Railcard - Digital or Plastic?

[paul@skegby.org.]

Buying a Railcard,
Is it better to have a digital or plastic card?

 

[Haywain]

Buying a Railcard,
Is it better to have a digital or plastic card?

I have had plastic cards for several years but have now gone digital. As someone confident of managing my use of a mobile phone, I cannot see a disadvantage in the digital railcard.

 

[Watershed]

There isn't really an objective or "correct" answer to this; it all depends on your preferences. The only type of Railcard which I think everyone can agree is worth avoiding is the paper one you get at ticket offices, since the "print" on this type often fades quickly, thus rendering the Railcard illegible and invalid, requiring you to get it reissued.

In terms of digital or plastic, personally speaking, I much prefer the plastic cards and will be very disappointed if this option is removed. With a plastic Railcard there is no need to make sure your phone stays charged throughout your journey, and there is no way that issues with your chosen Railcard app could prevent you from showing your Railcard when asked. The latter might sound like a niche concern, but problems have arisen with the official Railcard app several times since digital Railcards were launched, and on most occasions RDG's response left a lot to be desired (in my opinion).

They could, and should, have issued an industry brief instructing TOCs not to penalise affected passengers, and published a statement giving permission to travel and emphasising that you didn't need to buy new undiscounted tickets in the meantime. In fact, the Railcard app's terms and conditions take almost the opposite approach: they claim that RDG have no responsibility whatsoever for technical issues. Clearly, this is an unacceptable position given that you can be penalised in various ways (up to and including being prosecuted) for not showing a valid Railcard. It'd be unlikely to hold up in Court given the context of a consumer contract, but do you want to have to argue it in Court?

Other retailers' Railcard apps may be more reliable, but you are even less likely to benefit from any industry brief or permission to travel in the event of technical problems, and as you obviously can't test them before committing to them for a year (lest you waste £30-70), I wouldn't be taking a punt given the potential consequences at stake. Another, more minor, benefit of a plastic Railcard is that you don't need to remember to change over your Railcard when you change phones, since (at least for the official app) you need to 'lock' the Railcard to a device to download/show it. I have heard of several people who have been caught out by this, especially as most phones are otherwise very good about transferring across apps and data.

Obviously some will say that digital Railcards are much better since they don't need to remember to carry a plastic card, but I don't find it an inconvenience at all to carry my Railcard. It just lives in my wallet, which I always take with me when I leave home. If I forgot my wallet I'd have locked myself out, so I would have rather bigger things to worry about!

 

[Buzby]

Having had both - I now prefer the physical version. No chance of overlooking its expiry date as it provides a constant reminder. Also the faff of showing your ticket on an app, then frustration in tracking down where the digital railcard is in the phone. I can show both at the same time.

 

[Haywain]

you need to 'lock' the Railcard to a device to download/show it

This isn't the case with the Trainsplit implementation.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Dec 2024 ==

Other retailer's Railcard apps may be more reliable, but as you obviously can't test them before committing to them for a year (lest you waste £30-70), I am not about to take a punt given the potential consequences at stake.

I am happy to recommend a retailer referenced at the top of every page of this forum. Great customer service too!

 

[Watershed]

This isn't the case with the Trainsplit implementation.

Which makes the RDG implementation even more 'curious'...

 

[jfollows]

Because I always carry my wallet and because there has been a history of digital railcards not working properly (because of failings or incompetence by their sellers) I would always be extremely reluctant to have a digital railcard myself. The plastic ones work best for me. I’m not worried about phone/battery issues myself but they could be a further disincentive for some.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Because I always carry my wallet and because there has been a history of digital railcards not working properly (because of failings or incompetence by their sellers) I would always be extremely reluctant to have a digital railcard myself. The plastic ones work best for me. I’m not worried about phone/battery issues myself but they could be a further disincentive for some.

I think where digital Railcards come into their own is for younger people who often don't carry a wallet now, just keys and phone. Anyone who always carries a wallet might as well stick with plastic unless there's a reason to go digital e.g. a discounted offer or a free one as e.g. Monzo and some of the student accounts offer in digital form only. And obviously if only eligible for a 26-30 that's digital only.

 

[John R]

I've just renewed my 3 yr senior railcard, and have continued with the plastic version. I really don't want to be faffing around with my phone, ensuring that the app opens, etc, etc, when I can just whip the card out of my wallet and have it ready for inspection.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Dec 2024 ==

I think where digital Railcards come into their own is for younger people who often don't carry a wallet now, just keys and phone.

And we've had a few instances on here where not having any means of payment other than a phone which for whatever reason doesn't want to play ball has caused problems.

 

[Adam Williams]

you are even less likely to benefit from any industry brief or permission to travel in the event of technical problems

I would push quite hard for a staff brief to be circulated in the event of something widespread being broken. Failing that, I think issuing a PDF letter to each passenger with their Aztec barcode on and an explanation of the problem would probably be a reasonable step for any retailer to take in the worst case. I've done similar to that in the past with success when electronic restrictions data has been messed up by the TOC.

Other TPRs have managed to get staff briefs issued in the past, though the most recent one I remember was issued due to CTrip doing something really dumb..

 

[Haywain]

And we've had a few instances on here where not having any means of payment other than a phone which for whatever reason doesn't want to play ball has caused problems.

But a method of payment is nothing to do with a railcard.

 

[John R]

But a method of payment is nothing to do with a railcard.

I’m not saying it is. Just commenting on the observation that a digital railcard works well for those who have decided not to carry any other means of payment, which itself is a risk.

 

[infobleep]

I use to have a season ticket on paper, which also doubled uo as my Gold Card.

When I switched back to a Network Railcard, I had no choice but to either get a paper one or go digital as I needed to use it there and then. I decided to go digital as that got a £5 off the cost.

I use trip.com and I have had no issues since July, save once when I forgot my phone charger. Fortunately I had my laptop with me so could charge my phone using that.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I’m not saying it is. Just commenting on the observation that a digital railcard works well for those who have decided not to carry any other means of payment, which itself is a risk.

Walking out of your door is a risk. Risk appetite and consideration varies between people.

Personally I've often gone out locally with only my phone, but not long distance. Generally I'd not chance it for a journey long enough that walking home would be impossible rather than just an inconvenience.

 

[JB_B]

.... The only type of Railcard which I think everyone can agree is worth avoiding is the paper one you get at ticket offices, since the "print" on this type often fades quickly, thus rendering the Railcard illegible and invalid, requiring you to get it reissued...

Just on this specific point, my last two Network Railcards were issued by Brighton ticket office on a different substrate. It's plastic but flexible - not like the more rigid ones you get when ordering a physical card online. These have proved to be completely fade-resistant.

 

[Snow1964]

If you live in more rural areas, where mobile phone reception is patchy, and trains have no wifi, or no chargers for mobiles, then assume unless you are very organised, save tickets and passes in advance, even if renewed (as won't be able to download). And you remember to charge phone sufficiently, then be cautious of assuming you will be able to display on a phone.

Some prefer the plastic version as it is easier to show alongside m-tickets. If you are making journeys with split tickets finding the correct ticket for leg you are on, and finding a digital railcard whilst someone is hovering over you trying to see both together stresses out some people.

Remember the ticket rules say need to show both for ticket to be valid, so if can't find both in seconds on same device, don't give yourself the stress.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Remember the ticket rules say need to show both for ticket to be valid, so if can't find both in seconds on same device, don't give yourself the stress.

I know it's fashionable to hate on them, but if you have your ticket and Railcard on Trainline it's one tap from the app or two from an Apple Wallet pass.

 

[Harpers Tate]

Physical. Simply because of the manner in which TOCs treat pax who are unable to show their credentials (eg because of an unpredicted - for the most well disciplined device user - equipment malfunction). If there were a 100% every time reliable fallback position taken for use of - and inablity to show - virtual credentials - railcards, tickets, everything needed - then and only then might I consider it.

 

[sheff1]

Walking out of your door is a risk. Risk appetite and consideration varies between people.

Personally I've often gone out locally with only my phone, but not long distance. Generally I'd not chance it for a journey long enough that walking home would be impossible rather than just an inconvenience.

As you say, it is for individuals to make their own choice. I never go out without my wallet, but often go out without my phone. I therefore choose a plastic Railcard.

 

[gray1404]

Plastic as then you are not reliant of having phone battery. I also never go out without my wallet whereas some people never go out without their phone.

 

[Vespa]

Physical every time, no batteries to run out and ready to use in locations without a signal or wifi.

Old school is the new cool

 

[MrJeeves]

This isn't the case with the Trainsplit implementation.

It is to an extent, but you can have each Railcard linked to two different devices at once. If you log in on a third and try to activate your Railcard, you'll be prompted to deactivate it on another device first.

On the Android app, you'll see a dialog pop up asking you to choose which device to deactivate it on, while on iOS I believe you'll be redirected to the website to do this.

 

[paul@skegby.org.]

Thanks for all replies,
My own feeling is I will go with the physical plastic card.

Which is the best retailer to obtain 3 senior Railcard?

 

[Harpers Tate]

https://secure.railcard.co.uk/purchase/senior IMO.

 

[D365]

It is to an extent, but you can have each Railcard linked to two different devices at once. If you log in on a third and try to activate your Railcard, you'll be prompted to deactivate it on another device first.

To clarify - are you talking about Railcard via Trainline, or Railcard via RDG?

 

[MrJeeves]

To clarify - are you talking about Railcard via Trainline, or Railcard via RDG?

None of the above. I am referring to the quoted post.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Dec 2024 ==

Thanks for all replies,
My own feeling is I will go with the physical plastic card.

Which is the best retailer to obtain 3 senior Railcard?

I think RDG's own site is the only place you can purchase plastic Railcards.

You can buy paper laminated ones from stations directly, but third party retailers only offer digital Railcards for purchase. Maybe one of the TOCs that fulfils via RDG will sell them, but I don't think so.

 

[D365]

None of the above. I am referring to the quoted post.

Oops; Trainsplit it is. apologies.

 

[PeterY]

Plastic for me (senior railcard) which I've just renewed for 3 years . I don't have, or want a smart phone.

 

[Haywain]

Plastic for me (senior railcard) which I've just renewed for 3 years . I don't have, or want a smart phone.

But we can perhaps assume that the OP does have a smartphone which is why they asked the question.

 

[DelW]

In recent months SWR has regularly set gatelines to reject railcard-discounted tickets, so that passengers have to show both ticket and railcard for a manual check. (This was admitted by one of the regular gateline staff at my local station. It seems to have been a new policy from earlier this year.)

With the increasing prevalence of mobile phone theft in public places, I prefer not to have to get my phone out, and open it past the lock screen, at a station gateline.

I've recently bought my 5th senior card, and will be staying with plastic as long as it's an option. Physical plastic has never let me down. I also use paper not digital tickets.

BBC article re phone theft (though on LU not NR):

'Train phone snatcher stole £21,000 from my bank apps'

Niall fell victim to theft while on a train and police data shows a rise in reports of these crimes.

www.bbc.co.uk

Niall McNamee was scrolling through his phone on the London Underground when a thief on the platform snatched it from his hand just as the doors closed.

Two days later the 30-year-old discovered his bank accounts had been drained by about £21,000 - including a £7,000 loan taken out in his name.
.....
Niall is not alone - across Britain, reports of theft and robberies on trains and at stations shot up 58% from 2018 to 2023, according to British Transport Police (BTP) data.