[OTD] Senior Railcard launched 1st April 1975

[whole diary]

[grahame]

50 years ago today, the senior railcard was launched - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senior_Railcard

https://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/about-the-railcard/benefits/

Travel light with 1/3 off fares plus great deals on meals, days out and so much more with a Senior Railcard
 
A Senior Railcard costs just £35, which means it will have paid for itself after a couple of trips
Over a year, you could save an average of £96**
Save more even with a 3-year Railcard
 
The Senior Railcard also acts like a discount card where you can get great offers and deals, with discounts on food, museums and more! Whether you choose to share the spoils with your friends, a loved one, your children or your grandchildren is up to you (there’s also nothing wrong with treating yourself!). Take a look at our Offers and Competitions to see if there is anything that takes your fancy.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I have voted - but only once, as there was apparently only a one vote option. 

[eXPassenger]

I would have voted 'No - but I have in the past' if it had been an option.

We typically use the train for London trips and we have not been recently.  When I am next planning to go by rail I will renew it.

[johnneyw]

I get the 3 year version and renew accordingly.  The other half for some reason or another has purchased annually although this year has used Tesco Clubcard points to get one at a very reasonable price.

[bradshaw]

Just renewed mine, the last one ended at lockdown. Grandson has asked me to go with him to Falmouth where he has an interview at the University. It seemed to be the ideal time to renew it.

[Electric train]

And who remembers the £1 Senior Citizens Away Day back in the 1980's

Our BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) weekly pay packets were made up with £1 notes during the time the offer was running, who remembers being paid weekly cash in hand and £1 notes?

[froome]

I was paid cash in hand, by the foreman down in the pub on a Friday afternoon, at one of my first jobs. Quite extraordinary now when I think back to it. And certainly remember £1 notes.

More on topic, I have a physical card, so renew it each year at the ticket office. I did have a 3 year card until you had to have that on a phone, and reverted back to an annual card. Happy to pay the extra for that to help keep the ticket office open.

[GBM]

Recently retired from First bus, so was able to take advantage of reduced train fares.
Last used last week.
Pnz to Reading to meet daughter and both back to Pnz by the next train.
Strangely enough in walking down to the platform at Reading to go to our Zone slot, one of our bus supervisors was also waiting to return to Cornwall on the same train.
Returned daughter to Paddington on the following Sunday.  My wife came with us for company.
Wife and myself caught the same train back.
It was 15 minutes late into Paddington, so just enough time to grab a few sandwiches from Upper Crust (nearest platform!) and back on the same train.  Seems sandwiches are not available at weekends.
Congratulations to the train prep crew as we left on time.
Mostly on time on the way back, but slowing down on the approach to Plymouth tunnel, I bought up OTT^▸ (Open Train Times website, or possibly 'over the top', depending on context) but couldn't see a platform problem.
Train Manager announced a delay as we were waiting for a platform.  OTT showing two vacant platforms.
A slow pull in to Plymouth, 1 late.
Many people started to board with heavy luggage which was odd for Plymouth. Catering crew asked where they were going "Paddington" came the reply. "We've just come off another London train having being told to catch this one". Then a PA^▸ (Public Address (broadcast loudspeaker announcements) or Passenger Assist (railway staff providing physical assistance to passengers with mobility issues), depending on context) advising this/our train terminating here and returning to London, take the subway to platform 7 and catch that one.
Big crush with people trying to get on and off and collecting respective luggage!
Subway and stairs congested with platform 7 to 4 movers; and platform 4 to 7 movers.
Left Plymouth 25 late with profuse staff apologies.
Arrived 33 late into Pnz.

Way off topic (sorry).

When my staff pass does expire/is taken back, might consider a 3 year senior railcard, but not sure if I/we would use it enough.

[paul7575]

I was paid cash in hand, by the foreman down in the pub on a Friday afternoon, at one of my first jobs. Quite extraordinary now when I think back to it. And certainly remember £1 notes.

More on topic, I have a physical card, so renew it each year at the ticket office. I did have a 3 year card until you had to have that on a phone, and reverted back to an annual card. Happy to pay the extra for that to help keep the ticket office open.

I have a plastic 3 year senior card issued only last July, has that been changed since then? 

[Oxonhutch]

…. Our BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) weekly pay packets were made up with £1 notes during the time the offer was running, who remembers being paid weekly cash in hand and £1 notes?

Brown envelope 3 by 4 inches, with top corner missing so notes ( incl. £1 note) could be counted and a cellophane window at the front so the coins could be identified and counted. Any problems, returned sealed envelope to pay clerk for a recount. Once the seal was broken, you owned any discrepancy.

[froome]

I was paid cash in hand, by the foreman down in the pub on a Friday afternoon, at one of my first jobs. Quite extraordinary now when I think back to it. And certainly remember £1 notes.

More on topic, I have a physical card, so renew it each year at the ticket office. I did have a 3 year card until you had to have that on a phone, and reverted back to an annual card. Happy to pay the extra for that to help keep the ticket office open.

I have a plastic 3 year senior card issued only last July, has that been changed since then? 

My mistake, having a senior moment. 

What changed was that ticket offices were stopped from issuing 3 year cards, and can now onlu issue annual ones.

[infoman]

I think the poster said at the time

over 60? get senior citizen railcard

Underneath someone scrawled driven by a driver who is 65

[Witham Bobby]

…. Our BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) weekly pay packets were made up with £1 notes during the time the offer was running, who remembers being paid weekly cash in hand and £1 notes?

Brown envelope 3 by 4 inches, with top corner missing so notes ( incl. £1 note) could be counted and a cellophane window at the front so the coins could be identified and counted. Any problems, returned sealed envelope to pay clerk for a recount. Once the seal was broken, you owned any discrepancy.

Brought round to signalboxes on early turn by one of the managers in the yellow Ford Escort.  Pay packets left in the desk for the signalmen who would turn up for later shifts.  I don't remember being asked to sign for them, or anything like that.  It was in the days of our (sadly gone) high trust society

[Mark A]

It may be that that was down to the likes of signalboxes being a high-trust environment but I get your point. Retail in particular is certainly now frontier country.

For some reason, thinking of a pub in the eighties that one particular customer seemed to view as a high trust environment, as he'd come in on a Thursday regular as clockwork, with a briefcase, out of which he'd take out a pile of cash. He'd spend some time in counting and batching notes, the table in front of him groaning beneath the weight of about £2500 of used tenners by the time he'd finished. (He seemed to regard the environment there as high trust, everyone else in the pub wasn't so confident and I think someone eventually had a word as we were all getting nervous as to what might unfold)

Mark