Travelling with someone with a network railcard

[Stargull]

I know that if I use my Network Railcard to buy a ticket for someone else, I need to travel with them. But do we need the same ticket?

I'm travelling from X to Y, both within the Network area, and will have an off peak return.

A colleague is coming back with me from Y to X and will buy an off peak single. Can they claim a network railcard discount? We will travel together.

Thanks.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

Technically, yes you can do as you suggest - although you must ensure that on the train and at any station gate line etc that you're both together and the Railcard is available for inspection.

Practically, you're going to need to buy tickets online - a ticket office may be awkward about this. It's also possible that a revenue inspector may take exception to this, if detected, but nothing that couldn't be resolved afterwards in the worst case scenario.

 

[Watershed]

Technically, yes you can do as you suggest - although you must ensure that on the train and at any station gate line etc that you're both together and the Railcard is available for inspection.

Practically, you're going to need to buy tickets online - a ticket office may be awkward about this. It's also possible that a revenue inspector may take exception to this, if detected, but nothing that couldn't be resolved afterwards in the worst case scenario.

There's nothing technical about it; the only requirement in the Network Railcard conditions is that you travel together. Unlike some other Railcards, there is no requirement for the tickets to be issued to or from the same location, or to be of the same ticket type.

However I agree that there's the potential for problems if the OP and accompanying passenger join or leave the train at different stations, in case there are barriers or Revenue Protection checks at those stations.

 

[Stargull]

Thank you - we're doing the complete journey together, just on a return for me and a single for them. So it sounds like that should be ok.