are senior railcards worth getting?

[Blackpuddin]

Or are the time restrictions such that they're of no value to anyone trying to get somewhere by a specific time?

[williredale]

My mum has one and uses it lots. My dad had one but didn't use it.

It came down to whether they would use a train anyway.

[Blackpuddin]

I'm wondering if it would be any good for someone that's still working and would sometimes need to get trains in the peak periods.

[rs1952]

I'm also still working (although semi-retired) and I've had one for two years. I think it was a good investment - £65 for a 3-year railcard back in 2012 was itself a good discount on three single year at £30 a go.

As I understand it, the only peak hour restrictions are for travel within the London & South East area (more info here: http://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/using-your-card/f... ). Certainly last year I got a discount on peak hour trains to Bristol.

How useful they are can also depend to a large extent on your proximity to a station - as mine is 10 minutes walk down the road then that is no problem for me, but if you've got to take a 10 to 15 mile bus ride first, that might put a different light on it.

[Dogwatch]

rs1952 said:

I'm also still working (although semi-retired) and I've had one for two years. I think it was a good investment - £65 for a 3-year railcard back in 2012 was itself a good discount on three single year at £30 a go.

I bought ours about then too. I think for London on weekdays you can only use them after about 9.30 and no home trains after 4pm (on Southern) which makes a rather short day! Otherwise they are excellent coupled with an online ticket.

Don't think we've ever been asked to show them (or memory is failing )

[grumpyscot]

SWMBO has one - because she regularly goes down to Peterborough to visit friends. Saves quite a bit on East Coast - and she always goes first class because of whet she saves with the railcard.

I don't bother, as I only make trips within Scotland so take advantage of Scotrail's Over 55 club to go anywhere in Scotland (including Berwick & Carlisle) for £19 return.

One trip was Edinburgh > Crianlarich ? Fort William > Mallaig. Ferry to Broadford, bus (£1) to Kyle of Lochalsh, train to Inverness and return home. Total train fare £19, bus fare £1 Ferry £5, B&B £20.