Network Railcard Question

[Alex C.]

I am travelling on a journey from A-B-Z with some friends who will be boarding at station B (5 minutes after A). I have a network railcard but they do not. I believe they can still benefit from a railcard discount when travelling with me (up to 3 additional adults).

1) can they use a network railcard discounted ticket from station B to Z
2) if not, can they use a ticket from station A to Z but board at station B?

I have also considered a third option - buying tickets from B to Z for everyone including me and then just getting a day return from A-B for me. Is there a requirement to be able to show the railcard to pass through the barriers or can they meet me on the train?

 

[MrJeeves]

Is there a requirement to be able to show the railcard to pass through the barriers or can they meet me on the train?

I've been asked for my railcard in the past at barriers, including at Waterloo and Man Picc, so it could present an issue with this.

I don't see any issue with you getting an A-Z ticket and buying your friends B-Z tickets as the only requirement is that they travel with you.

You'd be best off getting off and B and going through the barriers with them just in case.

 

[Alex C.]

I've been asked for my railcard in the past at barriers, including at Waterloo and Man Picc, so it could present an issue with this.

I don't see any issue with you getting an A-Z ticket and buying your friends B-Z tickets as the only requirement is that they travel with you.

You'd be best off getting off and B and going through the barriers with them just in case.

Thank you - there is a gap in service which means i'd be waiting around quite a while if I did that but thinking about it, if they just need to get through the barriers they could just buy a ticket to the nearest station. I don't think that would be against any rules, even if staff saw it as suspicious and they'd be covered at all times by the correct tickets.

 

[MrJeeves]

Thank you - there is a gap in service which means i'd be waiting around quite a while if I did that but thinking about it, if they just need to get through the barriers they could just buy a ticket to the nearest station. I don't think that would be against any rules, even if staff saw it as suspicious and they'd be covered at all times by the correct tickets.

Honestly, I'd suspect most staff would be satisfied by a "Oh, my friend's got it -- we were going to meet him on the train as he's coming from A" provided they pass the "attitude test".

 

[John R]

Honestly, I'd suspect most staff would be satisfied by a "Oh, my friend's got it -- we were going to meet him on the train as he's coming from A" provided they pass the "attitude test".

Assuming this is a return ticket, and the two travellers get their ticket checked at the exit barrier in return, would it also be failing the attitude test if they were picked up for not having a railcard?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jan 2024 ==

I am travelling on a journey from A-B-Z with some friends who will be boarding at station B (5 minutes after A). I have a network railcard but they do not. I believe they can still benefit from a railcard discount when travelling with me (up to 3 additional adults).

1) can they use a network railcard discounted ticket from station B to Z
2) if not, can they use a ticket from station A to Z but board at station B?

I have also considered a third option - buying tickets from B to Z for everyone including me and then just getting a day return from A-B for me. Is there a requirement to be able to show the railcard to pass through the barriers or can they meet me on the train?

Condition 4.5 stipulates that you have to purchase the tickets for your friends, and also that they must travel with you throughout the journey. That would certainly rule out your first option, and arguably the second too, to the point that I wouldn’t want to argue the case in court, pedantic as it might sound.

Railcard Terms & Conditions - Network Railcard

Network Railcard Terms and Conditions. Explore the London and South East area with discounted leisure travel tickets with a Network Railcard.

www.network-railcard.co.uk

 

[stevetay3]

Honestly, I'd suspect most staff would be satisfied by a "Oh, my friend's got it -- we were going to meet him on the train as he's coming from A" provided they pass the "attitude test".

Oh that old chestnut the attitude test

 

[Haywain]

Oh that old chestnut the attitude test

Yes, the difference between politely explaining what you're doing and saying something like "don't be a ******* jobsworth, just let us through".

 

[stevetay3]

Yes, the difference between politely explaining what you're doing and saying something like "don't be a ******* jobsworth, just let us through".

That’s not what the previous post said

 

[Mcr Warrior]

A fourth option... Would it not simply work best (and be potentially less problematic), in the scenario described, if one of the OP's three friends, who are travelling together, were to get themselves their own £30 Network Railcard?