Train travel for the over 60s...

[coupwotcoup]

Sorry if this subject has been raised before but does anyone
have any hints/info on cheap travel for those of us who have
reached said magical mile stone?

I could trawl t'internet for said info but I'm sure other like minded
peeps may be interested too.

 

[brillopad]

Senior Railcard.

 

[krus_aragon]

There's also a Club 55 scheme operated by several train companies at various times of the year, which offer a cheaper-price return ticket on long journeys (e.g. £17 anywhere with ATW, even Holyhead to Fishguard and back!)

 

[telstarbox]

If you have a specific journey in mind, post details in the Fares, Tickets and Routeing section of this forum - members will be happy to give specific advice

 

[Prometheus]

There's also a Club 55 scheme operated by several train companies at various times of the year, which offer a cheaper-price return ticket on long journeys (e.g. £17 anywhere with ATW, even Holyhead to Fishguard and back!)

Also £19 anywhere on Scotrail and I believe also on First Great Western, but only at certain non-busy times of the year. In other words, forget the school holidays and Christmas.

 

[Welshman]

Also £19 anywhere on Scotrail and I believe also on First Great Western, but only at certain non-busy times of the year. In other words, forget the school holidays and Christmas.

Does FGW have a Club55 offer at the moment?
I can't find anything on their website.

 

[merlodlliw]

There's also a Club 55 scheme operated by several train companies at various times of the year, which offer a cheaper-price return ticket on long journeys (e.g. £17 anywhere with ATW, even Holyhead to Fishguard and back!)

Previous Fishguard was out of area,according to friends.

Two colleagues spent the first day of Wales 55 club Wrexham to Milford Haven for £17 less over 60s card this week

A week on Monday they are off on the new De Luxe Wag Ex from Wrexham in the newly Pullman refurbished standard class Mark 3s,I am informed these will be the most top notch standard carriages in the UK, and all for less than £17 rtn. So 67/DVT returns to Wrexham,tip have a full Dots W/S style breakfast before boarding on platform one

Sorry I go off subject.

Bob

 

[extendedpaul]

I've travelled to Fishguard twice on Club 55 tickets with no problems.

There's also a useful easement which allows return on a different West Wales line. I went by bus via Haverfordwest to Pembroke Dock and returned to Caerphilly from there. The conductors on those lines are very friendly and helpful.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I've travelled to Fishguard twice on Club 55 tickets with no problems.

There's also a useful easement which allows return on a different West Wales line. I went by bus via Haverfordwest to Pembroke Dock and returned to Caerphilly from there. The conductors on those lines are very friendly and helpful.

I find the leaflet a bit confusing. It says "travel throughout the entire ATW network" which suggests it is a rover-sort of product.
But it seems they are ordinary point to point tickets.
I got to Fishguard Harbour without problems, and also out to Milford Haven and back from Pembroke Dock.
The only problem was breaking my journey at Cardiff (the gates reject valid through tickets).
This year the price is notionally the same as last at £17 if you buy from ATW's web site, but for bookings at the station it is £19 and on a Friday £24 (£1 off with a railcard).
Excellent value.

 

[sevenhills]

There's also a Club 55 scheme operated by several train companies at various times of the year, which offer a cheaper-price return ticket on long journeys (e.g. £17 anywhere with ATW, even Holyhead to Fishguard and back!)

I thought the new thing was to outlaw discrimination in the provision of services on the grounds of age?

 

[mikeg]

Except there are so many exceptions to the age discrimination sections of the equality act that such special offers are often legal. It's one of this government's many ways of screwing over young people win the 'grey vote' if you ask me. (sorry but I had to get my bit of politics in there, and some of it was to be fair the making of the previous government.)

 

[merlodlliw]

I find the leaflet a bit confusing. It says "travel throughout the entire ATW network" which suggests it is a rover-sort of product.
But it seems they are ordinary point to point tickets.
I got to Fishguard Harbour without problems, and also out to Milford Haven and back from Pembroke Dock.
The only problem was breaking my journey at Cardiff (the gates reject valid through tickets).
This year the price is notionally the same as last at £17 if you buy from ATW's web site, but for bookings at the station it is £19 and on a Friday £24 (£1 off with a railcard).
Excellent value.

OK they must have booked to another station,told me it cost them over £ surcharge each, on reading the notes you have to book to a specific station,we will have their report on North Wales Rail newsboard next Tuesday.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I thought the new thing was to outlaw discrimination in the provision of services on the grounds of age?

perfectly legal according to the equalities act, you may be thinking of Age Discriminating at Work.

 

[Chris999999]

Except there are so many exceptions to the age discrimination sections of the equality act that such special offers are often legal. It's one of this government's many ways of screwing over young people win the 'grey vote' if you ask me. (sorry but I had to get my bit of politics in there, and some of it was to be fair the making of the previous government.)

So you want to get rid of the Young Persons railcard and half price fares for children?

 

[bicbasher]

Move to London and get free travel on rail services within the London travelcard area, this also includes tube travel on the Met in Herts and Bucks and London Overground services to Watford with the Freedom Pass or the soon to launch Over 60s Oyster card which gives you free travel for a £10 fee.

 

[Flamingo]

Does FGW have a Club55 offer at the moment?

No (The amount of complementary shortbread biscuits we go through in 1st class is nothing short of frightening when we do! )

 

[34D]

People who live in England who are at or over state pension age (currently age 62.5 I believe, but rising - see link) receive an English National Concessionary Travel scheme http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Publictransport/BusAndCoachTravel/DG_10036264

People resident in Scotland receive a pass for the country of Scotland from age 60 http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/public-transport/concessionary-travel

Those resident in Wales / Cymru also have a free scheme from age 60 that applies in the country of Wales http://wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/public/concessionary/fares/?lang=en

Similarly for residents of Ulster over age 60 for free travel within Northern Ireland (and for ulster residents 65 and over, and Eire residents 66 and over, free travel throughout the island of Ireland) http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/free-bus-travel-and-concessions and http://www.citizensinformation.ie/e...xtra_social_welfare_benefits/free_travel.html

Finally, persons resident on the Isle of Man from age 60 receive free travel on buses and trains across the Isle of Man http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/socialcare/services/buspassapplication.doc (MS word doc)

 

[dzug2]

Move to London and get free travel on rail services within the London travelcard area, this also includes tube travel on the Met in Herts and Bucks and London Overground services to Watford with the Freedom Pass or the soon to launch Over 60s Oyster card which gives you free travel for a £10 fee.

So what do you get for the £10 that you don't get with the Freedom Pass? Other than a different bit of plastic?

 

[starrymarkb]

Presumably travel on the rail based transport rather then just the red buses for Seniors visiting London from outside the capital.

 

[MikeWh]

So what do you get for the £10 that you don't get with the Freedom Pass? Other than a different bit of plastic?

You can't get the freedom pass until age 62 an a bit, the new card is available at age 60 until you are eligible for the full freedom pass.

 

[34D]

You can't get the freedom pass until age 62 an a bit, the new card is available at age 60 until you are eligible for the full freedom pass.

Does the new product cover rail zones 1-9 only (like a travelcard) or does it also cover zones D, G and W (dartford, greys, watford) which Freedom passes cover?

Out of interest, what does this new card look like? I wonder whether provincial bus drivers could mistake it for a freedom pass?

 

[Wyvern]

There may still be some councils and local authorities who gives discount local train travel. Look on the appropriate websites.

 

[PaulLothian]

There may still be some councils and local authorities who gives discount local train travel. Look on the appropriate websites.

National Rail Enquiries list of schemes is at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/railcards-discounts/concessionary_travel_scheme.html
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

National Rail Enquiries list of schemes is at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/railcards-discounts/concessionary_travel_scheme.html

And now having reviewed the different schemes, I have noticed that the scheme for my own area is out-of-date - National Rail Enquiries do not acknowledge the opening of the Airdrie- Bathgate line!

Updated list here - http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/media/downloaddoc/1799594/1852483/rail_concessions

 

[brompton rail]

South Yorkshire PTE pass holders may travel for free on rail services within South Yorkshire (and to Denby Dale, Darton, Moorthorpe or South Elmsall in West Yorkshire). Trains must call twice in SY, which means Northern, TPE, plus XC (and the odd EMT) services between Sheffield and Doncaster. No East Coast train calls twice in SY so their trains are outside the scheme. Additionally on Northern's services (ONLY) Pass holders can travel to/from Leeds or Huddersfield and to intermediate stations on THROUGH trains. Change of train to further WY destinations isn't allowed. Passes are valid from 09.00 (M-F).

WY PTE Pass holders have to buy individual journey rail tickets (after 09.30) at a reduced fare, but only to the WY boundary. They cannot travel onwards to SY without buying a full price ticket.

ALL of the above only refers to RESIDENTS of those areas and not elsewhere.

However, in order to show how generous the Council Tax Payers of South Yorkshire are, our PTE does allow any English Pass holder to sample the excellent Sheffield Tram network for free (after 0900), as well as the buses.

PS - None of the PTE schemes is listed on National Rail's web page

 

[Welshman]

No (The amount of complementary shortbread biscuits we go through in 1st class is nothing short of frightening when we do! )

The tea must be nice and hot, though, as our old teeth don't allow us to munch shortbread biscuits without first dunking them!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

WY PTE Pass holders have to buy individual journey rail tickets (after 09.30) at a reduced fare, but only to the WY boundary. They cannot travel onwards to SY without buying a full price ticket.

They've also been allowed to purchase cheap tickets for a ride up the Settle & Carlisle line during the winter months.

How I wish I'd stayed in my county of birth rather than moving to Wales!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

People who live in England who are at or over state pension age (currently age 62.5 I believe, but rising - see link) receive an English National Concessionary Travel scheme . . .

Its not as simple as that.
By way of an example, a male may not be eligible for a State Pension when reaching 62.5 but shall be when reaching 65. However, they may be / have been eligible for a 'concessionary bus pass' from 60.5 years.