Different heritage line membership perks

[12LDA28C]

I'm not sure about that - I'm a member of the National Trust because it gets me and the family unlimited access to National Trust sites. Of course I support the objectives of the National Trust too, but that's a secondary reason for joining.

I don't think the National Trust is really comparable to heritage railways in regard to this discussion. The vast majority of people join the NT for exactly the reason you state, not because they want to get actively involved with volunteering to preserve and maintain Britain's historical sites.

 

[Titfield]

I don't think the National Trust is really comparable to heritage railways in regard to this discussion. The vast majority of people join the NT for exactly the reason you state, not because they want to get actively involved with volunteering to preserve and maintain Britain's historical sites.

The National Trust pricing policy and sales focus on membership encourages the purchase of membership.

 

[John Luxton]

it is interesting to read different perceptions of membership perks. Many people sign up for particular lines as they like visiting them and want to keep in touch even though they may not have any intention of volunteering. That does not make them any less of an enthusiast for that particular line over say volunteering members. The fact there are some perks can prove a bit of a carrot. Up to 2020 I was only a life member of one society. However, come Covid year and cancelled holidays I had that year's holiday fund in the bank with nothing to spend it on. Consequently I upgraded one membership from annual to Life and joined two other societies, whose lines I visited, but was not a member of. Though one had some reciprocal perks with a line I was a member of. That way I thought I was putting in some substantial chunks of money which i could have spent on something else into the supporting societies of three railways of three railways at a difficult time. I saw it as a bit of an investment as well as I knew when Covid was over I might visit even more often.

In addition I also joined three other societies as an annual member.

I was a little disappointed a year or so ago when one company which has two supporting societies cut back on membership perks for ordinary members - 10 free trips rather than unlimited. I just happened to be a long standing life member of one and had just signed up as life member to the other society. Okay the cut backs have not, as a life member, affected me much though I can't any longer take a guest at a priv rate.

What did upset me was the reaction to some of the correspondence in the supporting magazines and at various online groups. Obviously some ordinary members didn't like the changes and it upset some. What bothered me was the attitude shown by some others who responded to the displeasure in a derogative manner suggesting that they should just be paying their fare and supporting the railway.

However, as some people have pointed out, members tend to visit more often and whilst they are not spending money on tickets they are spending more money in the shops and on catering than they would have if they had shelled out over £45 or more for a fare. A visit earlier this month to a line on which I can get a free ride resulted in me spending almost the value of the ride on catering and in the shop. Couldn't have afforded to do both.

People join societies for different reasons and should not be judged on their reasons for doing so.

If they want their membership to be a discount or even free ride then so be it.

If they want to be an active volunteer or have the financial werewithall to make large regular monthly subscription donations to major projects on a line that is fine as well.

A member is a member and one should not be judged upon the reasons or motivations for wanting to be a member.

 

[Richard Scott]

it is interesting to read different perceptions of membership perks. Many people sign up for particular lines as they like visiting them and want to keep in touch even though they may not have any intention of volunteering. That does not make them any less of an enthusiast for that particular line over say volunteering members. The fact there are some perks can prove a bit of a carrot. Up to 2020 I was only a life member of one society. However, come Covid year and cancelled holidays I had that year's holiday fund in the bank with nothing to spend it on. Consequently I upgraded one membership from annual to Life and joined two other societies, whose lines I visited, but was not a member of. Though one had some reciprocal perks with a line I was a member of. That way I thought I was putting in some substantial chunks of money which i could have spent on something else into the supporting societies of three railways of three railways at a difficult time. I saw it as a bit of an investment as well as I knew when Covid was over I might visit even more often.

In addition I also joined three other societies as an annual member.

I was a little disappointed a year or so ago when one company which has two supporting societies cut back on membership perks for ordinary members - 10 free trips rather than unlimited. I just happened to be a long standing life member of one and had just signed up as life member to the other society. Okay the cut backs have not, as a life member, affected me much though I can't any longer take a guest at a priv rate.

What did upset me was the reaction to some of the correspondence in the supporting magazines and at various online groups. Obviously some ordinary members didn't like the changes and it upset some. What bothered me was the attitude shown by some others who responded to the displeasure in a derogative manner suggesting that they should just be paying their fare and supporting the railway.

However, as some people have pointed out, members tend to visit more often and whilst they are not spending money on tickets they are spending more money in the shops and on catering than they would have if they had shelled out over £45 or more for a fare. A visit earlier this month to a line on which I can get a free ride resulted in me spending almost the value of the ride on catering and in the shop. Couldn't have afforded to do both.

People join societies for different reasons and should not be judged on their reasons for doing so.

If they want their membership to be a discount or even free ride then so be it.

If they want to be an active volunteer or have the financial werewithall to make large regular monthly subscription donations to major projects on a line that is fine as well.

A member is a member and one should not be judged upon the reasons or motivations for wanting to be a member.

To pick out one point some societies have had to cut back on perks as they are charities and if the perk is worth more than annual subscription they fall foul of charity rules. This may be the reason?

 

[John Luxton]

To pick out one point some societies have had to cut back on perks as they are charities and if the perk is worth more than annual subscription they fall foul of charity rules. This may be the reason?

Thanks I can see what you mean. Have these rules always existed or have they been as a result of meore more recent legislation. If this is the case would a long standing society who took on members pre-rules be able to claim grandfather rights?

 

[Richard Scott]

Thanks I can see what you mean. Have these rules always existed or have they been as a result of meore more recent legislation. If this is the case would a long standing society who took on members pre-rules be able to claim grandfather rights?

I'm not sure, I think some societies have gained charitable status to take advantage of things such as gift aid and hence had to change their offerings of perks; doubt grandfather rights would apply though.

 

[Titfield]

I'm not sure, I think some societies have gained charitable status to take advantage of things such as gift aid and hence had to change their offerings of perks; doubt grandfather rights would apply though.

They may encounter issues where the "perk" has been described in such a way as to make the "perk" a contractual right of membership.

 

[WAB]

I was a little disappointed a year or so ago when one company which has two supporting societies cut back on membership perks for ordinary members - 10 free trips rather than unlimited. I just happened to be a long standing life member of one and had just signed up as life member to the other society. Okay the cut backs have not, as a life member, affected me much though I can't any longer take a guest at a priv rate.

This being the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland, where there is the difficulty of keeping the membership fee at a reasonable level without undercutting the fares (£46 on the FR for a return ticket vs £37 for an annual membership which previously allowed unlimited free travel, £66 vs £50 on the WHR).

 

[paul1609]

Thanks I can see what you mean. Have these rules always existed or have they been as a result of meore more recent legislation. If this is the case would a long standing society who took on members pre-rules be able to claim grandfather rights?

It all really boils down to interpretation of existing legislation. My experience of medium size charities is that Government Agencies will only approve a current scheme so there is no grandfather rights as such either for the railway or the members.

 

[John Luxton]

This being the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland, where there is the difficulty of keeping the membership fee at a reasonable level without undercutting the fares (£46 on the FR for a return ticket vs £37 for an annual membership which previously allowed unlimited free travel, £66 vs £50 on the WHR).

Yes it is actually I was trying not to draw attention to the lines concerned.

My objection and I think that of others is moving of the T&Cs and goal posts after people have paid out, particularly for life membership which is a significant commitment.

I appreciated we live in a much tighter fiscal climate thus there probably is a need to reduce the generosity of such schemes - but perhaps they should not have been so generous in the first place?

I see the way to achieve it is not to penalise those who signed up to the old deal, but just to implement it for new life members. The old ones will die out and be replaced buy new ones under new T&Cs over a period of time.

A comment I saw a year or so ago in one of the magazines was from someone who visited the area once or twice a year, who wasn't using their life membership as a cheap season ticket but who liked the ability to bring a spouse or friend at a priv rate.

When he complained he was told by another correspondent to buy a membership for his spouse which I thought was rather harsh as the WHR life membership is a significant sum.

I myself upraded my WHR membershpip to life shortly after the fee doubled in price and cursed myself for not upgrading earlier - but these things happen.

However, in 2020 found myself with spare cash due to Covid and I wanted to do something useful to help a railway I liked at a difficult time and bit the bullet. I am sure there are others who acted in the same manner.

To remove the guest priv perk was a bit unfair for existing members.

In most commercial deals if one signs up to something one expects the terms to remain for the duration of the contract unless it specifically states as in say the case of phone bills that it might be subject to an inflationary rise etc.

 

[kje7812]

Indeed, rather a strange attitude. Surely it should be more a case of joining a heritage railway to volunteer your time and contribute to the success of the railway. If there are any 'perks' then they are a nice bonus but shouldn't be a reason for joining in the first place.

Not all railways require you to be a member to volunteer. Ffestiniog, West Somerset and (as of last June) North Yorkshire Moors don't.

Severn Valley membership grants a third off regular tickets, discount at galas and money off in the refreshment rooms and some items in shops. Plus the quarterly SVR News.

 

[O8yityityit]

ELR dropped the requirement to be a member of the railway earlier this year.

 

[Titfield]

ELR dropped the requirement to be a member of the railway earlier this year.

Yes there seems to have been a sort of "push back" against railways which required volunteers to be members arguing that it discouraged volunteering.

One can see both sides of this.

 

[ian1944]

I'm a life member of the B & K, joined about 20 years ago for about £120 in a category no longer offered. The only perk is two free return trips per annum (no guest) and a copy of Blastpipe the mag (several each year, can't remember how many). I get the latter emailed as a pdf, so no direct cost. I was a volunteer on the track gang, can't remember if membership was a condition but doubt it, as everything was very relaxed compared with today's much-regulated safety requirement (for example, on turning up to an information day I was given an escorted walk alongside half a mile or so of the working line west of Bo'ness without hi-vis, though my escort was in bright orange). Increased infirmity brought the line work to an end, and the 40 mile distance means that I rarely bother to use the free ticket.

 

[Ksp]

As stated in my title, I'm intetested in heritage railways membership perks, such as

Discounted 3-4 year membership being cheaper instead of 1 year only.

How many free train rides you can get per year and does this only cover normal running days or includes special events.

How much discount for booking tickets.

Discounted food, beverages, alcoholic drinks and gift shops.

Local attractions discount or freebies.

Reciprocal arrangement with other heritage or mainline rail lines.

Preferential bookings for special events.

Discount on dining car experiences.

Free parking.

It would be interesting to see which heritage lines offer good value.

It would be interesting to compare notes

I volunteer at Doon Valley Railway.

We are a relatively small railway so we don't have dining trains or anything like that.
We offer free rolls and drinks for volunteers during open days, free parking and free rides for all volunteers on all trains except for santa trains which are pre booked only.
Generally were a lovely bunch but you wouldn't get so many perks like on other railway simply because we can't provide them but in the future we will certainly work towards increasing our offer not only for passengers/visitors but also for volunteers to make their experience more enjoyable because our railway has certainly been moving forward in recent years and lot of exciting times are ahead of us.

 

[Vespa]

I volunteer at Doon Valley Railway.

We are a relatively small railway so we don't have dining trains or anything like that.
We offer free rolls and drinks for volunteers during open days, free parking and free rides for all volunteers on all trains except for santa trains which are pre booked only.
Generally were a lovely bunch but you wouldn't get so many perks like on other railway simply because we can't provide them but in the future we will certainly work towards increasing our offer not only for passengers/visitors but also for volunteers to make their experience more enjoyable because our railway has certainly been moving forward in recent years and lot of exciting times are ahead of us.

Looked up on TripAdvisor sounds like you got a good little group going

 

[Ksp]

Looked up on TripAdvisor sounds like you got a good little group going

Yes we're very small, so we're always looking for volunteers to do anything there is and there is always a lot to do!