We are planning to purchase a two together rail card for ourselves, and a 20-30 rail card for one of our children, both digital. She’ll be staying in Scotland to study, and we might visit again after this summer’s visit, so we don’t want the cards to become active until we’re actually there in Scotland and ready to travel (so they won’t expire until a year out). Should we wait to purchase? How do we delay the start date for our digital rail card if we buy now?
Posted by
Bristol, UK
1772 posts
Once you buy the card it’s active and can’t be delayed. Wait until close to travel to buy it if you want it to last longer after your first visit.
It’s not difficult to purchase so there’s no need to worry about doing it far in advance.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni
2694 posts
If you want to buy tickets at the railcard price, you can do that at any time, but wait until closer to your journey to buy the railcard -you must have one when travelling.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35309 posts
purchase a two together rail card for ourselves, and a 20-30 rail card for one of our children
regarding the railcard for one of your children. There isn't a 20-30 Railcard, there is the 16-25 Railcard and there is a 26-30 Railcard. Be sure which you need...
Posted by
OP
Wisconsin
10 posts
Thanks for your help, everyone. Nigel, you are correct, and I was mistaken about the (non-existent) 20-30 yo card. We’ll get the proper one! And it seems like the price is stable such that we can get our cards closer to our arrival date.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35309 posts
you need to have the Railcard in hand (or on fone) when the ticket is examined at the gateline or on the train. You can buy a reduced fare ticket in Advance and get your Railcard just before travel if you want to use the entire year of validity. If it is just a once and done and you're not returning you can get it now while you are thinking about it so it isn't missed....