Railcard expires before return journey, what do I do?

[Tomp94]

So my 16-25 card expires one day before my return journey.
I will be purchasing a 26-30 card to start the day my 16-25 card expires, my question is, is it possible to add a 16-25 card for the outward leg, and a 26-30 card for the return leg, in the same ticket purchase transaction.

Thanks for any help given!

 

[mikeg]

I take it you are already 26?
If so you would be better getting the 26-30rrailcard before buying the discounted ticket. If not buy a 16-25 railcard Now!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Unless something has changed, 16-25 tickets are valid with a 26-30 Railcard.

 

[mikeg]

Unless something has changed, 16-25 tickets are valid with a 26-30 Railcard.

I thought this applied only if the 26-30 option was unavailable to purchase?

 

[Tomp94]

My 16-25 card won't expire untill 14th March 2020.
But I am going away between 13th and 15th March, using the train on 13th and 15th. So will need the 26-30 card on the 15th

 

[Bletchleyite]

I thought this applied only if the 26-30 option was unavailable to purchase?

I've double checked the Railcard website and it doesn't seem this exists at all any more, sadly, presumably as 26-30 tickets are now available at all sales channels.

To the OP - when do you turn 26? Could you instead purchase another 16-25 the day before your 26th birthday?

 

[Tomp94]

My birthday is in February

 

[Bletchleyite]

My birthday is in February

It might actually be worth renewing the day before that with one more 16-25, then. If you have a Railcard for the entire period you're entitled to one, you'll lose that month with your final 26-30 anyway (as you'll want to buy that the day before your 30th) so no harm in losing it now instead.

If it won't let you do that in the app either register again with a different email address or go buy a paper one at a station, claiming you've not had one before.

 

[gray1404]

What sort of tickets are you going to buy? If you can get advance singles for your journey then that would help.

 

[Tomp94]

It might actually be worth renewing the day before that with one more 16-25, then. If you have a Railcard for the entire period you're entitled to one, you'll lose that month with your final 26-30 anyway (as you'll want to buy that the day before your 30th) so no harm in losing it now instead.

If it won't let you do that in the app either register again with a different email address or go buy a paper one at a station, claiming you've not had one before.

Do I not have to prove my age? I'm sure I had to type in my driving license number to verify

 

[Tomp94]

What sort of tickets are you going to buy? If you can get advance singles for your journey then that would help.

I am going to Cambridge from Worthing, I don't think advance tickets are available for this journey.

 

[gray1404]

You could try split tickets for a better overall price. Eg. Advances Cambridge to London then Advances London to Worthing.

 

[scrapy]

You may be able to get a ticket clerk to do a zero fares excess so you hold a 16-25 discounted ticket for your outward journey and an excessed ticket with a 26-30 card for your return. Technically it probably wouldn't be allowed but I don't think you'd have a problem if you obtained this, using it. It would be a common sense approach.

Alternatively I'd suggest contacting the TOC or TOCs you plan to use for advice. If you have authority to travel using your 26-30 card with a 16-25 ticket especially in writing then you will not have any issues.

As has been mentioned above the best solution would be to get advance tickets discounted with the correct railcard but this is no good if you want flexibility.

 

[Starmill]

You could try split tickets for a better overall price. Eg. Advances Cambridge to London then Advances London to Worthing.

Cambridge to London Advance tickets are only available on Greater Anglia.
London to Worthing Advance tickets, while available on Southern, are rather restricted based on the time of day the OP is travelling at.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Do I not have to prove my age? I'm sure I had to type in my driving license number to verify

Yes. You are entitled to purchase a 16-25 up to the day before your 26th birthday, then you can use it for the full year. Or are you already 26?

 

[gray1404]

We are not sure what time of day they wish to travel, only the dates.

 

[Tomp94]

We are not sure what time of day they wish to travel, only the dates.

I don't know that yet

 

[Tomp94]

Yes. You are entitled to purchase a 16-25 up to the day before your 26th birthday, then you can use it for the full year. Or are you already 26?

I did not know that, thanks.
will give me an extra year of discounts on the advance singles too