mztery

i went to buy a Senior railcard and if you don't live in t he UK you have to get it at a "manned National Rail station" - NOT Heathrow. Can I buy it at the Kings Cross station before we leave? I have the form all filled out...

thx

flanneruk

You can. But PLEASE don't buy it at the last minute. The process takes 5 mins or so, and murdering the pillock in front of you in a queue who's taking so long isn't just legal in Britain: it's mandatory.

For the avoidance of doubt:

You don't need the card to book advance tickets online, or to retrieve prebooked tickets from a machine. You DO need it to get onto a train with a ticket using the Railcard rate, or to buy tickets over the counter. So book now.

Also be aware that by taking a Senior Railcard to a TfL desk, and showing your Oystercard, you get the two linked, abnd hget 33% reduction on your daily capped Oyster cost.

mztery

h ha I am laughing because I am SO obsessed with being on time - our terrain leaves at 11:30 and i Assumed we'd get to KingsX by 9 to make sure to get the senior card. ...we have booked our train and have seats.

Thanks for the tip on the oyster card too!

jrjcolllins

Thanks, flanneruk for your information. Just to make sure I understand it right, when I get to London can I buy from the train station clerk an oyster card and senior railcard at the same time and have them linked?

alanRow

There's currently a deal on some trains if you have a Travelcard to various places in the SE of England including a £10 return fare to Cambridge

http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/oyster

flanneruk

The answer to jrjcollins' question is "no". I think.

I KNOW you have to do the linking at a TfL ticket office. I KNOW you can buy a Senior Railcard only at a National Rail or ATOC ticket office. I THINK you can buy an Oyster only at a TfL office or machine, though I KNOW that to do the linking you need to go to an actual TfL manned counter

So this is what you have to do:

1. Buy a senior railcard at the railway ticket office on the ground floor at KX. Buy most railway tickets (but not Alanrow's special offers) you need at the same time
2. Then go to one of the many TfL ticket offices in the underground area (queues right beneath KX are shorter than those beneath St Pancras). Buy an Oyster, telling the clerk you want it linked to the railcard. The clerk will give you a form to fill in, which he needs to do the linking.
3. If you want to use Alanrow's special offers, return to the railway ticket office wih your Oyster

Note, BTW, that Alanrow's special offers apply to ALL Oystercard holders, whether the card's carrying a Travelcard or not.

jrjcolllins

Thanks, flanneruk.