Railcards

[FozzQuaker]

So me and my Dad are thinking about going away for a couple of weekends in the Summer, and looking to use the train...

When it comes to Railcards, he is probably eligible for an Old Person's Railcard...As for me, I was wondering if I'd be eligible for a Disabled Person's Railcard as I am eligible for and do have a Concessionary Bus Pass on account of my very fragile mental health, is there more criteria for a Disabled Railpass and is there any Railpass that a carer can use alongside the Named Cardholder...

Or would we be simply better just getting the Two Together Railcard.

Any help would be great...

 

[Flying Snail]

Railcards | Digital Railcard and Prices - Railcard

We are the official retailer of Railcards by National Rail. With a Railcard you can save up to 1/3 off rail travel. There's a Railcard for everyone.

www.railcard.co.uk

Has all the details of eligibility requirements and prices.

 

[Deafdoggie]

So me and my Dad are thinking about going away for a couple of weekends in the Summer, and looking to use the train...

When it comes to Railcards, he is probably eligible for an Old Person's Railcard...As for me, I was wondering if I'd be eligible for a Disabled Person's Railcard as I am eligible for and do have a Concessionary Bus Pass on account of my very fragile mental health, is there more criteria for a Disabled Railpass and is there any Railpass that a carer can use alongside the Named Cardholder...

Or would we be simply better just getting the Two Together Railcard.

Any help would be great...

The requirements for a disabled railcard and a disabled bus pass are different. It's possible to be disabled for one and not the other!

 

[unlevel42]

A Disabled Persons Railcard can take months to process/appeal and the application usually only succeed when there is medical proof of mobility impairment and/or in receipt of DLA, PIP or ADP. A letter from a doctor is insufficient.
A bus pass application needs only proof of qualification under the Equality Act ie being disabled by having a physical or impairment with a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to do normal day-to-day activities. An autistic person with a diagnosis is entitled to a bus pass but not a necessarily a Disabled Persons Railcard.

 

[Narrowgauge725]

Get a two together railcard and as long as you both travel together you will save a third

 

[davews]

A Disabled Persons Railcard can take months to process/appeal and the application usually only succeed when there is medical proof of mobility impairment and/or in receipt of DLA, PIP or ADP. A letter from a doctor is insufficient.

I had not heard that before. The lady in the ticket office recently suggested that when I next renew my Senior railcard I should instead get a Disabled one because I wear hearing aids (otherwise no way disabled). That in itself would cause issues as the rules suggest the original NHS brown record book, but my aids are now supplied via Specsavers, still on NHS terms, who don't use the brown book. Add in a several months delay in processing then it would hardly help me...

Two together or just a senior one for your dad may be the easiest to arrange.

 

[Deafdoggie]

I had not heard that before. The lady in the ticket office recently suggested that when I next renew my Senior railcard I should instead get a Disabled one because I wear hearing aids (otherwise no way disabled). That in itself would cause issues as the rules suggest the original NHS brown record book, but my aids are now supplied via Specsavers, still on NHS terms, who don't use the brown book. Add in a several months delay in processing then it would hardly help me...

Two together or just a senior one for your dad may be the easiest to arrange.

It depends whose desk it lands on! But don't start me on the battery book saga!

 

[yorksrob]

I had not heard that before. The lady in the ticket office recently suggested that when I next renew my Senior railcard I should instead get a Disabled one because I wear hearing aids (otherwise no way disabled). That in itself would cause issues as the rules suggest the original NHS brown record book, but my aids are now supplied via Specsavers, still on NHS terms, who don't use the brown book. Add in a several months delay in processing then it would hardly help me...

Two together or just a senior one for your dad may be the easiest to arrange.

I had a friend who required a hearing aid and was able to obtain a disabled railcard.

Needless to say, those of us who need to wear "seeing" aids receive no such opportunity.

 

[Deafdoggie]

I had a friend who required a hearing aid and was able to obtain a disabled railcard.

Needless to say, those of us who need to wear "seeing" aids receive no such opportunity.

Simply wearing hearing aids is a requirement for a Disabled Railcard. But the threshold of deafness is greater than the threshold of blindness required for glasses.
People who are blind to the same degree that people who wear hearing aids are deaf qualify for a Disabled Railcard.

 

[Oldgaloot]

It looks as though neither this chap nor his dad intends to travel without the other. So £30 for a Two Together Railcard has to be the best bet. I have an Oldgaloot's card and have to spend £90 on train fares to get my £30 back. With two travelling that's only £45 each which is the cost of the day return from Guildford to Chelmsford I bought the other day. I don't know where the £30 for the cost of the card comes from. My Oldgaloot's bus pass costs nothing.

 

[DelW]

I don't know where the £30 for the cost of the card comes from. My Oldgaloot's bus pass costs nothing.

Bus passes are funded by local authorities as a social good. Railcards are just a commercial marketing tool, similar to cut price offers at your local supermarket. They're aimed at encouraging use of trains by those whose travel is discretionary rather than essential.

 

[Oldgaloot]

Yes, I agree, but isn't that sort of true of concessionary bus passes in that you can't use them at peak travel times? And since most of the rail system seems to be winding up in the great train shed of the public sector, and more train travel means fewer car journeys and thus a social good, I still think it's a bit of an oddity. Having said that I believe it's the same for train travel in other European countries with the significant difference that train travel here is more expensive.

 

[JordR]

A Disabled Persons Railcard can take months to process/appeal and the application usually only succeed when there is medical proof of mobility impairment and/or in receipt of DLA, PIP or ADP. A letter from a doctor is insufficient.

I provided a GP's letter confirming I have epilepsy and my railcard application was approved within a few days. I don't receive any disability benefits.

 

[chefchenko]

I wear hearing aids and to me it’s nonsense that I’m eligible for a railcard but thems the rules so I make use of it , on a side note at ticket checks I’ve been asked once to show my card !! Once in 5 years