Frequently Asked Questions?

Most frequently asked questions

• Which train companies give Railcard discounts?
  A:

  You can use your Railcard on all franchised train operating companies that provide services within England, Scotland and Wales.
  
  Railcards do not give discounts on Eurostar services, Charter services, and Heritage Railways unless state otherwise

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• Will I receive the Railcard discount on any chargeable items I take on the train with me?
  A:

  No. The Railcard discount does not cover charges on various articles or animals. For details of which items carry a charge, and details of the charges, please call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50.
   

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• When buying tickets, do both Railcard holders have to be present?
  A:

  One Railcard holder will, but there is no need for both of you to be present at time of purchase. However, please remember you both must buy both tickets at the same time and make the journey together.
   

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• Can I use my Railcard for tickets for travel on the London Underground?
  A:

  You cannot use your Two Together Railcard to get discounts on Oyster Pay As You Go or tickets bought from London Underground retailers.

  However, you can buy discounted rail tickets for a journey which involves a cross London journey using the Underground to travel between two London mainline train stations. Anytime and Off-Peak Travelcards are also available when bought as part of your National Rail ticket to London from outside London Zones 1-9, subject to a minimum fare of £18.10 for Anytime and £8.30 for Off-Peak.

   

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• Can I travel on discounted tickets if my Railcard expires before I complete my journey?
  A:

  Discounted tickets are only valid if you are using them with a valid Railcard. If you Railcard expires before the end of your journey then you will need to renew it to be able to complete your trip using expired tickets. If the only Railcard you have is expired you will not be able to continue to use your discounted tickets.

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• Can I travel with my Two Together Railcard at any time of the day?
  A: You can travel on Two Together Railcard discounted tickets from 09:30am Monday to Friday and at any time on weekends and public holidays.  Two Together Railcard discounted tickets cannot be used between 04:30am and 09:30am Monday to Fridays (excluding public holidays).

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• Do we need to start and end our journeys together for the Two Together Railcard discount to be valid?
  A: Yes, you must travel together throughout your whole journey, for both named cardholders to be eligible for the Two Together Railcard discount.
  
  

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• Can I use the Two Together Railcard when I am travelling on my own?
  A: No. The Railcard is for use by you and the second named adult on your Railcard when you are travelling together. The two named cardholders must travel together for the entire journey for their discounted tickets to be valid.

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• Why can’t the Two Together Railcard be used before 09.30 Monday to Friday?
  A: The Two Together Railcard is designed to encourage leisure journeys which tend to take place after the busy morning peak period.

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• Can I travel with a Two Together Railcard discounted ticket in the evening peak?
  A: Yes, providing your ticket type is valid during the evening peak you should be able to travel. The only restriction with the Two Together Railcard is during the morning peak period.

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• Can I purchase First Class tickets with my Railcard?
  A: Yes, First Class tickets can be purchased using your Two Together Railcard.

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• Is there a minimum fare?
  A: There is no minimum fare for Two Together Railcard discounted National Rail tickets.
  
  
  
  

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• Will I have to pay the full fare if I forget to bring my Railcard when I travel?
  A: Yes. You must have your Railcard with you on every journey and show it when your tickets are checked. Failure to show your Railcard may result in you being treated as if you had no valid tickets for the journey, which could lead to you being required to buy new full price tickets and / or pay a penalty fare.
  
  

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• Can I use my Railcard if I buy my ticket on the train?
  A:

  Only if there is no ticket office, or the ticket office is closed and there is no ticket machine available to buy your discounted ticket at the station at which you began your journey.  If this is the case you can buy your discounted ticket from on-train staff or at your destination station.

  Otherwise, if ticket facilities were available at the station you could be charged the full price Standard Single fare.
  
  

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• Can I reserve my seat if booking a ticket in advance?
  A: Yes, if reservations are available on your chosen service.

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• Can I get a discount on Season tickets and period Travelcards with a Two Together Railcard?
  A: No, we’re sorry but the Railcard gives no discount on these ticket types.
  
  

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• Can I use my Railcard in conjunction with Train Company special offers?
  A: This will be dependent on the conditions of each offer, please contact the Train Company that is providing the offer to get full details.  You can also ask at your local station for details of a specific offer or check with National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50 or www.nationalrail.co.uk.
  
  

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• Can I use my Railcard to buy tickets for other people?
  A: No, the Railcard can only be used to buy discounted tickets for its named cardholders.
  
  

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• Can I buy a Two Together Railcard to travel with a colleague on business?
  A: Providing you are making your journey together, there are no restrictions on the reason for your journey.
  
  

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• Can I use the Railcard in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland?
  A:

  Railcards can be used for rail discounts in the area known as Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). They cannot be used for rail travel in either in Northern Ireland nor the Republic of Ireland.

  If you live in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland you can buy a Railcard to use for travelling in Scotland, Wales or England. For more information on concessionary rail travel schemes in Northern Ireland please see www.translink.co.uk or the Republic of Ireland please see www.irishrail.ie.
  
  

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• Where can I buy tickets with my Two Together Railcard?
  A: You can buy Two Together Railcard discounted tickets at staffed station ticket offices, at ticket vending machines or online.
  
  

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• I travel with my friend/colleague but then get off the stop before they do. Is this acceptable?
  A: No. Both of you need to be travelling together for the entire duration of the journey. If one of you leaves early, both of your tickets will cease to be valid.
  
  

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• Two Together Railcard Terms & Conditions
  A:

  There are important terms and conditions that you need to understand before you use your Railcard. Please click on the link to the Two Together Railcard terms and conditions to read these:

  Two Together Railcard - terms and conditions

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• Links to Railcard Terms & Conditions
  A:

  There are important terms and conditions that you need to understand before you use your Railcard. Please click on the link to the Railcard you are purchasing to read the terms and conditions relevant to you:
  
  16-25 Railcard - terms and conditions

  Family & Friends Railcard - terms and conditions
  
  Senior Railcard - terms and conditions

  Two Together Railcard - terms and conditions

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• Can I get a Two Together Railcard discount on Rover or Ranger tickets?
  A:

  Yes, you can get Two Together Railcard discounts on a number of Rover and Ranger tickets. Please check with your local station or visit http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/rangers_and_rovers.aspx for more details.

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• Can I laminate the paper Railcard I have bought from a station to protect it?
  A:

  No. Please do not laminate your Railcard. In most instances the heat of a laminating machine will turn the surface of your Railcard black, damaging it and making it illegible. If this happens you will need to buy a replacement Railcard (for a fee of £10 if you have had no previous replacements).

  Laminated Railcards cannot be accepted by rail staff as the lamination makes it difficult to validate that the Railcard has not been tampered with.

  To protect your Railcard please keep it in a plastic ticket wallet which is available for free from any staffed station.

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