I'll be buying one. My 16-25 expired a few months ago and I've got some Caledonian Sleeper trips planned for which I want the discount rate for First Class.
I fear you’re out of luck. Serco CS does not honour 26-30 discounts, other than (I suppose) if you have an any-permitted ticket, which would be for seats only.I'll be buying one. My 16-25 expired a few months ago and I've got some Caledonian Sleeper trips planned for which I want the discount rate for First Class.
No discount on sleeper
- 26-30 Railcard – We do not offer discounts on Shared or Solo occupancy rooms or seated products.
https://www.sleeper.scot/tickets-timetables/railcards
I fear you’re out of luck. Serco CS does not honour 26-30 discounts, other than (I suppose) if you have an any-permitted ticket, which would be for seats only.
I fear you're right. Will kick that one into the long grass then and wait until the no sharing with strangers policy comes in where I'll get a better deal then.
I fear you’re out of luck. Serco CS does not honour 26-30 discounts, other than (I suppose) if you have an any-permitted ticket, which would be for seats only.
Or a berth if you pay the Room Supplement.
Will they issue that against a 26-30 discounted ticket?
I fear you're right. Will kick that one into the long grass then and wait until the no sharing with strangers policy comes in where I'll get a better deal then.
And if they are silly enough to try that on, they would be in breach of contract due to the explicit instructions issued by the RDG!I hope your journey isn't essential, as most likely you will be refused travel, not asked to pay more. I don't believe tickets are sold at the train so the usual "right, Anytime then" approach can't apply.
I hope your journey isn't essential, as most likely you will be refused travel, not asked to pay more. I don't believe tickets are sold at the train so the usual "right, Anytime then" approach can't apply.
And if they are silly enough to try that on, they would be in breach of contract due to the explicit instructions issued by the RDG!
Luckily I’m travelling from a station with a ticket office so I could buy a new one if it came to that, then pursue CS afterwards
Advice from RDG was if no 26-30 option was shown on a booking engine/TVM to use the 16-25 option instead. I have booked a CS berth with a 26-30 but using the 16-25 option following the RDG’s advice. I’m travelling next week so I shall let you know how I get on.
I can’t see how CS can go against what the RDG have said, I’ll certainly be following it up if I’m asked to pay more.
26-30 Railcard – We do not offer discounts on Shared or Solo occupancy rooms or seated products.
Your 26-30 Railcard WON'T apply to:
Caledonian Sleeper tickets for travel in Sleeper or Seated accommodation with a route Caledonian Sleeper only
Surely that advice only applies when trying to purchase tickets where the 26-30 Railcard can be used, but the system isn't providing you with the option to do so?
CS explicitly state they do not accept 26-30 Railcard:
https://www.sleeper.scot/tickets-timetables/railcards
It might state it there, but it didn’t say anything on the pages when I booked it! I had a good rummage around looking at the menus, accommodation etc. So perhaps they might put it in a more sensible place if they’re going to diverge from what all other TOC’s do and contradict what the RDG say.
I will contact them to try resolve the situation before travelling and to provide feedback on this issue so that nobody else ends up in this situation.
It might state it there, but it didn’t say anything on the pages when I booked it! I had a good rummage around looking at the menus, accommodation etc. So perhaps they might put it in a more sensible place if they’re going to diverge from what all other TOC’s do and contradict what the RDG say.
26-30 Railcard website said:You can use your Railcard on all franchised train operating companies that provide services within England, Scotland and Wales.
Railcards do not give discounts on Eurostar services, Charter services, and Heritage Railways unless state otherwise.
26-30 Railcard website said:Yes. Your Railcard is accepted by all of the Train Companies who operate Passenger Railway Services in Great Britain, except Eurostar.
Special excursions and charters are also excluded.
Either way, however, it's still your responsibility to check the validity of the railcard on the specific journey you want to make.
This has certainly been possible in the past, so presumably still is.I don't know when the reservation cut-off is, but if the train is boarding I doubt you can buy a ticket for it then...
This advice is correct the 26-30 Railcard is valid on the Caledonian Sleeper (e.g using an any permitted ticket or ALR) but holders of the railcard must sign an agreement acknowledging that it does not provide discounts on Caledonian Sleeper only tickets.A question just below asks "Can I use my Railcard on any Train Company?" and is answered: [yes]
Given that information an argument could be advanced that a consumer would be well within their rights to rely on the advice given by their Railcard app and the Railcard website.
What do you think they do for a customer boarding at Spean Bridge if they don't sell tickets on the train...I don't believe tickets are sold at the train
What do you think they do for a customer boarding at Spean Bridge if they don't sell tickets on the train...
Is this even really true? When the railcard first went on sale I read the terms to check if there were differences to 16-25 - I am sire that term was not there. I think it has been added recently, since CS decided they didn't like giving a discount to people with Family Railcards or 26-30 railcards. Quite why they are allowed to just say no randomly to certain railcards I don't know.This advice is correct the 26-30 Railcard is valid on the Caledonian Sleeper (e.g using an any permitted ticket or ALR) but holders of the railcard must sign an agreement acknowledging that it does not provide discounts on Caledonian Sleeper only tickets.
You said 'tickets are not sold onboard'. Even from Euston I'm sure that's not true. Say you booked seated, but there are many unsold berths on the train. If you ask to upgrade, they will probably sell you a new ticket. What else are they going to do? Upgrade you for free?I was referring to the situation at Euston, not a Scottish halt.
Experience suggests that the likely outcome is that nothing will happen, the ticket will just be accepted.Hopefully they will allow you to excess to the full price - but depending on how nasty they feel like being you could theoretically lose the value of the ticket.