Cheapest way for a 6th form student to travel daily by train

[Andmaro]

Advice needed please. My son is due to start 6th form in September and this will mean a daily return journey between two adjacent stations (Market Harborough and kettering - only a 9 minute journey each way).
Apart from a 16-17yr-olds saver railcard, does anyone know of a ticketing system that will give him the lowest fare daily travel? Rather than him having to buy a new ticket every day, is there some kind of 'pass' we can purchase, that will get him on and off the same train each day? I suppose something similar to an oyster card but for just between 2 stations on a regional line. Many thanks in advance.

 

[MikeWh]

You can buy season tickets at half price using the 16-17 Saver card. It's the only railcard type discount card that allows this.

 

[roversfan2001]

A weekly season ticket between the two stations, with a 16-17 Saver railcard, is £15.15. This would give your son 7 days of unlimited travel between the two places. Even if he is only in sixth form for 4 days a week, this is still cheaper than 4 returns @ £4.10 each (also railcard discounted).

Season tickets are also available for any period between 1 month and 1 year. A monthly would be £58.20.

 

[WesternLancer]

I had a season ticket when I was a 6th former (some years ago tho!) - and the other benefits included

- that you could have the season dated from exact start to end of term dates - ie not just set weeks or months - and I think the odd days would be priced pro rata.

- Also it allows multiple trips on the same day which on occasion was helpful - eg on a day with no lessons in the afternoon I might go home early, but if meeting friends back in the college town in the evening then the season permits another return trip as required.

- there are no peak / off peak restrictions - and indeed the season is valid on any train at any time so it does not need to be the same time train each day.

-if you have a season for part of the trip - eg if you live in Kettering and want to do a day trip to Leicester, on a Saturday, use the season ticket as far as Mkt Harboro and you only need a day rtn Mkt Harboro to/from Leicester. Same principle the other way round for trip to London etc.

The Railcard also permits discounts on other train tickets to other places during the period of its validity too, and can be used for a discounted 'add on ticket'

Hopefully I have all this correct and up to date!

 

[Watershed]

Unfortunately there aren't any "scholar's season tickets" for this journey, as exist in some other places. As it's a journey served by "intercity" services it's priced at a premium, and so even with the 16-17 Saver discount it's still a little bit pricey.

However, the bus would actually be more expensive - you'd need a Midlands Gold MegaRider, which would cost £21 a week (slightly less proportionally per month/year).