Great Western Coffee Shop

Has anyone had to wait a long time to be served here.  I find the lack of a "todays tickets only" window results in long waits when all the windows are taken with people booking an advance.

Never had a problem, usually with two windows open.

is there not a machine there (scary im actually finding a use for one of the damn things)

Yes, but I'm not sure it can issue a ticket with a Devon & Cornwall Railcard discount.

dont all railcards offer 1/3 off tickets reguardless of if its a devon and cornwall or a full network one, i belive there is an option when using the machine to say you have a railcard this must be on your person,valid and presented to the guard with your ticket

All railcards are catered for on the fast ticket machines now inc, devon/cornwall.

I frequently use the machine at NA as there is generally a queue of people wanting to go through every possible journey option at the windows. You can use the Devon and Cornwall Railcard at the machine. Also Gold card.

The majority of railcards offer the same discounts (although there are af course exceptions: no discount on first-class walk-up fares with a Y-P for example, I'm sure people on here know of many more). However, the ticket when issued is endorsed with a particular code defining the type of railcard that was used to purchase it, e.g. Y-P for 16-25, SNR for a senior, HMF for forces etc. There is no "generic" railcard discount button. I was once turned round at the barrier and sent back to the ticket office because the person who sold me my ticket miskeyed something and issued it as SNR instead of Y-P. Good thing they spotted on the barrier really, that could have been tough to explain later in the journey (and yes, I know the NRCoC say I must check my ticket before leaving the window :D).

"no discount on first-class walk-up fares with a Y-P for example,"

Depends on whether ticket seller is a know it all or computer says yes person

The advantix machines issue walk on Y-P discounts

Has to be a stick in the mud who enforces the rules rather than computer says yes.

I a^lways try to buy my tickets on the train as a result - Arriva have no idea of the loophole - some FGW do but most dont or cant be bothered - LM I avoid they tend to know the by laws in and out

Virgin -accept it if its their route

Could you explain how you qualify for a young persons / student card?

Has it ever occurred that some guards/ATEs just like to help people and tend to use discretion when selling tickets with a Railcard?  However, as you have taken such pains to point out obvious shortcomings, I could forward a copy of your post to Reveue Protection with a request that they act on your observations.  Always pleased to help. :)

Already done it.   ;D

Yes, I was wondering that too.

If you are miss sold a ticket i.e. you get a railcard discount when you shouldn't have, then you could still be excessed later in your journey, Y-P is now valid on a "Off-Peak 1R" or a first class cheap day which is a walk up fare.

Yes, I too am rather intrigued as to how a Young Persons card is apparently being used, in these circumstances?

No its not.  Just checked the T & C and it says only valid on some First Advance tickets So not valid on off peak 1R andfirst cheap day as has always been the case.

See here http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/terms-and-conditions

As I understand it, it is also available for sale to those in full time education and it's perfectly within the rules for them to continue to use it even if they complete their full time education before it expires.  Of course, I can't speak for the specific case, Chris, but there are indeed times that the naming of rail tickets causes confusion.

I particularly like the "Anytime" tickets from Melksham ... which on a Monday to Friday are restricted to arrivals and departures between 06:30 and 07:30, and 19:00 and 20:00 - it's a strange definintion of "anytime" and it strikes me as questionable under the trade descriptions act!

The Young Persons Railcard is now known as 16-25 Railcard and is available to all within that age group.  Full details are on the Nation Rail site.

Zoe, yes, the Newton Abbot ticket office can be a nightmare - it's the enquiries that seem to be the problem (as Devonian said).

I have been travelling with a annual railcard for the last year and a bit - and it's so nice not to have to go to the ticket office every morning....

Like the nice (and very observant) conductor who was doing a ticket check and spotted that although my Y-P card still had a few months on it my 26th birthday was looming. He suggested that I should get a new card the day before I turned 26 to get an extra year's discounts (which is totally legitimate but I hadn't thought of). Needless to say I did!

And that sort of service really makes a difference - when the staff make an effort to get the best discount for you (but still within the rules of course!)

Taunton like Newton Abbot has 3 windows but I have very rarely been delayed there as one of them is a "todays tickets only" window.  It would be helpful if they could use this system at Newton Abbot.

They probably argue that because there are two ticket machines there is no need.

The YP card is (or certainly was) valid for full time students regardless of age.  I carried one a few years ago as a result of being sent on a course by my employee despite being over 26.  the course was only for 3  months but during that time it was full time so I was entitled to a railcard (which lasted a full 12 months). 

The other way of extending a Y-P railcard is to use your NUS card to buy an ISIC card.  An ISIC card cost ^7 and is valid from Jan to December.  Youcan use the ISIC card to buy the YP railcard.  So if you have an NUS card that expires on say Feb 2009, buy an ISIC card that runs until 31 Dec 2009 and then use that to buy a YP railcard that expires on 30 December 2010, a whole 22 months after you stopped being a student!

Not sure that this option is legal though???