at a TVM at the station or do I have to tap the Smartcard Reader? If I do the latter is it expecting me to immediately embark on a journey (without the Railcard discount)? I would like to use it for a journey tomorrow, but I want to be sure to get the Railcard discount.

 

[MrJeeves]

I have added Tap2Go on my existing SWR Touch card and received the email confirming that. I nominated Basingstoke as the station to activate it. I have a Senior Railcard which I want to add to the account. It's not offering me this option at present. Can I do this activation at a TVM at the station or do I have to tap the Smartcard Reader? If I do the latter is it expecting me to immediately embark on a journey (without the Railcard discount)? I would like to use it for a journey tomorrow, but I want to be sure to get the Railcard discount.

As far as I understand, it will be wanting you to begin a journey immediately.

You may be able to use the National Rail Smartcard app to load the Tap2Go "travel authority" onto the smartcard from your phone, provided you have one that supports NFC though. Alternatively, the SWR app might have a ticket loading feature. I know this is what I have done in the past for activating keyGo on my smartcard precisely for the same reason as you.

 

[Joe Paxton]

I have added Tap2Go on my existing SWR Touch card and received the email confirming that. I nominated Basingstoke as the station to activate it. I have a Senior Railcard which I want to add to the account. It's not offering me this option at present. Can I do this activation at a TVM at the station or do I have to tap the Smartcard Reader? If I do the latter is it expecting me to immediately embark on a journey (without the Railcard discount)? I would like to use it for a journey tomorrow, but I want to be sure to get the Railcard discount.

I think the only way to add a Railcard to your Tap2Go account is via your SWR online ticketing account.

As per the screenshot below (borrowed with gratitude from this March '23 post by @Couru), there is a Manage Your Railcard option down the left-hand side which I believe appears once Tap2Go has been enabled...

 

[Couru]

(borrowed with gratitude from this March '23 post by @Couru)

For what its worth, I never got this to work. The automated system always declined my railcard, regardless of what info I gave it. I ended up just biting the bullet and only using my tap2go card for small journeys the Railcard wouldn't be valid for anyway, then buying tickets manually for longer journeys.

 

[fandroid]

I think the only way to add a Railcard to your Tap2Go account is via your SWR online ticketing account.

As per the screenshot below (borrowed with gratitude from this March '23 post by @Couru), there is a Manage Your Railcard option down the left-hand side which I believe appears once Tap2Go has been enabled...

I have to assume that this function will turn up when I tap on with the card for the first time. It's not showing on a normal account login. I'm due to arrive back in Basingstoke in 25 mins, so I'll try it on a TVM reader. I don't want to risk getting an Uncompleted Journey penalty by tapping on a gate reader.

I've been happy with the Touch card for normal ticket purchase, but frustrated at it not being usable for Evening/Sunday Out tickets. That was my only motivation for giving Tap2Go a try as they claim to charge all applicable walk-up ticket prices. We'll see!

 

[MrJeeves]

I have to assume that this function will turn up when I tap on with the card for the first time. It's not showing on a normal account login. I'm due to arrive back in Basingstoke in 25 mins, so I'll try it on a TVM reader. I don't want to risk getting an Uncompleted Journey penalty by tapping on a gate reader.

SWR TVMs, as far as I'm aware, are not set up to load Smartcard tickets bought anywhere except for the TVM itself, including Tap2Go.

 

[Haywain]

SWR TVMs, as far as I'm aware, are not set up to load Smartcard tickets bought anywhere except for the TVM itself, including Tap2Go.

From reading the relevant pages on the SWR website, it appears that Tap2Go is loaded when you touch in at the specified station to start a journey (this means at a barrier or standalone validator, not a TVM). If it works in the same way as GTR's KeyGo you could then touch out immediately and will not be charged.

 

[SWT_USER]

As far as I understand, it will be wanting you to begin a journey immediately.

You may be able to use the National Rail Smartcard app to load the Tap2Go "travel authority" onto the smartcard from your phone, provided you have one that supports NFC though. Alternatively, the SWR app might have a ticket loading feature. I know this is what I have done in the past for activating keyGo on my smartcard precisely for the same reason as you.

Is this app still current? For me the Google play store says 'not available for your device because it was made for an older version of Android.' if people are still expected to use it but they don't bother keeping it updated that's pretty poor...

 

[MrJeeves]

Is this app still current? For me the Google play store says 'not available for your device because it was made for an older version of Android.' if people are still expected to use it but they don't bother keeping it updated that's pretty poor...

How odd... Shows on my Pixel 9 Pro fine!

 

[SWT_USER]

How odd... Shows on my Pixel 9 Pro fine!

How strange... I'm using the pixel 9 pro XL and this is what I get:

Image shows text advising national rail smartcard manager app not available for my phone.

 

[HandyHat]

For what its worth, I never got this to work. The automated system always declined my railcard, regardless of what info I gave it.

I had the same issue. It took 5(!) emails back and forth with SWR but eventually they said that there was a technical issue that had now been resolved.
If anyone else is having this issue you can reach the Smartcard team directly by emailing smartcards@swrailway.com - they were very helpful!