Network Railcard area - query

[Bazball]

Hi all - first time poster. I'm planning to get a Network Railcard in 2025 as my previous railcard will expire then. My commute is Folkestone to St Pancras, but when I play around with Trainline etc. applying the card, it doesn't seem to apply the discount (it previously did for the return leg of the journey). I have looked at the area map for the card and can't tell what the rules are for London itself. Does anyone know if the network railcard can be applied in the same way as a 26-30? Much appreciated.

 

[Edvid]

Generally speaking, Network Railcard discounts don't apply before 10am on weekdays. There are some exceptions but Folkestone stations aren't among them.

 

[Watershed]

The Network Railcard has a few different restrictions:

1. It is only valid for journeys that are entirely within the Network Area. Folkestone to St Pancras is entirely within this area so this isn't an issue.
2. With a few exceptions (none that are relevant to this journey), is only valid from 10am on weekdays. So it's not valid for your morning journey into London, but it is for the evening return journey.
3. On weekdays, there is a minimum fare of £13 (£21.50 for Anytime Day Travelcards). Since a Network Railcard-discounted single from London to Folkestone costs more than £13 this isn't an issue.
4. It doesn't provide any discount for Advance fares. But this has always been the case, so nothing has changed here.

Therefore the key differences to a 26-30 Railcard (assuming that's what you're currently using?) are that you won't get a discount on Advance tickets, nor on the journey into London in the morning.

When I go to Trainline and enter the journey you're describing, I'm offered an undiscounted Anytime Day Single on the way to London in the morning, and a Network Railcard-discounted Super Off-Peak Day Single on the way back in the evening (or an Advance Single for some departures, where this is cheaper). So I can't reproduce what you're describing.



Can you share a screenshot of the issue you're seeing?

 

[Bletchleyite]

The £21.50 minimum is for Anytime Day Travelcards. It's £13 for Off Peak and Super Off Peak.

 

[Bazball]

Thank you - that's helpful.

The Network Railcard has a few different restrictions:

1. It is only valid for journeys that are entirely within the Network Area. Folkestone to St Pancras is entirely within this area so this isn't an issue.
2. With a few exceptions (none that are relevant to this journey), is only valid from 10am on weekdays. So it's not valid for your morning journey into London, but it is for the evening return journey.
3. On weekdays, there is a minimum fare of £13 (£21.50 for Anytime Day Travelcards). Since a Network Railcard-discounted single from London to Folkestone costs more than £13 this isn't an issue.
4. It doesn't provide any discount for Advance fares. But this has always been the case, so nothing has changed here.

Therefore the key differences to a 26-30 Railcard (assuming that's what you're currently using?) are that you won't get a discount on Advance tickets, nor on the journey into London in the morning.

When I go to Trainline and enter the journey you're describing, I'm offered an undiscounted Anytime Day Single on the way to London in the morning, and a Network Railcard-discounted Super Off-Peak Day Single on the way back in the evening (or an Advance Single for some departures, where this is cheaper). So I can't reproduce what you're describing.

View attachment 148951

Can you share a screenshot of the issue you're seeing?

Thank you - that's helpful. Answered my question! Essentially, no discount at all on the morning leg, whereas the 26-30 takes 1/3 off everything over £12. And no discount on *advance* fares on the return leg (which again the 26-30 looks like it does). So it still saves some money overall, just not as effective. Given the cost of travel between Folkestone and London I'll take what I can get! (I presume there are no cheaper alternatives...)

 

[Joe Paxton]

Thank you - that's helpful.

Thank you - that's helpful. Answered my question! Essentially, no discount at all on the morning leg, whereas the 26-30 takes 1/3 off everything over £12. And no discount on *advance* fares on the return leg (which again the 26-30 looks like it does). So it still saves some money overall, just not as effective. Given the cost of travel between Folkestone and London I'll take what I can get! (I presume there are no cheaper alternatives...)

You can get a Network Railcard as a Digital Railcard from Trip.com for £19.80, as per this hotUKdeals post:
www.hotukdeals.com/deals/34-off-digital-railcards-1-year-railcard-ps1980-3-year-selected-railcards-ps4620-wcode-or-via-link-new-customers-4212630

The discount is only for new Trip.com customers (or at least new Trip.com accounts).

The post says you '"might" need to buy a train ticket from Trip.com to activate the Railcard, but I don't think there's any might about it - however a Network Railcard discounted Ryde Esplanade to Ryde Pier Head Sunday single or Evening single is 95p - so total cost is £20.75.

You'll need to show the Digital Railcard in the Trip.com app, which is frankly a bit cr@p, but if you can tolerate that it's a 30% saving.

Another alterative would be to look for what some would call 'loophole fares', and others call 'value fares'... basically fares that are a bit of an anomaly, but cover the journey you are making - however they may not necessarily be straightforward to use in practice. You aren't going to get anyone posting any such fares in public though!

 

[Bazball]

You can get a Network Railcard as a Digital Railcard from Trip.com for £19.80, as per this hotUKdeals post:
www.hotukdeals.com/deals/34-off-digital-railcards-1-year-railcard-ps1980-3-year-selected-railcards-ps4620-wcode-or-via-link-new-customers-4212630

The discount is only for new Trip.com customers (or at least new Trip.com accounts).

The post says you '"might" need to buy a train ticket from Trip.com to activate the Railcard, but I don't think there's any might about it - however a Network Railcard discounted Ryde Esplanade to Ryde Pier Head Sunday single or Evening single is 95p - so total cost is £20.75.

You'll need to show the Digital Railcard in the Trip.com app, which is frankly a bit cr@p, but if you can tolerate that it's a 30% saving.

Another alterative would be to look for what some would call 'loophole fares', and others call 'value fares'... basically fares that are a bit of an anomaly, but cover the journey you are making - however they may not necessarily be straightforward to use in practice. You aren't going to get anyone posting any such fares in public though!

Thanks, much appreciated!

 

[TravellingJake]

Hi - long time visitor, first time poster

Sorry to hijack this thread but struggling to find an answer to this...is there a list of stations the network railcard is valid between? I can find a map of stations but not a list.

Thanks

 

[Mcr Warrior]

...is there a list of stations the network railcard is valid between? I can find a map of stations but not a list.

Isn't the map linked in post #3 (upthread) not sufficiently clear? Where are you planning on travelling to/from?

 

[Edvid]

Hi - long time visitor, first time poster

Sorry to hijack this thread but struggling to find an answer to this...is there a list of stations the network railcard is valid between? I can find a map of stations but not a list.

Thanks

There are two maps with station indexes.

For stations within the London fare zones - London Rail & Tube services
For stations outside said zones - London & the South East rail services

 

[TravellingJake]

There are two maps with station indexes.

For stations within the London fare zones - London Rail & Tube services
For stations outside said zones - London & the South East rail services

Excellent, thanks

 

[Edvid]

Excellent, thanks

You're welcome. And welcome to the forum.

I should add the index in the second link includes some stations outside the Network Railcard area (e.g. Swindon), so make sure to cross-check the map for stations that are relevant to your travels.

 

[TravellingJake]

Isn't the map linked in post #3 (upthread) not sufficiently clear? Where are you planning on travelling to/from?

I'm after a list of stations, this is a map.

 

[JonathanH]

I'm after a list of stations, this is a map.

It is also a list, just one shown in geographical form.

There is an index of stations shown under the London & South East map at https://assets.nationalrail.co.uk/e...ndonSouthEastNetworkRailcard_map__May2023.pdf. Cross off the ones which are outside the area.

 

[Mcv378]

Buying an annual gold card from Lichfield City to Lichfield Trent may help you, it's around £180 a year but gives a discount similar to the Network Railcard - other members will be able to advise.

 

[MikeWM]

Buying an annual gold card from Lichfield City to Lichfield Trent may help you, it's around £180 a year but gives a discount similar to the Network Railcard - other members will be able to advise.

£204 currently (I have one

No minimum fare to worry about, though you can't travel before 0930, which is a marginal improvement over 1000 for the Network Card and it suits my commute very nicely, but it won't work for many/most.

It has a larger validity area too, which is good if you're going to travel a lot in Norfolk, Suffolk, and/or the West Midlands.

There's a handful that are a few pounds cheaper than Lichfield-Lichfield - Hatton-Lapworth is the cheapest available at the moment (I believe) at £196.

 

[paul1609]

The Famous Southern ones are £200, you can have it on the key smartcard. Newhaven town to newhaven Harbour has added benefits if you use it on Brighton Buses which I wont go in to here.

 

[Hadders]

Hatton to Lapworth is the cheapest annual season ticket that qualifies for Gold Card status. It costs £196.

 

[74A]

I'm after a list of stations, this is a map.

A list of stations doesn't really help.

Both Reading and Exeter St Davids would be on there. The network railcard is not valid on any train via Taunton. You would have to go to Basingstoke and go via Salisbury. That's why you need to use the map.

 

[dragonfly4]

I am thinking of purchasing one of these railcards as well but I have a question: It says it should give you a third off on trains departing after 10AM weekdays, but when adding the railcard on Trainline for a trip(example Slough - Twyford) the price does not change, it's the same as with no railcard. If I add 16-25 one, you get a discount. Twyford and Slough show up on map for network railcard. What's wrong then, am I missing something here?

Edit: Just seen there is a minimum fare of 13. Quite high but fair enough.

 

[Hadders]

Network Railcards are subject to a minimum discounted fare of £13 on weekdays, which is probably why you’re not seeing any discount for Slough to Twyford.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

With the Network Railcard, you would however be eligible for the discount on a Slough to Twyford journey, but only if travelling on Saturdays / Sundays / Bank holidays.

 

[JonathanH]

Edit: Just seen there is a minimum fare of 13. Quite high but fair enough.

The minimum fare hasn't increased since May 2009, when it changed from £10 to £13. If it had kept pace with inflation the minimum fare would now be up to £20.