HM Forces Railcard - Commuting query

Nationwide – not valid for regular travel to place of employment, duty or education

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ruraltravel222 said:

Hello all,

My first post here - I am soon to be joining the Army Reserve and I would like to purchase HM Forces Railcard when I can.

I travel from Northampton to Euston twice a week for work and was planning to use this railcard as a nice little bonus to bring my commuting costs down; unfortunately, I am not eligible for any of the other railcards.

I have since seen though that one of the terms of this railcard's usage is as follows:

Please note that the railcard can only be used for non-duty (leisure) travel only. Commuting between home and place of duty, work or education is not available.

I'm curious if this condition does in fact apply - the HM Forces Railcard website is positively prehistoric - and in any event, me travelling to my place of work (outside of being a reservist) would be deemed non-duty travel surely?

And if the condition was enforced, how would it be done? - presumably the guard would query the usage at peak times or they would recognise you regularly (twice p/w) travelling to London and using it?

Seems like a bizarre, and unfair condition in any event.

With thanks in advance.

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swt_passenger said:

I believe when has come up before it’s been put forward that it’s really a condition aimed at full time members of the services.

If they’re living on base they won’t normally be travelling to work by train, if they’re living elsewhere than on a base, eg in remote married quarters or their own property, then other ‘home to duty’ travel rules and allowances may well apply. If they’re having to travel between different forces locations then that would come under duty travel, and that would normally paid for by warrant.

I expect they’ve just not considered a reservist‘s civilian workplace at all.

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paul1609 said:

Its 5 years since i retired from the forces now but Warrants had only been used for emergency travel for some years even then. All duty travel was normally booked as the cheapest ticket available through the defence travel portal run by HRG, it was then a skinned version of Trainline I believe. Even then rail had to compete with cheaper forms of transport. The normal mode down from Faslane to the south coast was either a one way hire car or a flightwhich could normally undercut rail.

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Watershed said:

As with most such restrictions, it is difficult to see how it could be enforced as it is very difficult to (conclusively) prove the nature of the journey in most cases. I was unaware of the restriction in any event, and I consider myself pretty well-versed in railway ticketing - so I think the odds of staff knowing, let alone trying to enforce it, are very slim.

That being said, I think there is a remote possibility that there could be 'consequences' through the Army if any misuse were to be reported, so I would try to abide by the restriction even if it seems pointless.

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Class800 said:

Maybe travelling in full uniform with your gun would be a bad move using the railcard!

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pooliemag said:

I have not served since 1986 but I remember that my HM Forces railcard was issued to me. I notice the OP mentions purchasing the card.... is this a thing? Are reservists not issued the railcard?

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swt_passenger said:

It always had a small purchase cost but would normally be deducted through your pay account. You didn’t have to front up with the cash.

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