Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Can anyone help me - does this exist?

32 replies

PurpleHays · 12/09/2022 20:48

My DD1 is heading to Uni next week. I am driving her up there, but really it's not a journey I feel I can do very often.

I want to leave a train ticket with her, so she can pop herself on a train at any point, either during the first term if she's struggling, or at the end of term to come home.

Is there such a thing as a train ticket with no date?

She has ASC and generally functions very well, but has always got confused when buying train tickets. I think it would reassure both of us if she had one in her wallet and could use it any any point.

I have googled obviously, but not found anything that helps! TIA.

OP posts:
pimlicoanna · 12/09/2022 20:49

I think it would be easier to just give her the money for one or say call me anytime and I'll buy you a ticket.

Flumpymc · 12/09/2022 20:52

You could get her a trainline account and the app, then buy one when she needs it and it'll be in her account for her.

Original poster
PurpleHays · 12/09/2022 20:57

pimlicoanna · 12/09/2022 20:49

I think it would be easier to just give her the money for one or say call me anytime and I'll buy you a ticket.

Thank you for replying @pimlicoanna

She doesn't really use cash, so any money would be sat in her student account with everything else for daily spends.

She could call me to book a ticket, but that takes the control away from her. I'd like her to just know she can pop on a train at any point, no faff.

I didn't need to do this for DS, as he is fine with these sort of things. It's just a bit different for DD1 😀

OP posts:
NewBootsAndRanty · 12/09/2022 20:58

I guess you could get an open return and kot use the outbound portion
I think it'd be valid for a month on trains; if you're on a national express coach route their open returns are valid for three months.

Original poster
PurpleHays · 12/09/2022 20:59

Flumpymc · 12/09/2022 20:52

You could get her a trainline account and the app, then buy one when she needs it and it'll be in her account for her.

An app @Flumpymc ? Ahh! Is it the sort of thing where I could pay for a ticket and then she could activate it later?

Or at the least I could put money in the app so she can just spend it on a ticket?

It does still have the issue of booking the right ticket though...

I will investigate - thank you!

OP posts:
Dotcheck · 12/09/2022 20:59

Have you explored this on the Train app?

Flumpymc · 12/09/2022 21:01

You would book a ticket and it would be there on her app to use. It's an online account and app so she can download the app and you could just log in to her account for her.

Original poster
PurpleHays · 12/09/2022 21:01

NewBootsAndRanty · 12/09/2022 20:58

I guess you could get an open return and kot use the outbound portion
I think it'd be valid for a month on trains; if you're on a national express coach route their open returns are valid for three months.

Thank you @NewBootsAndRanty (love the name!)

Coaches are out as it would take a whole day to travel - like 9 hours or so 😬

I take your point about only using one part of a return ticket but a single is going to be pricey enough, plus I would want it to be valid for more than a month. Can you extend a ticket like that if you haven't used it in a month?

OP posts:
Original poster
PurpleHays · 12/09/2022 21:03

Dotcheck · 12/09/2022 20:59

Have you explored this on the Train app?

Hi @Dotcheck I rarely use trains, so have no idea of what apps there are and what they do! Is this different from the Trainline app @Flumpymc mentioned?

OP posts:
carefullycourageous · 12/09/2022 21:06

You used to be able to buy a full open ticket but they were expensive.

I think what you want doesn't exist!

NancyJoan · 12/09/2022 21:09

In short, I don’t think so. You need to wait until she knows when she wants to travel, then she can walk into town and book herself at the station, or give online booking another go.

sidewayswalking · 12/09/2022 21:14

No, there isn't such a ticket. Depending on the train company you may be able to add credit to her account though. I use LNER a lot so often get vouchers as gifts which I can add to my account and use to buy a ticket. I think possibly just giving her a pre pay credit card for using to buy tickets if and when might be your answer though.

CloudPop · 12/09/2022 21:16

Set up a Trainline account with your card registered as a payment method. She can then book a ticket when needed and you pay for it.

Cuddlywuddlies · 12/09/2022 21:17

What you describe is a train warrant @PurpleHays…they do exist but not for general public unfortunately.

carefullycourageous · 12/09/2022 21:22

Will she be near a staffed station? One option would be to write down what she wants and leave it with cash in an envelope and she can buy one at the window? I am not sure how confused she gets when you say confused.

Do you have good services to your home town - does she need to change?

lljkk · 12/09/2022 21:24

yeah what CloudPop said would work. But it's not responsible for her to book any ticket, you really want to get her a railcard & teach her how to find off peak advance purchase options. This is a lifeskill.

carefullycourageous · 12/09/2022 21:24

sidewayswalking · 12/09/2022 21:14

No, there isn't such a ticket. Depending on the train company you may be able to add credit to her account though. I use LNER a lot so often get vouchers as gifts which I can add to my account and use to buy a ticket. I think possibly just giving her a pre pay credit card for using to buy tickets if and when might be your answer though.

www.lner.co.uk/tickets-savings/competitions-offers-and-events/offers-and-discounts/gift-vouchers/ Yes you can buy vouchers - but it doesn't help with the buying process of choosing teh correct ticket.

Can you set up an account with saved journeys in?

Sago1 · 12/09/2022 21:28

Via train line you can buy an “E ticket” and send it to your daughters device.

Original poster
PurpleHays · 12/09/2022 22:05

carefullycourageous · 12/09/2022 21:06

You used to be able to buy a full open ticket but they were expensive.

I think what you want doesn't exist!

@carefullycourageous Darn!!

OP posts:
Original poster
PurpleHays · 12/09/2022 22:06

NancyJoan · 12/09/2022 21:09

In short, I don’t think so. You need to wait until she knows when she wants to travel, then she can walk into town and book herself at the station, or give online booking another go.

I fear you may be right @NancyJoan

I would just like to make things easy as for DD1, and for her to feel independent in getting herself back.

OP posts:
Original poster
PurpleHays · 12/09/2022 22:10

sidewayswalking · 12/09/2022 21:14

No, there isn't such a ticket. Depending on the train company you may be able to add credit to her account though. I use LNER a lot so often get vouchers as gifts which I can add to my account and use to buy a ticket. I think possibly just giving her a pre pay credit card for using to buy tickets if and when might be your answer though.

Thankyou @sidewayswalking As alternative solutions to my hope, adding credit to a rail account or some sort of pre paid card might be the way to go.

I need to find out which train company it is, don't I? Obviously it's a long trip, so I assume it's the area in which the journey starts?

OP posts:
Original poster
PurpleHays · 12/09/2022 22:11

CloudPop · 12/09/2022 21:16

Set up a Trainline account with your card registered as a payment method. She can then book a ticket when needed and you pay for it.

Thank you so much @CloudPop Will a trainline account mean she can buy a ticket for anywhere?

OP posts:
Original poster
PurpleHays · 12/09/2022 22:12

Cuddlywuddlies · 12/09/2022 21:17

What you describe is a train warrant @PurpleHays…they do exist but not for general public unfortunately.

@Cuddlywuddlies Darn! I can see why it wouldn't be ideal for train companies, but it would be very handy!

OP posts:
ShaunaTheSheep · 12/09/2022 22:26

If she's going to use the train regularly it's worth getting a 16-25 railcard (with tesco vouchers or free with santander student bank account. This will give a healthy discount on most tickets.

It can be loaded onto the Trainline app, so no physical card to mislay.

My DC all use the Trainline app. I think it offers split ticketing so it can be useful for finding the cheapest fare.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 12/09/2022 22:27

I second the Trainline app I have it myself You can save previous destinations etc, then it's just scrolling down for dates, times and fares
Book journey( reserve seat if she wants to)
The ticket is emailed to your phone
You could also get her a railcard (£25 per year) which would save money and give her control