Senior Railcard validity: getting a definitive answer

[NewcourtSenior]

I have a Senior Railcard and am perplexed when faced with GWR's advice. If I attempt to buy an "Anytime day return" online from GWR from my local station, Newcourt, Exeter to Exeter Central with a departure of 0740, i.e. during the peak on a weekday, there is always the warning under "Ticket Information":

"Minimum fares / time restrictions may apply to tickets bought with a Railcard or other discount card. See terms and conditions of the appropriate Railcard or discount card for details."

The relevant terms and conditions are:

"4. Conditions of use of the Senior Railcard

4.2. Discounts are not available on tickets for travel on morning peak services for journeys that start and end within the London & South East area (defined by the Network Railcard area) on Monday to Friday (except on public holidays). The time when off-peak services start can vary by station. Use nationalrail.co.uk to plan your journey to identify when off-peak services start or ask rail staff for details."

If I put the same journey in on the National Rail Journey planner, if I select a peak time ticket if offers be the railcard discount without any warning and therefore I assume that it always best to use this planner rather than GWR's (which is rather vague).

Also, I thought that there was a court case sometime ago where a court took the view that rail companies should not be in the business of trying sell tickets with rail card discount if for the journey specified the railcard was not itself valid.

As an aside, I always find it weird that most of Exeter's statiions fall within the Network South East area.

Any views?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@NewcourtSenior. Welcome to the forum. Good question! So, how does this work for a local journey such as Newcourt to/from Exeter Central if a Senior Railcard holder is wishing to claim Senior Railcard discount? For this flow, there only seem to be Anytime Day Singles (and Returns) and Evening Day Singles (and Returns). When are "off peak services" deemed to commence?

P.S. Is Newcourt railway station within the Network Railcard area?

 

[AlterEgo]

P.S. Is Newcourt railway station within the Network Railcard area?

No, so the OP's concern about ending up with an invalid ticket for this journey is moot.

 

[NewcourtSenior]

@NewcourtSenior. Welcome to the forum. Good question! So, how does this work for a local journey such as Newcourt to/from Exeter Central if a Senior Railcard holder is wishing to claim Senior Railcard discount? For this flow, there only seem to be Anytime Day Singles (and Returns) and Evening Day Singles (and Returns). When are "off peak services" deemed to commence?

P.S. Is Newcourt railway station within the Network Railcard area?

Thank you Mcr Warrior. No, Newcourt isn't in the Network Railcard area. There are 8 railway stations within the Exeter city boundary, Exeter St Davids, Exeter Central and St James Park are within the Network Railcard area but Newcourt, Digby & Sowton, Topsham, Polsloe Bridge and Exeter St Thomas are outside!

 

[RPI]

As an RPI that works that line, the ticket you described is valid. If it was from/to Pinhoe for example then it would then be partly within the Network area.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

There are 8 railway stations within the Exeter city boundary, Exeter St Davids, Exeter Central and St James Park are within the Network Railcard area but Newcourt, Digby & Sowton, Topsham, Polsloe Bridge and Exeter St Thomas are outside!

That's the historic division where the Waterloo to Exeter St Davids service was operated by Network South East and so the rules of the Network South East railcard were applied at the stations between them.

 

[Kilopylae]

Thank you Mcr Warrior. No, Newcourt isn't in the Network Railcard area. There are 8 railway stations within the Exeter city boundary, Exeter St Davids, Exeter Central and St James Park are within the Network Railcard area but Newcourt, Digby & Sowton, Topsham, Polsloe Bridge and Exeter St Thomas are outside!

Don't forget Marsh Barton..!

 

[NewcourtSenior]

Don't forget Marsh Barton..!

Quite right Kilopylae, I forgot that one!