Train fares, Railcards and Discounts

I am constantly disgusted by the price of rail travel in this country. It costs less to drive to Chester than it does to take a train, a journey that a often have to make. Ridiculous.

I am 27 and as such am no longer eligible for a young person's railcard. Are there similar schemes for my age group or any other sources of discounted rail fares? I can't afford £70 each time I travel up to see the lady.

Ta.

Can't you just sack her off for someone a bit closer to home?

Sorry, not very constructive.

It doesn't surprise me in the slightest, these latest rail rises. I've been travelling to London on the train for the past 13 years now. When I started it was £130 a month, now it's £330.

feelin it too.
advance advance advance SP
gots to get the dates and then book as early as poss.
sometimes cheaper to get singles,
likely Virgin west coast innit?

radical option is
get erolled on a mature students course somewhere, dont attend but you can get a Y/P with a stamp from the institution you study at

It is a shocker. Doesn't pre-booking even lessen the blow a bit?

network railcard.

Gutted for you because as far as I know it's possible to renew a young persons railcard at 25 for another 6 years. Which means you can still be on a Young Persons Railcard until 31 (hesitated with my maths there).

May that be a warning to everyone else!

As a side note rail fares are only likely to rise. Especially if they put in new faster rail systems.

To save money just book months in advance or go by coach (Again months in advance). I know that's terrible advice because who knows when your going to want to visit her. I'm kinda glad my missus is in France (£50 ryanair return flights!) Winner!

I cannot see any reasoning to raising the cost of train fares, can anyone enlightened me?

I think it's disgraceful, really really terrible. And the government claim to give a damn about congestion and the environment? Bollocks do they. Oligopolistic rip off.

It is a shocker. Doesn't pre-booking even lessen the blow a bit?

Just tried to book summat in March and it's still £70.

Can't you just sack her off for someone a bit closer to home?

Love the sack her off suggestion. Or maybe just get her to move to London?

Gutted for you because as far as I know it's possible to renew a young persons railcard at 25 for another 6 years.

Needless to say this wasn't presented to me as an option! Swines. Shoud've read the small print.

I think it's disgraceful, really really terrible. And the government claim to give a damn about congestion and the environment? Bollocks do they. Oligopolistic rip off.

repped for using big words,

agreed btw transport policy is vomit inducing

Can't you just sack her off for someone a bit closer to home?

Sacking off isn't an option I'm afraid because I am rather fond of her!

Then it's up to her to move. Simples.

I cannot see any reasoning to raising the cost of train fares, can anyone enlightened me?

The system is in a right pickle, both physically and administratively, and it's run by greedy bastards. And now we have a Tory government again. Great.

I have heard that there are shops in Camden that will do you a YP railcard for £20

And what's the fine if you're caught out?

^ That's rather interesting... Someone PM me which ones. :)

(meant for Mattty, not SP)

This is all that's here (concerning renewals past age 25) on the 16-25 website.

You can get a 3-year 16-25 Railcard right up until the day before your 24th birthday. As 3-year Railcards are available to buy online only, they are not available to mature students.

....

You must be aged 16-25 years old to purchase Railcard. Mature students are also eligible to purchase the 1-year Railcard if over 26 years old and in full time education (with valid proof). 3-year 16-25 Railcards are available online only and may be purchased up until the day before your 24th birthday.

....

As long as you are aged 25 at the time that the Railcard is purchased, you may still travel at the discounted fare throughout the validity period of the Railcard, even if you become 26 years old during that time. Likewise, 3-year 16-25 Railcards purchased online up until the day before your 24th birthday will be valid for a full 3-years.

Is there anything else? I missed the 'before 24th birthday' bit for the 3 years. :(

My annual season ticket was £700 per year for zones 1 to 3 in 2000 and now costs £1032 just for 1 and 2.

No idea why Virgin trains dont seem to be doing discount advanced fares on the Chester route. Doesn't seem right to me when I could recently get to Liverpool for £30 return with Virgin for the football!

2011 is the first year I'll be getting rid of my tfl season ticket. Just seem to ride everywhere now days. Feeling pretty smug about it really.

I'm getting the bus from London-Nottingham-London this weekend because the train fare is ridiculous now, even when I tried to book 8 weeks in advance. East mids trains wanted £50 return, while national express are just £15 return and the journey time is only 30 mins more. The bus isn't fun (understatement), but atleast its not a rip-off.

now costs £1032 just for 1 and 2.
2011 is the first year I'll be getting rid of my tfl season ticket. Just seem to ride everywhere now days. Feeling pretty smug about it really.

No one on here should need a zone 1 & 2 pass. That £1032 can buy an awful lot of shiny bits...and enough winter clothes that you'll never commute via train again.

Well done for giving it the flick, you won't regret it.

I'm getting the bus from London-Nottingham-London this weekend because the train fare is ridiculous now, even when I tried to book 8 weeks in advance. East mids trains wanted £50 return, while national express are just £15 return and the journey time is only 30 mins more. The bus isn't fun (understatement), but atleast its not a rip-off.

I do that trip fairly regularly, but grew tired of the bus. I've found it takes at least 3 hours, while a direct train takes 1 1/2 hours. Managed to bag a £15 single fare back from Nottingham on the train, but only because I'm a student again. £50 to go up before Christmas though. It's an utter disgrace.

2nd the Network card. It covers s.e and some of sw England, it will not get you to Chester but a return from London to last stop on the Network + a return Chester to that stop might work out cheaper

I sometimes use National express too. It's brutal, it's worse than flying which is akin to having your face inverted by mythological creature with two heads and one anus. When I'm on a National express bus I know it's dark times.