2 Seniors and our 22 yr old daughter will be doing a fair amount of travel by train in Scotland and England in late May early June of 2018. Would this railcard apply to point to point tickets bought in advance? How helpful is it for walk up fares? If we travel after 9:30 on weekdays, is it still a lot cheaper to buy in advance? Thanks for the help. In the past, we've just walked up and bought tickets but know that we'd waste a lot of money doing that on this trip.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8881 posts
Your 22 year old daughter may seem like a child to you, but she won't qualilfy as one for the Friends and Family Railcard where the following eligibility requirement is in place.
"Two adults can be named as cardholders on your Family and Friends Railcard. You don't need to travel together but you do need to be travelling with at least one child between the ages of 5 and 15 to be eligible for the discount."
Perhaps you could consider the "Two Together" Railcard and receive a discount for at least two of you. Your daughter would qualify for a 16-25 Railcard. It would cost you 60 pounds to buy both of those farecards so you would want to make sure that the 33% savings you receive off of your tickets would be at least that amount.
It is possible to buy your tickets in advance online using the railcard rate and then purchase the railcard itself at your first train station on your trip.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17428 posts
For a Family and Friends Railcard, you need to be traveling with a child age 5-15.
https://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/help/railcard-terms-conditions/
But you might benefit from a Two Together Railcard, and maybe a Senior Railcard for the third person ( one of the seniors).
https://www.twotogether-railcard.co.uk
These will give you 30% off any fare, whether Standard, Advance, Anytime, etc.
My husband and I benefitted from the Two Together card on our last trip, which included London, York, Hadrian’s Wall and the Lake District.
Posted by
OP
Charleston & Birmingham
4602 posts
Thanks so much-I didn't read well enough to see the part about one child 5-15!
Posted by
2574 posts
If you go to the England, Scotland and/or Wales forum with your train travel ideas - BEFORE booking any accommodation or trains - people will likely chip in with advice about routes, places to see and whether to pre-book specific trains in advance or pay on the day - normally for short hops. In some instances, you may be told to split the tickets at places where the train stops - even though you don’t get off.
The best place to find schedules & fares is www.nationalrail.co.uk - note that the cheap advance fares appear about 11 weeks ahead.
Here is a map of the rail network:>http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/routemaps/nationalrailnetworkmap.pdf