IanD
Established Member
But it's just so unfair that when you reach 26 fares increase by half, but when you reach 60 they only go down by a third.
When you reach 16 fares increase by 100%! How fair is that?
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Railcard fee changes
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When you reach 16 fares increase by 100%! How fair is that?
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RailUK Forums
I do believe every age group should have some form of discount card available. Currently people in the south east can enjoy 1/3 off (subject to that horrid minimum fee) but what about the rest of the country (both those travelling there, or those living there)?
We really should have some form of national railcard that can be used by a single person, even if the cost of that card is a lot more than the other railcards (and, presumably, still subject to a minimum fare).
I guess discount cards (as it's not really the case that you're paying more - you're simply not entitled to discounts) aren't covered by any discrimination laws that would apply if any particular person was actually made to pay more than someone else.
We really should have some form of national railcard that can be used by a single person, even if the cost of that card is a lot more than the other railcards (and, presumably, still subject to a minimum fare).
I guess discount cards (as it's not really the case that you're paying more - you're simply not entitled to discounts) aren't covered by any discrimination laws that would apply if any particular person was actually made to pay more than someone else.
hairyhandedfool
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Mine increased infinitely when I turned 16, largely due to my parents no longer paying them for me.
Is the new fare at 16 not an increase of a third? Times 2 to get the full adult rate then knock a third of the adult rate (or two thirds of the child rate off)
Daz28
Member
Why?
Disabled people get discounts on train travel, coaches, free bus travel in many areas, grants and discounts to purchase a car, free preferential parking. In London, you have Dial-a-Ride, which is effectively a free taxi service.
Tax payers have funded the conversion of trains for wheelchair accessibility, stations have been upgraded to ensure step free access. TOCs employ staff to provide assistance (with varying degrees of quality).
Seems to me that Disabled Passengers get an awfully good deal in this country in terms of transportation. I wonder if we would all be so happy to provide this subsidy if we knew the true cost?
There are of course a variety of other regional railcards often offering a much better deal than the Network one! Though as you allude to some of them are only available to residents of their respective areas, so they're of little help for visiting travellers.
Actually it seems to me that it is far, far better not to be disabled, and then you can travel exactly as you please. I can cycle to the shops in 5 minutes. How is it better to have to rely on 'dial a ride'?
Adaptations to trains merely allow wheelchair users the same access (or not in fact, because in practice it's much easier to board without a wheelchair, especially when a train is very busy, and many stations are completely inaccessible) as other tax payers.
I am sure there are some people who would happily cut all benefits whatsoever to everyone, but I don't see the relevance to this thread.
Young Persons Railcards are used around 20x more frequently than Disabled Persons Railcards, and I don't see why I should subsidise young people to be honest.
Mine didn't. Not within West Yorkshire anyway. I was 18.5 when that happened.
Very patchy though. Don't these tend to be limited to individual lines ?
It varies e.g. the Devon & Cornwall one is valid across, well, Devon and Cornwall. They even have a gold card like in the South East too. There's a list of all of the regional railcards hidden away here on the NR website if you want to have a nose through the information about them. I do agree though that coverage is rather patchy!
IanD
Established Member
If you buy a railcard.
I'm old enough to remember that fares increased to 200% when I turned 14. Luckily I think the then Student Railcards gave a 50% discount, although you had to go grovelling to the headmaster to get him to sign the application form.
Quite often, you had to rely on Persil washing powder to get cheap tickets. No such thing as advances.
There are a few other local railcard schemes not listed on the National Rail site, all the ones we know about however, are listed in the relevant section of the RailUK Fares & Ticketing Guide.
National Express Coachcards are available in the same categories as Railcards. I believe National Express could introduce a national Coachcard but they choose not to so there must be a good reason for not providing a discount to all users and this reason could be the same for the railways.
bb21
Emeritus Moderator
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The solution to all this moaning? Make rail travel free.
Wait, then those who rarely travel by rail - why do we have to subsidise those commuters who go on the train every day? bla ...
Looks like you can't win.
Wait, then those who rarely travel by rail - why do we have to subsidise those commuters who go on the train every day? bla ...
Looks like you can't win.
The solution to all this moaning? Make rail travel free.
Wait, then those who rarely travel by rail - why do we have to subsidise those commuters who go on the train every day? bla ...
Looks like you can't win.
Nah, a national railcard/network card would generate far more revenue !
Incidentally, the minimum fare might be a nuisence to the card holder, but it would have the effect of encouraging transport on the more lucrative middle distance journeys rather than crowded urban and suburban routes in the Provinces just as it does in the SouthEast !
bb21
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Wouldn't stop those who don't use the railways enough to warrant buying a Railcard moaning. (Why should we be subsidising them in taxes, blah)
Wouldn't stop those who don't use the railways enough to warrant buying a Railcard moaning. (Why should we be subsidising them in taxes, blah)
If they're that bothered about it they ought to use the train more
I wish there was some sort of railcard that gave those of us who use the railway regularly (but not regularly enough for a season ticket) so we could get tickets at similar prices to AP tickets but without having to buy them weeks/months in advance and with a bit more flexibility.
Never going to happen I know.
Never going to happen I know.
It hopefully will when you get smartcards as discounts can be applied for frequent users.
Flexible season tickets are really important for so many people who work part time (or would) or perhaps only work at a specific location a few days a week (and not necessarily the same days).
Flexible season tickets are really important for so many people who work part time (or would) or perhaps only work at a specific location a few days a week (and not necessarily the same days).
cjp
Member
Hold on.
The railcards are still good value - if you disagree do not buy one.
This thread has turned into a "why is there not a rail card to suit me" thread.
The answer to that is marketing and profit making with cards designed to encourage those who might not otherwise travel by train to do so outside peak times - profit motive or as an aid to those challenged in some fashion - social marketing
The railcards are still good value - if you disagree do not buy one.
This thread has turned into a "why is there not a rail card to suit me" thread.
The answer to that is marketing and profit making with cards designed to encourage those who might not otherwise travel by train to do so outside peak times - profit motive or as an aid to those challenged in some fashion - social marketing
A more widespread roll out of Carnet tickets and restricted seasons (eg Mon-Thu-Fri) would go a good way to achieving these kinds of benefits, some of which were discussed in this thread. Some TOCs offer such arrangements, so the "infrastructure" must already be in place.
I think the idea's sound, it's just the implementation that seems to be lacking going by some of the FCC threads on here.
I think there should be more carnet tickets available, however, I think a roll out of a National Railcard makes more sense from a revenue point of view as it would generate paying traffic at off peak times. I suspect Carnet travellers tend to make up more peak hour seats which are at a premium across the network.
Absolutely! As yorksrob mentions the problem is in the implementation, for instance is there any reason why when purchasing Carnets you could be provided with a list of ToD codes, and when entering one, it would print a ticket for that day?
Eh? I get a third off fares with my YP card...But it's just so unfair that when you reach 26 fares increase by half, but when you reach 60 they only go down by a third.
A basic maths lesson - Ticket of £10 goes up by half, now costs £15. £15 ticket goes down by a third, now costs £10..........But it's just so unfair that when you reach 26 fares increase by half, but when you reach 60 they only go down by a third.
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