What is the name of the railcard which allows you free access to all mainland trains and the tube?

Question

When I go with my family (mum, dad and brother), we have a special railcard. This gives us free access to all the tubes in London and UK Mainland trains. What is the name of this card and can I get one for myself? I am going to London and want one that covers tubes and mainland trains as well as the DLR.

How much do they cost? What are they? How do I get one.

I am 16.

Thanks

Tom

Answer 1

I would say either your Mum or Dad were part of British Rail and were given passes which allows them travel on mainland trains these are on a card with little boxes which you fill in the date and month.

These are protected, which means that they cannot be taken off, when rail was privatised,unfortunately for you, these cannot be purchased, so i'm afraid you will have to pay for your travel.

As you are 16 years of age, you are entitled to apply for the 16-25 card (formerly Young Persons railcard) and this entitles you to 34% ddiscount on all standard tickets, and on some mainlines, discount on 1st advanced tickets,these cost £24 per year.

below is the link for the 16-25 card

Answer 2

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fare...

I think this may be the card?

Answer 3

Sounds like your parents are entitled to 'PRIV' travel and free travel on selected dates using their boxes as mentioned earlier.

You cannot get one for yourself, you can only get it if you are a dependant of soemone worked for the railways prior to privatisation in 1994.

Answer 4

I have never heard of a card that allows you "free access" to trains

Answer 5

In the days of British Rail it was the Rail Rover, you could get a regional one, or the All Line Rail Rover, which as you say covered all trains and when they owned them, ferries. Don't think it covered London Transport though. Don't knoe if they're still available.

Answer 6

As other answers have said, it sounds as if either your mum or dad work for the railway and get a Pass. A 'Priv' ticket uses require some payment, however nominal.

At one time, to the best of my recollection (and to the souce I list) dependant children of railway workers were also entitled to a number of free passes, but whether this still applies, I don't know. The Priv/Pass system was altered many years ago. You should ask your parents.

There is no other system for free travel on the railways as there is on the buses for certain classes of people.

Answer 7

last time I went to London I used an ordinary Travelcard which can be used on Underground trains and surface trains within the zone areas.Also valid on DLR. paid around £6 or so , it was a year or so back.Buy it at any Lu ticket office or machine.

Answer 8

The only one that gives free travel is the Staff travel card for those who work on the railways.

If you are a dependant of a staff travel card holder now you are 16 you'll have to have a photo-card and travel card.

Whoever is the main card holder would have to apply for you by filling the forms in and sending the pics off.

But if you ar'nt a dependent of a travelcard holder if you want to get discounted travel now you're 16 you'll need a 16-25 card(used to be called young persons railcard).

Answer 9

Apart from "special" passes issued to rail staff, and things like the BritRail pass that are only available to foreign visitors, the only railcard that covers ALL British main line trains is called the All Line Rover ticket. This card is very expensive (hundreds of pounds for a 1-week ticket) and is not worth it unless you're making multiple long distance rail journeys within a single week. What's more, that card is not valid on the Tube, even for cross London transfers between mainline stations.

If you want a card just for train and tube journeys within London itself, you can get a Travelcard which is available in 1-day, 3-day, and other versions covering various combinations of London travel zones. You can buy these from any Tube ticket office or from a mainline station ticket office. You'll still need to buy a ticket for your journey to and from London, of course.

Answer 10

The only card that is availiable to use free on all Tube and Rail services in the uk is an old 'Boxes' style pass for protected or retired in service rail staff from pre 1986 British Rail, after this restrictions started to be enforced with removal of 'Sealink' so ferries had to be paid for, then the Underground removed (PTOC cards recieve a reduction on season tickets by authorisation only) and finally with the demise of British Rail, complete removal to a 'Priv' card on ATOC surface rail only which gives a 75% discount on Standard Day Fares only along with free travel on named services (normally the franchise and associated services).

Whilst you are below 16 or still in full time education you are eligable to have a dependants card as long as one of your parents are still in continual employment with the railway.

Apart from this I know of no other free pass that will get you onto any rail service without paying something.

Answer 11

If you are classed a child 7 day Rover £245.00 if not £565.00