Britrail Pass

[welshpax]

Just a quick question about Britrail passes, I have looked at the website and cannot get an answer.

In September I will be moving overseas and will become a resident of UAE, I will be coming back to the UK 3/4 times a year and was thinking about getting a Brtirail pass to cover my travel in the UK.

What I want to know is, as a British Citizen, but an overseas resident would I be able to purchase one of these passes?

If it helps, it would be delivered to my address in the UAE and paid with a credit card from that region too.

 

[Deerfold]

Just a quick question about Britrail passes, I have looked at the website and cannot get an answer.

In September I will be moving overseas and will become a resident of UAE, I will be coming back to the UK 3/4 times a year and was thinking about getting a Brtirail pass to cover my travel in the UK.

What I want to know is, as a British Citizen, but an overseas resident would I be able to purchase one of these passes?

If it helps, it would be delivered to my address in the UAE and paid with a credit card from that region too.

You'd be fine. You may require some proof of residence when you reach the UK and start using it (eg long-term visa in your passport, rental agreement, etc).

 

[welshpax]

Fab!!!

Thank you

 

[34D]

Are these things so cheap compared to an ALR that it is worth entering into an arrangement for office or personal space overseas?

 

[PermitToTravel]

Obviously that would be illegal, you need to be resident abroad.

To answer your question that would probably make a saving, yes, if you could somehow obtain proof of foreign residence

 

[Flying Snail]

You'd be fine. You may require some proof of residence when you reach the UK and start using it (eg long-term visa in your passport, rental agreement, etc).

I have used at least a dozen of them over the past 20 years and only on 2 occasions ever been asked for ID of any sort.

Last time was a few years ago when a rather rude VT guard demanded my passport. Not that a passport provides any proof of residency but it seemed to satisfy her in that case, had I shown her my UK passport I imagine further discussion would have ensued.

A space for a passport number is provided on the folder the pass comes in and it is in the T&C that proof of residency can be requested, exactly what form that would be or how it could be proved/dis-proved is another matter.

Are these things so cheap compared to an ALR that it is worth entering into an arrangement for office or personal space overseas?

Could well be, although not legally valid unless you are resident outside of GB.

ALR 7 day £478 std £724 1st
Britrail 8 day consecutive £210 std £310 1st
8 day in 1 month £265 std £390 1st
(Approx cost in £ based on € passes)

And there is the advantage of there being no restriction on pre-10am London IC services.

I can see how it would be tempting for anyone with access to a non-UK address through relatives or friends to use one.

Even for commuting they could be a great deal.

Assuming 240 working days, to cover commuting anywhere in the former NSE area would cost approx £4500, considerably cheaper than a season for many journeys.

I can't imagine it would go un-noticed if a commuter was using one daily though.


To the OP: Bring a bill of some sort with your name and UAE address on it as proof, it is very unlikely you will be asked for any but if anyone had a problem beyond that then it would very much be up to them to prove it.

Oh and if you get a flexi-pass beware of on-train staff trying to punch, scribble on, incorrectly date or otherwise deface them. This is a much more likely scenario than being asked for ID and I have had all sorts of stupid attempts in the past, the worst was a guard who using a fat felt tip marker checked the ticket by putting a black line straight through one of the unused date boxes. After that I made a plastic sleeve to protect the pass from wear and tear as well as dopey rail staff.

 

[neilmc]

Wow, here's an opportunity for me! I'm retired so have all the time in the world, my son lives in the Middle East and has the same initials as me!! I could just ask him to post me his letting agreement.

Trouble is I'm not really into trekking around on trains all day and every day, I think a "Coast And Peaks" rover would meet my needs just as well, and not so stupidly priced as an ALR.

 

[bb21]

Wow, here's an opportunity for me! I'm retired so have all the time in the world, my son lives in the Middle East and has the same initials as me!! I could just ask him to post me his letting agreement.

Trouble is I'm not really into trekking around on trains all day and every day, I think a "Coast And Peaks" rover would meet my needs just as well, and not so stupidly priced as an ALR.

That is the thing. If you are not into bashing lines up and down the country all day it does not always provide for good value depending on what you do. The First Class versions I would say are generally excellent value for the amount of flexibility it provides however.

Though compared to an ALR, it is a wonderful product. It does make for interesting viewing when it is full of scribbles and stamps. Usually after one guard does it, everyone else follows.

 

[34D]

Obviously that would be illegal, you need to be resident abroad.

To answer your question that would probably make a saving, yes, if you could somehow obtain proof of foreign residence

Issues of where one is resident/ordinarily resident/domiciled can be complex. Can you set out precisely what is the minimum requirement here, please.

 

[bb21]

Issues of where one is resident/ordinarily resident/domiciled can be complex. Can you set out precisely what is the minimum requirement here, please.

50 shades of grey

 

[34D]

50 shades of grey

Okay.... what do the conditions specify?

 

[bb21]

Here is a copy of the T&Cs from an old pass of mine.

Note Condition 3, there is no definition what the proof should be, so it is open to interpretation. A foreign passport would normally suffice, regardless of residence status. I have found however that my driving licence would normally satisfy the requirement to prove that the pass was mine. I would imagine that a foreign residence permit or permanent visa would also be sufficient.

I have not experienced or witnessed any being rejected on the grounds of residence status, so I would imagine that it is quite rare, if it ever happens. Staff seem more bothered by whether the pass itself is genuine.

 

[34D]

Thank you for the info

 

[rob.rjt]

Interesting choice of boundary stations for the England pass. Lydney, Gloucester and Cheltenham, but nothing on the GWML then West Kirby, from where no onward journeys outside of England can be made.