Railcard commencement date

[whole diary]

[Ross H]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but I can't find the answer either on this site or any of the railcard sites.

I'm planning on getting a Two Together railcard for a trip to Yorkshire with my wife in February, for which I'll be buying the tickets as soon as they become available.

I'm not sure if we'll be making any train journeys together between now and then.

I know the railcard has to be valid at the time of the journey, but do I need to buy it in advance of buying the tickets, which could be up to three months beforehand?

Many thanks.

Ross H

[bobm]

If you are buying the tickets from a ticket office you are supposed to have any applicable rail cards at the time of purchase.

However if you are getting them on line you'll be fine, providing, as you say, you have a valid railcard on the day you travel.

[readytostart]

Yup, if you do need to make a journey at short notice before your planned trip you can always get the railcard at a booking office rather than online, just factor in the additional cost of passport sized photos if you've not got any laying around.

[Ross H]

Thanks both, that's really helpful.

[Fourbee]

What I would add about the photos, in the past I've had some passport photos handy that I've scanned and printed out with an online photo service (8 or so "up" on each glossy 6" x 4" print). They've been useful for membership cards, rail photocards etc. where I assume the requirements aren't as strict (c.f. expensive) as say, the passport office (in any case, they've been accepted without question).

Equally a digital camera, some photo editing software and a colour printer/decent photo paper would do the job.

I don't know what those booths charge now, probably a small fortune.

[tomL]

What I would add about the photos, in the past I've had some passport photos handy that I've scanned and printed out with an online photo service (8 or so "up" on each glossy 6" x 4" print). They've been useful for membership cards, rail photocards etc. where I assume the requirements aren't as strict (c.f. expensive) as say, the passport office (in any case, they've been accepted without question).

Equally a digital camera, some photo editing software and a colour printer/decent photo paper would do the job.

I don't know what those booths charge now, probably a small fortune.

A small fortune in pound coins specifically, usually.

[thetrout]

A small fortune in pound coins specifically, usually.

I've seen it's ^5 for a set of 5 Passport Photographs. ^7 for VISA Photographs. I have no idea of the difference. Some of these photo-booths now take notes and payment by card also.

[Brucey]

Equally a digital camera, some photo editing software and a colour printer/decent photo paper would do the job.

I've been doing this for years and saved a fortune.  Even on my passport and driving licence.  Quality paper can be bought in any good pound store and (if you choose the right printer) the ink costs next to nothing.