Prosecuted without Railcard when onboard.

[reb0118]

I'm a relatively new holder of a Senior Railcard and I've never been asked to show it on board with my ticket.....

As a guard I can concur with this - yet I can not remember the last time I asked a senior railcard holder to present their card and they could not do so.

........ yet ticket holders close by with tickets bought with a Young Persons Railcards are regularly asked for their cards........

I probably average at least one person a shift without their 16-25 card - sometimes one per train.

 

[CC 72100]

I probably average at least one person a shift without their 16-25 card - sometimes one per train.

That does not surprise me - which shocks me given how infrequently I'm asked to present mine!

 

[wellwhatitis]

As a guard I can concur with this - yet I can not remember the last time I asked a senior railcard holder to present their card and they could not do so.




I probably average at least one person a shift without their 16-25 card - sometimes one per train.

Exactly the same here. I am becoming increasingly frustrated by my dealings with YP railcard non-holders. They point blank refuse to accept that they are in the wrong and only today I have had 7 of them, one of which completely refused to pay so I referred him to BTP at his destination. The problem is my TOC doesn't have RPI's everywhere and BTP have little interest in these people.

Any tips on how you effectively deal with this? I've only been on the railway 18 months.

 

[455driver]

I'm a relatively new holder of a Senior Railcard and I've never been asked to show it on board with my ticket.

Maybe you just look old?
Or maybe it's because the older generation are more honest than da yoof!

 

[sarahj]

Exactly the same here. I am becoming increasingly frustrated by my dealings with YP railcard non-holders. They point blank refuse to accept that they are in the wrong and only today I have had 7 of them, one of which completely refused to pay so I referred him to BTP at his destination. The problem is my TOC doesn't have RPI's everywhere and BTP have little interest in these people.

Any tips on how you effectively deal with this? I've only been on the railway 18 months.

Difficult if they wont pay up. Just remind them of the T&C, carry a flyer if needed. If they wont pay, you can confiscate their ticket. its property of the railway and they are misusing it. At the very least report them.

Had an odd one today. Someone came up asking for an extension. No probs, original ticket had YP discount. Can I see you rail card. Oh its out of date. So, thats excess on his original ticket and the extension at full price. It was only a couple of weeks OOD.

As for a senior card. Ask to see it when buying, and in over 6 years never had one that was out of date or not there when asked.

 

[RJ]

As a ticket office seller, I occasionally have to decline a Senior Railcard discount as the customer has either forgotten their railcard, lost it or it's out of date. More often than not, I'm asked if I will give the discount anyway and I say unfortunately not. I wouldn't issue any ticket that unnecessarily increases the risk of a customer having problems later on in their journey.

 

[najaB]

As a ticket office seller, I occasionally have to decline a Senior Railcard discount as the customer has either forgotten their railcard...

Surely they don't need to present their railcard to buy a ticket?

 

[RJ]

Surely they don't need to present their railcard to buy a ticket?

It is a requirement to be in possession of the railcard to get a discount on tickets. Even if it wasn't, it's good practice to ensure that people travelling immediately have the necessary documentation to validate their ticket.

 

[najaB]

It is a requirement to be in possession of the railcard to get a discount on tickets. Even if it wasn't, it's good practice to ensure that people travelling immediately have the necessary documentation to validate their ticket.

Agreed it's good practice, but not sure that it's actually a requirement. If so, online and TVM sales would be problematic.

 

[RJ]

Agreed it's good practice, but not sure that it's actually a requirement. If so, online and TVM sales would be problematic.

It is under Condition 4 of the T&Cs as shown in the leaflet, also published online.

 

[swt_passenger]

Agreed it's good practice, but not sure that it's actually a requirement. If so, online and TVM sales would be problematic.

On SWT machines, when you select a railcard you get a splash screen overlaid on the display that asks you to confirm you have your railcard with you. Answer 'yes' and continue. No real excuse if asked later and you haven't got one...

 

[najaB]

It is under Condition 4 of the T&Cs as shown in the leaflet, also published online.

Fair enough, it's in the T&Cs.

 

[dcd]

It is under Condition 4 of the T&Cs as shown in the leaflet, also published online.

What about buying online? Who looks at the railcard when purchasing online?

As with lots of things regarding fares it is all inconsistent.

I tried to purchase 2 tickets for my partner and I for travel later in the week with senior railcards but I did not have hers with me only my own. The ticket clerk would not sell them to me.

I could however buy both tickets from the app on my phone and collect them from the TVM next to the clerk's window without either card present.

What is the point of checking the card when purchasing for the future? I can see that it is sensible to check for immediate travel, but you can show the ticket for the future then forget to take it or have lost it by the day of travel.


In 5 years of travel since having a senior railcard I have been asked to show it on very few occasions. An RPI at a block on a station asked for my ticket and when I said "why do you not want to see the railcard?" he said old people are not asked as they don't want to embarrass them!

I have also had the situation at Manchester Piccadilly where I was asked if I had a ticket. I said yes so you want to see it and the RPI said no that's OK.


It must be the older people are trusted more, I hope we all continue to maintain this trust.