Are Senior Rail Cards worth the expense

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Travelling every 6-8 weeks it is definitely worth it. Overall it's even cheaper if you can manage to pay for a 3 year Railcard! We made our money back on savings within a year.

Freya, my card cannot be used on local journeys before 10 am from my station. I am in East Kent.

I actually renewed my railcard today. £70 for three years -£23.33 a year. Most of my journeys are relatively local, but at that price it will take very little time for the card to be worth the money.

Have the off peak rules changed recently?
I bought return tickets with our railcards, from Edinburgh to Penzance several years ago. It's an 11 hour journey but because of the off-peak rule, we had to travel after 9.30am which meant a late arrival at the other end.
I then had to find a restaurant still open late, which I managed to do thanks to the internet.
This was our 50th wedding anniversary treat and it was too.

I was in a very similar situation with an elderly mother over 5 hours away by train. I found that the rail card very quickly paid for itself with the money saved on each trip. now my mother is no longer with us, but because my husband ha to give up driving for medical reasons and I don't drive, we now both have railcards. Although I am not using the train as much as I did, I still reckon it's worth it. Depends on individual train use though obviously.

If you also download the AAP TRAINLINE
You can plan your journey, pay for your tickets etc and get them cheaper from it.
If you have a disability and are on PIP, DLA or AA you can get one card and the other person goes with you free as your carer.

I have one, don't make as many long journeys these days but I get my money's worth. Just do some sums, you'll probably find it pays for itself.
My Dad had severe hearing loss and he got a disabled person's card, mum never went on the train in her own, without her he couldn't hear announcements.
The senior card seems to have fewer restrictions.
Our local area ( and I know other areas too) have reductions if you have a bus pass. I use mine locally for trips locally that start after 10, I get child fare which is better than senior Railcard. So when my senior card runs out, I don't get another one until I am going to take another longer journey or one out of the area
Both the cards I've had I've asked for as presents, my first one was for my 60th birthday from mum, a 3 year one, I got it just before I made a long journey. Then when it ran out I asked for another one from my children and again I waited until I was going to take a long journey

The two together is restricted as you can't travel anywhere on your own. Trip.com for a 3 year pass was under £50.

Two Together railcard is £30 at the moment, great value so long as you’re travelling together.

There are restrictions travelling during peak rush hour so no travelling before 9.30am or during 4.30-7pm in and out of London. But definitely worth it. Look for offers, Martin Lewis money expert we paid less than that for 2.

We have a 3 year card.
Got our money back within 3 months. Travelled to Edinburgh and Liverpool.
DH uses his to travel to watch his football team.

Too many 'alsos' - sorry!

There's also the Two Together Railcard for £30pa which also gives significant reductions.

As someone has mentioned you can get a Disabled Rail card if either of you have hearing aids or any other recognised disability. This is cheaper than a senior rail card and as long as you travel together you both get a reduction in fares, this card can be used at peak times unlike the senior card. Rail cards are going up in price at the beginning of March but the disabled card is remaining the same.
Failing that there is the Two Together railcard which covers both of you as long as you travel together.

I use mine a lot to go from leeds to Nottingham or London
I was surprised that I was surprised I couldn’t use it at 7.30 am from Gatwick after a long flight and needed to get to King’s Cross ! It was peak time so not accepted 🤷‍♀️
However always quids in the rest of the time plus my bus pass gives me half price in trains in West Yorkshire 👍

If you travel as a couple the two together railcard maybe worth expiring. Looks like it’s £30 per year for 2.
www.twotogether-railcard.co.uk/?_gl=1*o7e8xr*_ga*NzQ2MTgzNzIyLjE3MzcwNDg2NDk.*_ga_37VVL99SEK*MTczNzA0ODY0OS4xLjAuMTczNzA0ODY1MS4wLjAuMA..&_ga=2.43083557.1089513761.1737048650-746183722.1737048649

Used mine for years for long journeys and definately worth it.

Yes the trains can be problematic but then so can driving a car. Train is far safer for one and you can nod off if you're lucky which can never happen in a car!

It will make visiting your GC so much easier I think!

My card also paid for itself the first trip I took to see my daughter. Well worth having.

When my DD lived in Glasgow I used one if I visited by train. It generally paid for itself in one trip from London. Also if you have Tesco Club points you can get a railcard at a reduced cost - worth checking if you have enough points. I haven't had one recently as my last few visits were by car as I was going elsewhere too and DD no longer lives there.

If you have a Tesco club card you can buy one with your vouchers, ie £30 of vouchers buys a £60 card.

Yes we get ours with the tesco points only need £15 worth of vouchers .

Get it with Tesco points, bargain!

I travel to London using my senior Railcard and as long as I arrive in Paddington after 10 am my card is valid for the journey.

Definitely worth it,you'll soon save the outlay,also book 12 weeks in advance, the teainline or trainpals is usually much cheaper Thatcher train company too and offer split tickets which save a fortune. I save the cost in one trip from Chester to Edinburgh