To think DC shouldn't have pay full train fares

[bruffin]

to go to school when they are in compulsory education, when they get a discount once they get to 6th form or college.

DS will be 16 in September. He goes to a school which is 7 miles a way so needs to get a train to school. DD is there as well. It is not the closest school but we did accept the fact there would be fares to pay. it works out at about £55 a half term for a season ticket each.

In September he will be eligible for adult fares, although we can buy a 4 month season ticket in advance before his birthday we can still get it at a child rate, this means we will still have to pay adult fares for about 2 terms.

If he was 16 in 6th form or college he can pay £10 for train card from Hertfordshire CC which will give him a discount of a 1/3.

Does anyone know any way round this. Student railcards are no good because they have a minimum fare during the week.

Thats spot on llbeanj except

16-18 in college/6th form get 1/3 off train travel not 50% but it is still more than a 16 year old in year 11.

I work for railway. There's no way round it unless you have a local authority arrangement. I'd advise you of the 4 month thing, so renew the ticket to expire the day before the day before the dc is 16 so you get the maximum 4 months on the new ticket the last day they are 15. It makes not a jot of difference if they wear school uniform or anything. Once they are 16it's full fare. :(

ryoko It's down to whether the local authority will pay the bus or train operator to apply a discount scheme, that's why it varies by county. Where I live we have a national travel tokens scheme. If someone wanted to spend those tokens on a season ticket for a child to go to school it would be unusual but nothing in the rules says they can't. I believe the tokens are being phased out though.

Thanks Nagoo - That raises another anomoly as paying adult fares while in yr 11 as it only affects those born in September to March. Anyone born after that will be able to get a half price season ticket until the end of the school year.

i learned a long time ago not to try to apply logic to the railways. NEVER try to understand 'peak time'.

LOL

It is cheaper for me at the moment to by a ticket everyday to work than buy a season ticket - how stupid is that!

One week ticket is £36.90 but if I buy it daily it is £5.70 monthly it is £141.