Just lost my railcard, need advice

[Chris842]

Hi,

About a week or two ago, I bought a return from Stockport to Stevenage. The outbound journey is for this thursday. It cost £52 with my young-persons railcard discount. (Its about £77 without).

This weekend, I lost my railcard. I think I left it on a train yesterday. So today, I have ordered a replacement card. (today is sunday).

Am I likely to get the replacement in time for my journey on thursday? I ordered it online because I originally bought the railcard online. It says they send it within one working day but allow up to 5 working days because of royal mail.

What if it doesn't come on time? Can I just pay the extra 1/3 that I had discounted? Or will I be expected to buy a completely new ticket? Which effectively costs me about £77, which I cant afford!

 

[snail]

Similar situations covered several times lately on other threads. If the railcard doesn't turn up, go to the ticket office at Stockport and they will excess it to a non-discounted ticket.

As to whether it's likely to arrive by Thursday, let's just say it's cutting it fine!

 

[Bedpan]

Similar situations covered several times lately on other threads. If the railcard doesn't turn up, go to the ticket office at Stockport and they will excess it to a non-discounted ticket.

As to whether it's likely to arrive by Thursday, let's just say it's cutting it fine!

Mine arrived within 24 hours when I bought it. I was a bit miffed because I tried to buy a senior railcard on line the day before my 60th birthday and the application was refused as they said I was too young to be eligible! I reapplied just after midnight and the card arrived the next day, ie 34 hours later, and it had an extra 5 days tagged on the end.

 

[yorkie]

If it does not arrive on time, then the excess before travel is simply the difference between the fare paid and the appropriate fare without discount (£26.80 off peak via London). However if you board the train where there was opportunity to buy before boarding, then an excess is not applicable (unless you get a lenient guard) and a new Anytime ticket is chargeable (a ludicrous £162.50 single or £325 return if going via London!).

Note however that if you were planning to take a train to London Euston, that is not normally allowed on an Off Peak ticket, but taking advantage of the fact that Off Peak tickets are valid on ANY Virgin Train in conjunction with a Railcard, you will lose that facility if you do not have the Railcard. So if you do excess the ticket to the non-discounted price, then you will have to take off-peak trains.

The fares are:

Stockport [SPT] - Stevenage [SVG]

Off Peak Rtn (undiscounted) £78.80 (Rte +Any Permitted)
Super Off Peak Rtn (undiscounted) £77.00 (Rte Not London)
Off Peak Rtn (with railcard) £52.00 (Rte +Any Permitted)
Super Off Peak Rtn (with railcard) £50.80 (Rte Not London)

The outward restrictions are as follows:-

The +Any Permitted ticket is valid into Euston "before 0720 or at or after 1129" and then any train to Stockport, but with a railcard this becomes valid on any train.

The Not London ticket is valid for arrivals into Stevenage at or after 1055.

Anytime fares are far higher than the prices quoted above.

Given that an additional Railcard that you can buy from a station is £28, and given that the excess is £26.80, then I would be inclined for the sake of £1.20 to get an additional new railcard from the station. For £1.20 extra you would get a backup in case you lose it again and retain validity on any train between Stockport & London (and on the way back). The ticket is valid on any train between Stevenage and London anyway.

 

[Hullboy]

I agree - whatever you do don't travel without the railcard - the penalties are far too severe - consult the ticket office before you travel!!