Disabled Persons Railcard 2nd adult discount

[gray1404]

I would like to ask about the rules for using a Disabled Person's Railcard to get the discount for the adult traveling with the disabled person.

I understand that this Railcard can be used for a discount for the ticket of an adult traveling with the disabled person. For the journey I wish to make, I have a Concessionary Travel Pass issued by my local PTE, Merseytravel, which allows me to travel free of charge on local train services covering my entire journey. This only covers myself however. I am able to use my disabled person's railcard to buy an additional ticket with the discount for an adult traveling with me? Or, would we both need to be traveling on tickets purchased using the Disabled Person's Railcard in order to obtain the discount?

I would like to know so I can ensure we both travel with correctly issued tickets and to avoid any confusions with booking office staff as to why I only wish to buy one ticket.

 

[RD_choirgirl]

Yes you can. I have had to take my dad to the hospital before and because I have a pass he only had to pay for his ticket with the disabled discount.

 

[faddy]

Yes you can. I have had to take my dad to the hospital before and because I have a pass he only had to pay for his ticket with the disabled discount.

Interesting. I have a Disabled Person's Railcard and will shortly be getting an over 60 Merseytravel pass. Would a companion be able to get the discount, or does it only apply with a Disabled Person's concessionary pass?

 

[34D]

Interesting. I have a Disabled Person's Railcard and will shortly be getting an over 60 Merseytravel pass. Would a companion be able to get the discount, or does it only apply with a Disabled Person's concessionary pass?

Is there a max age for the Disabled Railcard? If not, I suggest you stick with it, assuming you remain eligible.

 

[Daniel]

Frankly I don't have a clue about the OP's question, and looking on the Disabled Railcard's website, there isn't a clear answer.

There is, however, this, in relation to two persons travelling together, with one using a free travel pass (Freedom Pass):

If the Railcard holder is travelling on a disabled person's Freedom Pass, then the Disabled Persons Railcard discount is not available for the accompanying passenger.

 

[gray1404]

I have emailed both ATOC Customer Service and Disabled Person's Railcard Office asking about this issue and they have given me the same reply. That is, a second adult travelling can only obtain a discounted ticket is the railcard holder is ALSO travelling on a discounted ticket, both brought using the railcard. I hope this clarifies the situation.

However, I too have looked at the terms and conditions of the Disabled Person's Railcard too and I think it is unclear. I wonder how enforceable the above would be if it ever made it to court i.e. if someone was taken to court to buying the ticket if they were treavelling with the railcard holder but the holder themselves was using a free travel pass. The terms and conditions, to me, merely indicate that a person travelling with a railcard holder can obtain the discounted ticket and make no reference to the holder also have to be bearing a discounted ticket.

I put up this posting following refusal by a ticket office member of staff to issue a discounted ticket. He asked why I only required one ticket and I said I had my free travel pass and he said I also had to be using the railcard. As a result he would only give the person travelling with me the undiscounted rate ticket. However, he was unable to tell me on what basis he was making this decision or were in the terms and conditions governing the use of the railcard it stated this. I asked these questions out of interest with trust intent wanting to understand the ticket rules and not as any form of complaint, let alone confrontation.

In true and typical Merseyrail fashion however I received bad customer service from some who had bad communication skills. Sadly, Merseyrail are not the industry leaders on outstanding booking office staff.