Quick guide for travelling.

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Morning all,

With the upcoming LB meet up, I thought I would offer a quick run through of your rights as a customer when travelling by train.

We all want the best deals when we travel, are you aware of railcards?

Young Persons Railcard (known as Student Railcard): This is for young people between the age of 16-21years and mature students. You need proof of age, proof of university/college and mature students need their tutor to sign the form as proof too (forms at aany booking office). You will recieve 34% off your travel. Vaild 1 year (unsure of cost)

Family Railcard: 2 Costs £20. Can be in 1 name or 2, people on the card do not need to be related. You can take adults (34% discount each) and up to 4 children at a flat fare of £2 each. Valid 1 year.

Senior Railcard: for anyone over 65, vaild a year 34%. (unsure of cost)

Disabled Railcard: 34% off travel for the disabled person, and a companion. Valid a year. cost £20.

If you are a disabled passenger, are you aware...
There are dedicated assistance lines for you? One call and your journey is planned, an as much assistance as you need is provided?
If you are confined to your own wheelchair, you DO NOT need a railcard to gain the discount, and you can still get a companions discount provided you remain in your wheelchair all the journey. You can also get the discount alone.
If you are the companion of a blind person, you do not need the railcard to get a discount for you and the blind person, you do need proof of disablity, but it is an automatic discount. You will only get this discount if you travel together. Also, you can apply for a companions season ticket, which means your blind friend buys a season ticket and yours is free. you MUST travel together to get it.
Anyone suffering from a form of epilepsy can apply for a discount too.


CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE!!

The dreaded C.O.C!!
Everyone knows that if you dont have a ticket you end up with a nice tall policeman and a set of handcuffs... but did you know that a gaurd has a right to refuse carriage if:
He suspects the use of illegal drugs.
He believes you unwell, and therefore unfit to travel.
He believes you to be intoxicated and a risk of violence.
You are in anyway abusive to him, another member of staff or another member of the travelling public. In this instance, staff have the right to contact the police and make an official complaint under the Public Order Act... (and we do.. I know I've done it!).

If you spot anything your not happy with, tell a member of staff. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not give sad faced people in sleeping bags with the little cups money. I know homelessness is an abomination but... from personal experience, people are giving them money and at 5pm the person in the sleeping bag goes round the corner, in to a nice big shiny car and back to their nice big shiny house. We had one guy at the station scagging smokes. When he died, his estate was read as over 175k, along with house, car, and holiday home in spain. If in doubt, please donate to Shelter!

Make sure of your last train home, and get there early!! Staff have the right to shut the platform up to 90seconds before departure.

If your train is delayed for an hour or more, you are entitled to claim a refund for your ticket. Ask or a claims form at the station, keep you tickets and any bookings slips etc (reservation for a restaurant etc).

hope this helps somewhat and have an awesome time!
P

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Re: Quick guide for travelling.

Tickets and Pricing, a quick guide

Super Apex= Very limited, only put on certain trains. can be up to 75% off normal fares. Must be booked AT LEAST 14 days in advance, 1st come 1st served. You MUST stipulate outward and return journeys, and stick to them, miss your train, lose your ticket. Only trasferable in case of train cancellation and at stations discretion. NO RAILCARD DISCOUNTS, NO CHILD FARES

Apex= Limited. Only put on certain trains. Must be book at LEAST 7 days in advance. You must stipulate outward and return journeys and stick to them, miss your train lose your ticket. Only transferable in case of train cancellation and at staff discretion. NO RAILCARD DISCOUNTS OR CHILD FARES.

Super Advance= Limited, but no as limited as Apex. Must be booked at LEAST 48 hours in advance, you must stipulate outward and return journeys and stick to them, again miss your train, lose your tickets. Transferable up to 24hours in advance, but there must be seat allocation on the train. Railcard freindly, child fares (or £2 with a family railcard).

Supersavers= Open travel after 9am FROM LONDON, or arriving in London after 930am. (check when buying) Not vaild between 1630 and 1900 FROM LONDON. (again check before travel) Not valid on friday. can be booked on advance, railcard friendly, chid fares (or £2 with a family railcard) no need to book unless you want to reserve a seat. Not Available from july to september.

Saver= Open travel after 9AM FROM LONDON, or arriving in London after 930am (ticket office will help). Not Valid 1630-1900 from London (check before travel just in case) Valid on a Friday and year round. Railcard friendly and child fares (£2 with family railcard)

Open ticket: Does what it says on the label, totally open, no restrictions, railcard friendly after 9am, most expensive ticket.

re
PEAK HOURS: Normally from 6am-9am mon-fri from London, but any member of staff can help you at your local station.
1630-1900 mon-fri from London (again smaller stations im not as sure of the restrictions.)


REPORTING A PROBLEM.

If you are out walking the dog/kids/ burying the mother in law head first, and you notice anything unsual on a track, report it. If you are near a level crossing, pick the phone up. It will ring through tothe signalman who WILL take you seriously. You may be asked which track. This is the confusing part, on BR it is always UP to London, Down from London (even going to Inverness). The Up line is the one going towards London, the Down is away. Or give the name of the nearest Big station (like Towards Leeds).