Use of senior railcards at peak times

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From my epos box - a useful general response

Hi Graham, sorry to trouble you,  can you use a senior railcard at any time mid week or does it have to be off peak?

Answer

Hi, Xxx - for journeys in our area, any time. For journeys that both start and end in "London and the South East", they're only valid after the morning peak, no restriction even there in the evening peak.

Note - our area is West Wiltshire.

Salisbury, Tisbury and Bedwyn stations are considered to be in "London and the South East".   So if you are head east from any of those stations must wait until after the morning peak if you want to use your senior card. Salisbury southwards, and Salisbury and Tisbury westwards (as far as Exeter St David's) are also in London and the South East.


I'm noting that an Exeter St Thomas to Salisbury day return via Honiton costs £67.10, and does an Exeter St David's to Salisbury.   So a senior in Exeter wanting a long day in Salisbury and holding a card should start from St Thomas at £44.30, right?

[plymothian]

First off there is no such thing as a morning peak.   
Peak times are determined by the ticket, and its restriction code.

For example your Exeter St Thomas - Sailsbury conundrum.   An Exeter St David's - Sailsbury off peak ticket has a UQ restriction which is not valid after 04.29 and before 0845 except for departures from Exeter St David's to London Waterloo at 0730 (and all later services) meaning it's valid on the 08.25 but also has an additional easement of allowing travel the 07.25.  Therefore effectively can be used from 07.25 (on a "peak" train).

If the person wanted to travel before 07.25 they would have to hold an Exeter St Thomas - Sailsbury discounted ticket as St Thomas is not in the L&SE area but because starting late may be allowed (as a 'break of journey') so they could join at St David's or Central instead.


Long as short - consult National Rail Enquiries to see what's valid when!

[JayMac]

First off there is no such thing as a morning peak.   
Peak times are determined by the ticket, and it's restriction code.

There is when it comes to using certain Railcard products. If you want a Senior Railcard discount before 1000 then, generally (there are some time restriction easements), your journey must start or end outside the Network Area.

[ellendune]

There is a quid pro quo here. In that peak long distance fares outside the Network South East Area do seem to be much more expensive than those inside. 

[paul7575]

Even within the former Network Southeast area the senior railcard is not as restricted as mentioned above by BNM, it becomes usable from whenever the offpeak fare for the specific journey becomes available, which for longer distances is usually based on the first arrival time at Waterloo after 1000.  For example, for my typical Eastleigh to Waterloo trip it’s from 0840 ish.

It’s not as restricted as the Network Card.

Paul

[JayMac]

My bad.

I was getting the Network Railcard and Senior Railcard T&Cs confused.

Yes, Senior Railcard discount in the Network Area is generally tied to the times when Off Peak/Off Peak Day fares become available.

[didcotdean]

The only exceptions presently listed to the 'no morning peak entirely in NSE^▸ (Network South East)' rule relate to a number of stations along the Cotswold line. In some cases for the only train in that direction of the day ...

[johnneyw]

I cannot believe I'm writing this as I do but I've just (gulp) successfully made an advance application online for my senior railcard. I've had a good look at the benefits and not unreasonably, it applies to UK^▸ (United Kingdom) travel only. What I would like to find out is if there is some sort of european equivalent, especially as I have two trips in Europe planned for next spring with rail travel elements in both. A brief look online has drawn a blank but does anyone know if such a card exits?

[JayMac]

Interrail passes have a 10% discount for Seniors (60+).

There's a variety of passes of varying lengths, covering both single European countries and a 'global' pass for all participating countries in continental Europe.

https://www.interrail.eu/en/special-offers/interrail-senior-discounts

[martyjon]

I cannot believe I'm writing this as I do but I've just (gulp) successfully made an advance application online for my senior railcard. I've had a good look at the benefits and not unreasonably, it applies to UK^▸ (United Kingdom) travel only. What I would like to find out is if there is some sort of european equivalent, especially as I have two trips in Europe planned for next spring with rail travel elements in both. A brief look online has drawn a blank but does anyone know if such a card exits?

BREXIT has put a stop on us Brits enjoying any such privileges enjoyed by the Continental residents.  

[Lee]

I cannot believe I'm writing this as I do but I've just (gulp) successfully made an advance application online for my senior railcard. I've had a good look at the benefits and not unreasonably, it applies to UK^▸ (United Kingdom) travel only. What I would like to find out is if there is some sort of european equivalent, especially as I have two trips in Europe planned for next spring with rail travel elements in both. A brief look online has drawn a blank but does anyone know if such a card exits?

BREXIT has put a stop on us Brits enjoying any such privileges enjoyed by the Continental residents.  

I am sorry that you are denied such privileges on continental railways, and I thank them for their services.

But I believe with every fibre of my being that the card you have set out is the right one for our country and all our senior people.

[johnneyw]

Thanks for the info, as I said, I couldn't really expect the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) card to have any european discounts as they don't see any of the money I paid for the card and Brexit only weakens the chances of any reciprocal agreements happening in the future. I'll have a good proper look at BNM's suggested link though, that might been useful on our Dutch/German mini rail jaunt.

[Pb_devon]

Man at seat 61 has a good review of Interrail passes https://www.seat61.com/InterRail-pass-guide.htm
You just need to make sure that they are a better deal than point to point where such fares are very cheap (i.e. not Switzerland!).

[WSW Frome]

In my previous experience (not necessarily up to date), the 40% rail discount card is available to anyone in The Netherlands at a cost of around EUR50. Restrictions are few and it has some validity in Belgium. Other European countries may well offer similar railcards which are essentially available to anyone.

Personally I do not think BREXIT will be relevant to these schemes, especially where no state or social subsidy applies. The example above is a commercial product just like the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) railcards are supposed to be.