Isle of Man SailRail Railcard Validity

[N1]

I am looking to confirm that 26-30 railcards are not valid for SailRail tickets to the Isle of Man.

There are still no fares set up for this so I am assuming not.

Question was previously asked in this thread IOM SailRail question without a clear answer.

Would be annoying to have to invest in another Two-Together railcard on top of already held 26-30 railcards. Travel would be for two people who already hold 26-30 railcards, travelling from Glasgow.

 

[drueberflug]

I am looking to confirm that 26-30 railcards are not valid for SailRail tickets to the Isle of Man.

There are still no fares set up for this so I am assuming not.

Question was previously asked in this thread IOM SailRail question without a clear answer.

Would be annoying to have to invest in another Two-Together railcard on top of already held 26-30 railcards. Travel would be for two people who already hold 26-30 railcards, travelling from Glasgow.

What BR Fares spits out can be a bit nonsensical sometimes, as a ticket from Corrour to Douglas (Isle of Man) would be issued with a Maltese Cross according to it, though it might be that that is the actual fare data.

If one were to look up that ticket on BR Fares without a Railcard, a "Low Saver Return" ticket is offered.
National Rail Enquiries say that 26-30 Railcards are valid for this (see https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ticket-types/tickets/lsr/), however, I wouldn't rely on this data even if it were authoritative.
Instead, if I were you, I would go up to a ticket office and ask them about it.

Do not forget to obtain a Ferry Reservation if the ticket office doesn't do it for you.

Once booked, contact our reservations team at IOM.Reservations@steam-packet.com or call 661661 (IOM), 08722 992 992* (UK) or 0044 8722 992 992* (ROI & Outside UK) confirm your ferry reservation.

 

[Watershed]

What BR Fares spits out can be a bit nonsensical sometimes

BR Fares is merely showing you what is in the industry fares data feed. It doesn't generate or control that data - the TOCs do that. So any nonsense is down to what the relevant Pricing Manager has (or hasn't) inputted into the system.

It looks like the 26-30 Railcard isn't enabled for SailRail fares to the Isle of Man, which I would take to mean that it's not intended for it to offer a discount. More to the point there is no way of buying the fares. Of course this could just be an oversight since the 26-30 Railcard is, in relative terms, quite new whereas SailRail tickets date back ages - and due to the low sales volumes, it's possible that Avanti (who appear to price the IoM SailRail fares) have simply forgotten to add the 26-30 Railcard as a valid discount option.

 

[N1]

BR Fares is merely showing you what is in the industry fares data feed. It doesn't generate or control that data - the TOCs do that. So any nonsense is down to what the relevant Pricing Manager has (or hasn't) inputted into the system.

It looks like the 26-30 Railcard isn't enabled for SailRail fares to the Isle of Man, which I would take to mean that it's not intended for it to offer a discount. More to the point there is no way of buying the fares. Of course this could just be an oversight since the 26-30 Railcard is, in relative terms, quite new whereas SailRail tickets date back ages - and due to the low sales volumes, it's possible that Avanti (who appear to price the IoM SailRail fares) have simply forgotten to add the 26-30 Railcard as a valid discount option.

Thanks, I have spoken to Avanti on the phone already (a pointless exercise I know) and they had just replied pretty much as above. They actually said it 'doesn't give a discount'.

I have emailed Steam Packet company but seems unlikely to get any actual response on their end either. I don't want to pay the international call charges to phone them.

Or it might just be an intentional exclusion.

Without railcard discount it is cheaper currently to buy Advances (with a railcard) and Ferry tickets separately. Would prefer the flexibility you get with the SailRail but not essential.

 

[lfc84]

Steam Packet usually reply quickly to customer emails. Of course, that's entirely different to the issue being remedied (presumably by them contacting Avanti on your behalf).

 

[Tetchytyke]

I have emailed Steam Packet company but seems unlikely to get any actual response on their end either

The Steam Packet are very good at replying to emails, but it is the start of TT fortnight so they will be very busy.

 

[N1]

Steam Packet usually reply quickly to customer emails. Of course, that's entirely different to the issue being remedied (presumably by them contacting Avanti on your behalf).

The Steam Packet are very good at replying to emails, but it is the start of TT fortnight so they will be very busy.

Thanks both, hopefully response will be more helpful than I expected.

 

[Hadders]

Given that these tickets get a discount on 16-25 Railcards and Two-Together Railcards I'd say the omission of discount for the 26-30 Railcard is an oversight. The problem is getting the query to someone in the train company who actually understands the problem and is in a position to fix it.

I remember when Coventry Arena station opened and ticjets were not set up for Gold Card discounts, despite the station being in the Gold Card Area. It took three attempts to get London Midland (as was) to sort it. Please do persist with escalating with (I assume) Avanti.

 

[philthetube]

What BR Fares spits out can be a bit nonsensical sometimes, as a ticket from Corrour to Douglas (Isle of Man) would be issued with a Maltese Cross according to it, though it might be that that is the actual fare data.

If one were to look up that ticket on BR Fares without a Railcard, a "Low Saver Return" ticket is offered.
National Rail Enquiries say that 26-30 Railcards are valid for this (see https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ticket-types/tickets/lsr/), however, I wouldn't rely on this data even if it were authoritative.
Instead, if I were you, I would go up to a ticket office and ask them about it.

Do not forget to obtain a Ferry Reservation if the ticket office doesn't do it for you.

Also do not forget to check in at Heysham, even though you have a ticket if you are not checked in by the required time your place may go to someone else, I have seen this happen with the Ben when there were a few coaches travelling, not sure if there is any risk with the new ship.

Recommend the steak pie by the way.

 

[janb]

Also do not forget to check in at Heysham, even though you have a ticket if you are not checked in by the required time your place may go to someone else, I have seen this happen with the Ben when there were a few coaches travelling, not sure if there is any risk with the new ship.

Recommend the steak pie by the way.

Not sure with SailRail, that would be something to check when making the reservation, but normal foot passengers don't need to check in if travelling with hand luggage.

Check-in and boarding

Get check-in and boarding information for all Steam Packet routes. Know what to expect before you sail. Review procedures and arrive prepared for your journey.

www.steam-packet.com

If travelling with hand luggage you can proceed straight to security with your QR code / booking reference.

Didn't sample the catering when I went over on Manxman in January, but yes the steak pie was always very good on the Ben.

 

[lfc84]

Phone the Steam packet after booing sail and rail. They will send you the ferry reservation. The email contains a barcode, which is sufficient to pass through security. You only need to go to the desk if you have luggage to check in.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Not sure with SailRail, that would be something to check when making the reservation, but normal foot passengers don't need to check in if travelling with hand luggage.

Check-in and boarding

Get check-in and boarding information for all Steam Packet routes. Know what to expect before you sail. Review procedures and arrive prepared for your journey.

www.steam-packet.com

Didn't sample the catering when I went over on Manxman in January, but yes the steak pie was always very good on the Ben.

A foot passenger still needs to have a reservation and register their name etc as far as I am aware.

Foot passengers with tickets purchased directly from Steam Packet would have provided their details when buying the ticket and will have an email with a barcode on. They simply scan that QR when you board to check you in and board you at the same time.

Rail Sail passengers will not necessarily have their details registered if they haven't made a reservation, so would need to make one, somehow.

 

[lfc84]

Rail Sail passengers will not necessarily have their details registered if they haven't made a reservation, so would need to make one, somehow.

Phone them on 01624661661 or try email

 

[Skymonster]

While not related to the railcard issue (I only have a senior railcard which does work for Isle of Man tickets), I will make an observation on the reservations process.

In April I travelled to the Isle of Man. I obtained a SailRail ticket from my local station as usual, emailed Steam Packet requesting reservations, and got a prompt confirmation response including a 3D bar code which I used both ways when boarding the ferry. My ticket did not go through any barriers at any station, it was not checked on any train, and Steam Packet never asked to see it (nor did SP ask for the ticket number as part of the reservation process). Potentially, I guess, I could have requested a refund of an “unused” ticket as the only person who ever saw it or touched it after purchase was me - but of course I didn’t.

For my travel in July, before confirming the reservation request Steam Packet asked for evidence of ticket purchase - an emailed photograph sufficed. I was then sent a booking reference number but no 3D bar code, and was advised to provide the number and rail ticket at checkin.

Maybe Steam Packet has tightened up its procedures - my experience in April suggested I could actually have travelled without even buying a ticket.

 

[MrJeeves]

A 3D barcode is certainly impressive.