Using a Network Railcard on a delayed pre-10am train

[BasildonBob]

This morning I renewed my Network Railcard, which gives a 1/3 discount for weekday off-peak travel after 10:00. I was intending to catch the 10:18 from Pangbourne to Paddington, but noticed that the preceding train, scheduled to depart at 9:52 was running 6 minutes late. The (very pleasant and helpful) GWR ticket office person asked if I was planning to catch the 9:52 and I joked that I might if it got any later and arrived after 10:00. She laughed but said that some of her colleagues took the view that Network Railcards were only valid on trains that were booked to depart after 10:00. The Network Railcard website only says "Network Railcard discounts are not valid on tickets for travel before 10.00hrs, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)." Any thoughts on which is correct?

 

[74A]

Was changed some years ago to any train leaving after 1000. Just to avoid this sort of issue.

Thats why it says as you quoted. Not valid for travel before 1000. Timetable time does not matter. Its the actual time that counts.

 

[bb21]

Condition 4.2 of the Railcard's T&Cs state "...discounts apply for travel at or after 10.00 Monday to Friday..."

https://www.network-railcard.co.uk/help/railcard-terms-conditions/

Therefore you are perfectly permitted to travel on the delayed 0952.

 

[BasildonBob]

Thank you both

 

[Bletchleyite]

I stand corrected. I guess the staff must have had the same outdated view I had.

 

[Haywain]

I stand corrected. I guess the staff must have had the same outdated view I had.

Sadly, not as unusual as it should be for staff to hold outdated information in their heads.

 

[daneaston]

So on Tuesday, I paid for a standard off-peak to get the 0953 from Leighton Buzzard to Euston. As the train was before 10am, I couldn't use my railcard.

The train arrived at 1004 and ended-up arriving at Euston 34 minutes late.

I've done their "delay repay" and have been refunded 25% of the ticket cost, but what about the 33% I could've saved with my railcard as the train ended-up being post 10am?

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

So on Tuesday, I paid for a standard off-peak to get the 0953 from Leighton Buzzard to Euston. As the train was before 10am, I couldn't use my railcard.

The train arrived at 1004 and ended-up arriving at Euston 34 minutes late.

I've done their "delay repay" and have been refunded 25% of the ticket cost, but what about the 33% I could've saved with my railcard as the train ended-up being post 10am?

Unfortunately that's simply one of life's irrecoverable losses. I suppose next time you could simply get an e-ticket on your phone, and once you know how the train is running you can decide whether or not to buy it with the Network Railcard discount (or alternatively, if there's not too long of a queue, you could do the same from the ticket office). It's also worth a shot to ask WMT whether they'll refund you the difference but I doubt they would do so, and they're certainly not obliged to do so.

 

[yorkie]

I've done their "delay repay" and have been refunded 25% of the ticket cost, but what about the 33% I could've saved with my railcard as the train ended-up being post 10am?

Unfortunately I think there isn't anything you can do about that.

If there was sufficient notice of the departure being after 10am for you to obtain a new ticket, you could have got a discounted ticket and arranged a refund of the original.

 

[Saperstein]

Unfortunately I think there isn't anything you can do about that.

If there was sufficient notice of the departure being after 10am for you to obtain a new ticket, you could have got a discounted ticket and arranged a refund of the original.

But then of course, no delay repay so it’s as broad as it’s long I guess.

Hope my figures are correct

Before 10AM ticket is £18.00 i.e. Delay repay £4.50

After 10AM ticket is £18.00 i.e. Delay repay £3.25 - Railcard discount £5.00

But as the OP would have known about disruption after 10am there would have been no DR for the second ticket would there?

 

[yorkie]

But then of course, no delay repay so it’s as broad as it’s long I guess not having worked out the sums involved.

If the discount is 34% this is greater than 25%, but it may not be worth the faff of obtaining a refund!

 

[Saperstein]

OK, just tried working out the sums involved and edited my post accordingly, looks like only about £1.50 difference to me?

 

[Surreytraveller]

I stand corrected. I guess the staff must have had the same outdated view I had.

I was under the impression that the Network Card was always valid after 10am, rather than on trains due to depart after 10am?

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Do Southern still have their ‘rainy day’ policy, where a ticket bought online, but not collected, can be refunded with no fee?
If so, the OP could buy the off-peak return for collection from a TVM, and if they see the 09:53 is running late, buy a new Railcard-discounted ticket in the knowledge they can get their money back on the uncollected one?

 

[Saperstein]

Do Southern still have their ‘rainy day’ policy, where a ticket bought online, but not collected, can be refunded with no fee?
If so, the OP could buy the off-peak return for collection from a TVM, and if they see the 09:53 is running late, buy a new Railcard-discounted ticket in the knowledge they can get their money back on the uncollected one?

Yes in fact, I bought a journey and had it refunded the next day without quibble as the tickets had not been collected from a TVM.

Southern refunded me e-vouchers which is how I paid for said tickets in the first place.

 

[jopsuk]

So on Tuesday, I paid for a standard off-peak to get the 0953 from Leighton Buzzard to Euston. As the train was before 10am, I couldn't use my railcard.

The train arrived at 1004 and ended-up arriving at Euston 34 minutes late.

I've done their "delay repay" and have been refunded 25% of the ticket cost, but what about the 33% I could've saved with my railcard as the train ended-up being post 10am?

Hmm. The Network Railcard website lists a time easement where Network Railcard is valid on the 0958 from Leighton Buzzard- which doesn't seem to exist anymore. Is the 0953 that train re-timed, and should the website have been updated? Doesn't let you apply railcard discount retrospectively, but would be worth enquiring about