Concessionary pass and disabled persons railcard... valid?

[TSR :D]

I'll be travelling with a companion. So, let's say I want to go from A to C via B and I have a concessionary card that covers A to B and I'll be paying for B to C using railcard discounted ticket.

Can my companion travel using A to C ticket discounted using railcard in my name while I'm with them? Or does the companion have to buy full price A to B ticket and discounted B to C ticket separately if it's cheaper?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

The discount is for a companion travelling with you, so they should get the discount for the entire journey.

 

[railboy]

I have a blind persons concessionary travel pass for travel in Scotland and sometimes travel into England with a disabled railcard so I have experienced your situation on several occasions and I have sought clarification on this matter from the disabled railcard people, from Virgin Trains and East Coast.

They all state that the companion ticket bought using the railcard has to be for the same journey as the original ticket bought with the railcard, however, it is normally cheaper just to buy a discounted railcard ticket from the starting station, especially if you are using advance tickets. If the price matters, shop around and buy accordingly, but remember that to stick to the rule book, both disabled railcard tickets have to be for the same journey and I would advise not to break this rule because the ticket would be invalid. If you have been advised otherwise (and assuming it is cheaper), I would advise you to bring proof in writing of any permission to do this. Some but not all guards will show discretion but I would not rely on this. I have been caught out before by making incorrect assumptions and it can be costly.

 

[tony_mac]

I am not sure the advice you were given is correct (the post before yours was made by a member of rail staff).

I can see nothing in the terms and conditions that would make this invalid - as long as you travel together, it seems to be ok.


The website FAQs state that a child can have a disabled railcard, buy a child ticket for themselves (with no railcard discount) and still get a railcard-discounted ticket for an adult companion.

I think this situation is quite similar (i.e. the railcard holder has a ticket/pass without a railcard discount, but can still buy a railcard-discounted ticket for a travelling companion).

http://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/what-is-a-disabled-persons-railcard/faqs/eligibility

 

[railboy]

I am not sure the advice you were given is correct (the post before yours was made by a member of rail staff).

I can see nothing in the terms and conditions that would make this invalid - as long as you travel together, it seems to be ok.


The website FAQs state that a child can have a disabled railcard, buy a child ticket for themselves (with no railcard discount) and still get a railcard-discounted ticket for an adult companion.

I think this situation is quite similar (i.e. the railcard holder has a ticket/pass without a railcard discount, but can still buy a railcard-discounted ticket for a travelling companion).

http://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/what-is-a-disabled-persons-railcard/faqs/eligibility

Well I have in the past travelled from Glasgow to London with my ticket starting at Carlisle and my companion starting at Glasgow and I was told the this wasnt valid and he was obliged to charge us full fare but on this occasion would let it go. I then wrote to virgin and they backed up the guard saying that on all railcards, journeys with more than one person travelling on the same railcard must be on the same ticket or hold an identical ticket bought together. I asked East Coast (who were national express at the time) and they said the same. Being unsatisfied with the response I wrote to the railcard unit and they also backed up Virgin & East Coast, enclosing some terms and conditions. I will never trust or depend on discretion and if I was advised it was allowed, I would carry that letter on all journeys where circmomstance applies.

Unless there is an appeals service I do not know about that would assist in getting me the answer I've wanted to hear, I don't think there is anything else I can do.