Could a system be developed that links a passengers digital railcard, regardless of where purchased, into the digital ticket issuing system? Something very similar to the Trainline system.
Then, as both could be scanned together the more positive scans received results in fewer requests for the actual railcard, thereby speeding up scanning.
The checking system could change that instead of a mere warning that there is a railcard it becomes more of a demand, a demand that would remain for all unregistered and non digital railcard purchases, but one that would ease off for those digital railcards consistently receiving positive checks. The check would be by scanning the digital railcard and a scan bonus of 5p (or 2½× the current scan rate) would be payable - this to encourage railcard scans.
For "busy/lazy" on train staff there would be a "railcard not checked" option (mischievously I would suggest a minus 2p scan rate for that). So, there would have to be a check or acknowledgement that there was no check prior to moving on to the next scan/sale.
Then, as both could be scanned together the more positive scans received results in fewer requests for the actual railcard, thereby speeding up scanning.
The checking system could change that instead of a mere warning that there is a railcard it becomes more of a demand, a demand that would remain for all unregistered and non digital railcard purchases, but one that would ease off for those digital railcards consistently receiving positive checks. The check would be by scanning the digital railcard and a scan bonus of 5p (or 2½× the current scan rate) would be payable - this to encourage railcard scans.
For "busy/lazy" on train staff there would be a "railcard not checked" option (mischievously I would suggest a minus 2p scan rate for that). So, there would have to be a check or acknowledgement that there was no check prior to moving on to the next scan/sale.