16-25 Railcard discount before 10am?

[James1235678]

Hi guys,

I'm a student in South Wales who travels down to Cardiff everyday for uni

In the next few weeks I'm going to open a new student bank account which entitles me to have a 16-25 railcard free for 4 years.

I currently have a valleys student railcard which gets me a return from Pontypridd to Cardiff Central for £5.50. Can use this any time of day, discount will always be applied.

I know the 16-25 railcard discount only comes to be active after 10am but I was thinking...

If I needed to get, say, the last train before 10am or any train before 10am, but was to buy a ticket on the TFW app for a train that's departing after 10am, I'd be able to get the discount, therefore bypassing the 'no discount before 10am system'

I tried it out the other day on the app and any train before 10am had the std adult return price but then for trains after 10am the discounted price was shown..

Not once has a conductor checked the time train I booked myself on, and surely the same would apply once again, if I was travelling earlier i could just choose the time with the discount?

TLDR; Could I get in trouble for using 16-25 discount on a train before 10am, by buying a ticket on the TFW app for a train that's after 10am?

 

[JonathanH]

TLDR; Could I get in trouble for using 16-25 discount on a train before 10am, by buying a ticket on the TFW app for a train that's after 10am

Yes. You don't have a valid ticket.

 

[Hadders]

Just to clarify the 16-25 Railcard can be used at any time however a £12 minimum discounted fare applies before 10am on weekdays. This restriction doesn't apply during July or August.

Could I get in trouble for using 16-25 discount on a train before 10am, by buying a ticket on the TFW app for a train that's after 10am?

Yes you could get into trouble. A quick look at the Disputes and Prosecutions section of this forum will find several cases where TfW (or ATW before them) are seeking to prosecute or agree administrative settlements for what many would think are basic ticketing issues. Fare evasion on South Wales is rife and they want to be seen to be setting an example.

 

[Darandio]

TLDR; Could I get in trouble for using 16-25 discount on a train before 10am, by buying a ticket on the TFW app for a train that's after 10am?

Well yes, otherwise there wouldn't be a restriction in the first place.

 

[_toommm_]

If someone does notice, the least that will happen is that you will be charged an excess fare for the difference between the discounted and non-discounted fare. Like the people above me said, this could lead to you being reported for prosecution.

 

[yorkie]

Hi guys,

I'm a student in South Wales who travels down to Cardiff everyday for uni

In the next few weeks I'm going to open a new student bank account which entitles me to have a 16-25 railcard free for 4 years.

I currently have a valleys student railcard which gets me a return from Pontypridd to Cardiff Central for £5.50. Can use this any time of day, discount will always be applied.

I know the 16-25 railcard discount only comes to be active after 10am but I was thinking...

If I needed to get, say, the last train before 10am or any train before 10am, but was to buy a ticket on the TFW app for a train that's departing after 10am, I'd be able to get the discount, therefore bypassing the 'no discount before 10am system'

I tried it out the other day on the app and any train before 10am had the std adult return price but then for trains after 10am the discounted price was shown..

Not once has a conductor checked the time train I booked myself on, and surely the same would apply once again, if I was travelling earlier i could just choose the time with the discount?

TLDR; Could I get in trouble for using 16-25 discount on a train before 10am, by buying a ticket on the TFW app for a train that's after 10am?

You can legitimately do this during July / August.

But if you do this during September to June, they may suspect it was deliberate and report you for criminal prosecution.

An occasional traveller who makes a mistake should only be charged the excess, but this wouldn't be a mistake. The use of the app, and your purchasing and travel history could be used as evidence against you.

 

[Haywain]

Could I get in trouble for using 16-25 discount on a train before 10am, by buying a ticket on the TFW app for a train that's after 10am?

Why would you do this when you already have a Valleys Student Railcard?

 

[kieron]

If James has this railcard, then I assume he would use a 16-25 railcard instead to save money (as an example, an Ebbw Vale-Cardiff return costs £5.55 rather than £6.20).

On another point, the train you select has no effect on the validity of an off peak or anytime ticket. It tells you one train on which your ticket is valid, but the conductor won't care if he/she thinks you're travelling on a different one.

 

[Hadders]

If James has this railcard, then I assume he would use a 16-25 railcard instead to save money (as an example, an Ebbw Vale-Cardiff return costs £5.55 rather than £6.20).

On another point, the train you select has no effect on the validity of an off peak or anytime ticket. It tells you one train on which your ticket is valid, but the conductor won't care if he/she thinks you're travelling on a different one.

So the Valleys Railcard gives a 25% discount compared to 34% for 16-25 Railcard. However if the OP uses a Railcard discounted ticket costing less than £12 before 10am on a weekday then there’s a likelihood of problems (July and August excepted).

If I was the OP i’d Stick with the Valleys Railcard to get to college and use the free 16-25 Railcard they get with their bank account for journeys after 10am.

 

[trainophile]

Can he use it unrestricted at weekends too?

 

[Hadders]

Can he use it unrestricted at weekends too?

Yes, and on Bank Holidays. Also no minimum fare with Advance tickets.

 

[James1235678]

Guys, thank you for all your responses.

Why would you do this when you already have a Valleys Student Railcard?

I was asking this question for when my valleys card expires, and if I opened up a bank account which entitles me to a 16-25 railcard.

Seeing as I'd get in trouble I'll just stick to getting the valleys rail card each year. thanks all

 

[James1235678]

If James has this railcard, then I assume he would use a 16-25 railcard instead to save money (as an example, an Ebbw Vale-Cardiff return costs £5.55 rather than £6.20).

On another point, the train you select has no effect on the validity of an off peak or anytime ticket. It tells you one train on which your ticket is valid, but the conductor won't care if he/she thinks you're travelling on a different one.

That was my main question, if I had the 16-25 some time would I be able to buy a ticket for a train after 10am on the app to get the discount before 10am. It doesn't effect the validity of the ticket at all, I select my return train home for like 11am and use that at about 3pm then.

 

[Haywain]

That was my main question, if I had the 16-25 some time would I be able to buy a ticket for a train after 10am on the app to get the discount before 10am. It doesn't effect the validity of the ticket at all, I select my return train home for like 11am and use that at about 3pm then.

In a word, no.

 

[bunnahabhain]

That was my main question, if I had the 16-25 some time would I be able to buy a ticket for a train after 10am on the app to get the discount before 10am. It doesn't effect the validity of the ticket at all, I select my return train home for like 11am and use that at about 3pm then.

This isn't allowed, you've agreed to the terms and conditions of your railcard and you're willingly and knowingly committing fraud by preplanning it. I've reported people to our prosecutions department for doing just this. Don't do it. Buy a season and get your discount that way.