I am an American. Can I buy a U.K. senior rail card? Can I buy it here in American via internet? Or must I wait until I arrive in England & get it there? Many thanks for your help.
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
If you are over 60, yes you can. See answer 9 on this link. http://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/buy-senior-railcard/faqs/buying-online#8 The home page gives details on costs and benefits http://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/ You will need to buy it over here but you can buy your tickets on-line beforehand, see answer 7. Remember buying tickets in advance, where they are available, will save you money plus usually a further 1/3rd off with a railcard.
Posted by
OP
Huntington
8 posts
Dear Linda, Thanks for your quick reply. OK, let me get this straight. I go ahead & buy my tickets on-line here in the states at the senior rail-card price. Then when I arrive in England I buy the senior rail-card at the station before boarding the train. My 1st train will be at Southampton Central station which, according to the website, is a manned station. Best wishes,
Bubba
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33820 posts
You buy your tickets at the cheapest price you can find. Almost all then allow the 1/3 off Senior Railcard discount on top of that, so when you are buying the ticket be sure to scroll down to the Railcard Discount box and tick or highlight Senior Railcard. You don't physically need the card to buy the tickets nor to collect them but when your tickets are checked at a barrier or on the train you need to present both the tickets and any railcards. If it is an "Advance" ticket, which refers to a type of ticket not just that it was in advance, you will probably have it in at least 2 if not more actual ticket bits. One part is the actual ticket, the other piece is the reservation for the actual time and date for the precise train the ticket is valid on, perhaps with a specific seat reservation. The conductor will need to see all of those plus the railcard. Each Senior traveling on a Senior Railcard discount requires their own, personalized, railcard.
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
Bubba Give yourself plenty of time to buy the railcard and board the train ie be careful when booking your train ticket. Afraid that I can't estimate how much time you will need but if lots of other folks off the boat(?) are taking the train as well the ticket counters may be busy. I'm a bit of a nervous nellie but would prefer to spend half an hour or so drinking a cup of coffee at the station while waiting, rather than miss my train!