Train cancelled and using a railcard

[Southern Beau]

So I’m due to be travelling on a 9:39 train on Wednesday, with a two together railcard, off peak single.

If the 9:39 Northern service is cancelled, can I take the earlier train and still use the railcard. Obviously aware it is not valid before 9:30, but does Northerns “take the prior/next service” override the railcard restriction?
I don’t think it does but wanted to check?

Also, and interesting one at a northern machine this evening.

Used contactless to buy a ticket which was £120, no pin was required. Is this normal as normally always asked to enter pin for trans £100+

 

[saismee]

I don’t think it does but wanted to check?

AIUI, restrictions are lifted in the event of a cancellation, similarly to how you aren't bound to the specified train on an advance. It would be quite unfriendly if you HAD to be delayed because you took advantage of a discount programme.

 

[fbm99]

I can't answer the Railcard query but interested to know what the answer is!

Used contactless to buy a ticket which was £120, no pin was required. Is this normal as normally always asked to enter pin for trans £100+

Did you use a physical card or mobile payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay etc.)? Physical cards are limited to £100 at the moment until March next year, but there's no official upper limit on mobile payment, it's up to the bank to set it. Mobile payments are seen as more secure as you need to use a passcode or device biometrics (face/fingerprint) to allow you to pay.

 

[Haywain]

So I’m due to be travelling on a 9:39 train on Wednesday, with a two together railcard, off peak single.

Do you already have a ticket?

 

[Southern Beau]

Do you already have a ticket?

Yes, but it is not an advance. Ie: open single without any reservations

 

[yorkie]

What is the (overall) journey / planned itinerary?

 

[Southern Beau]

What is the (overall) journey / planned itinerary?

Squires gate to London

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Squires gate to London

Assuming you to have bought the through ticket here: https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=SQU&dest=EUS&grpd=1072&tkt=SVS
- The 'Seasonal Variations' section says that 'Peak Restrictions will be lifted from Friday 19th Dec through to Friday 2nd Jan' so there don't appear to be any restrictions
- even without that, the restriction appears to be on trains arriving at Euston before 1130 (unlikely with you leaving a station near Blackpool at 0939), so you don't appear to be in cope for any restrictions, and
- even if you do technically fall foul of restrictions, I predict that train crew will be relaxed about it either because (a) they're nice people and it's Christmas or (b) they don't want anyone stuck on the railway halfway through a journey when everything closes down for Christmas.

 

[Southern Beau]

Assuming you to have bought the through ticket here: https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=SQU&dest=EUS&grpd=1072&tkt=SVS
- The 'Seasonal Variations' section says that 'Peak Restrictions will be lifted from Friday 19th Dec through to Friday 2nd Jan' so there don't appear to be any restrictions
- even without that, the restriction appears to be on trains arriving at Euston before 1130 (unlikely with you leaving a station near Blackpool at 0939), so you don't appear to be in cope for any restrictions, and
- even if you do technically fall foul of restrictions, I predict that train crew will be relaxed about it either because (a) they're nice people and it's Christmas or (b) they don't want anyone stuck on the railway halfway through a journey when everything closes down for Christmas.

But what about using a railcard before 09:30?

 

[Fawkes Cat]

But what about using a railcard before 09:30?

I'd expect my third point to apply. If you're worried, try to find the guard - ideally before boarding, but otherwise as soon as possible after - and approach with your credit card in hand to pay for a new (non-railcard) ticket to cover your journey until you reach 0930. In practice I don't think that you will need to pay for a new ticket, but it's good to look willing to do the right thing.

 

[saismee]

approach with your credit card in hand to pay for a new (non-railcard) ticket to cover your journey until you reach 0930

I would approach asking if it's permitted due to the cancellation and offer to buy a ticket if not, as the guard may not think about the cancellation if not mentioned.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

I would approach asking if it's permitted due to the cancellation and offer to buy a ticket if not, as the guard may not think about the cancellation if not mentioned.

Better wording than I managed, but it's the idea I had in mind!