Coronavirus

[Frances_iom]

they could adopt the same as the IoM - one person got 6weeks in jail for stopping enroute coming back from the sea-terminal to buy fuel before self quarantining - another got a similar stretch in jail for stopping to buy food before their 14 day quarantine - a couple of days ago 3 'essential workers' just arrived from Cardiff and supposed to go straight to their hotel and then only to/from work each day got £500 fine + costs each for stopping to buy food enroute to hotel - as they wore masks they avoided jail .
However in the 1st few weeks of lockdown 3 executives from Jersey of a retirement complex came over + got taken out for a meal - when complaints reached the police they were unable to find out who they were even tho the visit was in the press - says something about the law

[oddoneout]

Amid the accelerating policy U-turns, I personally shall be sticking to the simple requirement to mask up whenever in indoor situations frequented by the public, such as shops, as well as outdoors in crowded streets, as well as hand washing in the prescribed way on returning home, and disinfecting whatever items I have bought, along with keys, loose change, and so on. TBH I am finding the news so depressing these days that I am starting to ration watching or listening to it. If in consequence I miss out on some latest decree and am found to be in transgression, I shall leave it to The Authorities to deem as necessary.

It all changes so quickly now that if you wait a while you'll probably find you haven't transgressed!

[oddoneout]

Some of us have barely left the house since early March, and I know of those who literally haven't, so the relentless bad news isn't what we want to hear. For myself, I've remained in more or less semi-lockdown mostly because there hasn't been anything in the past few months that made it worthwhile travelling. No Proms, no concerts, no race meetings and round here even the public toilets have remained shut. On top of all this friends have been reluctant (as have I) to meet up, deeming restaurants and pubs unsafe environments. Did meet up with one or two friends out of doors in the good weather but it meant travel for the rest so it's been the telephone and email since March.

Now there's this bad news regarding my railcard https://www.railcard.co.uk/faq/

In truth, though, I'm absolutely fine and enjoying listening to the many CDs on my shelves.

I knew sometime ago that this year's railcard wouldn't be extended even though it hasn't been used,due in no small part to the complete farce of new trains which broke down and were cancelled so many times there was no point in even trying to make the long journey to my son's family even before Covid-19 struck.
Don't see why the company couldn't have emailed me to give the information rather than having to find out through a newspaper article, and I have to say some of those 'reasons' for non-extension don't make much sense - probably because they have lumped all railcards/users together. The card is paid for, not free like a buspass, and if the trains are running anyway but empty how do they lose money by someone paying a reduced price for travel? We were told not to travel unless essential, so using the card during that time wasn't something most senior railcard holders would have chosen to do I would suggest - I certainly didn't.
We are being told to use the trains now, an extension(even if only a short one) to the railcard would have been an easy way to encourage that. As it is I suspect I'm not the only one who has not renewed given the continued uncertainties about being able to travel and the less than positive approach to customers. I need to make several journeys before I 'get back' the cost of the card, and I'm not in a position this year to gamble £30.

[Dave2002]

I knew sometime ago that this year's railcard wouldn't be extended even though it hasn't been used,due in no small part to the complete farce of new trains which broke down and were cancelled so many times there was no point in even trying to make the long journey to my son's family even before Covid-19 struck.
Don't see why the company couldn't have emailed me to give the information rather than having to find out through a newspaper article, and I have to say some of those 'reasons' for non-extension don't make much sense - probably because they have lumped all railcards/users together. The card is paid for, not free like a buspass, and if the trains are running anyway but empty how do they lose money by someone paying a reduced price for travel? We were told not to travel unless essential, so using the card during that time wasn't something most senior railcard holders would have chosen to do I would suggest - I certainly didn't.
We are being told to use the trains now, an extension(even if only a short one) to the railcard would have been an easy way to encourage that. As it is I suspect I'm not the only one who has not renewed given the continued uncertainties about being able to travel and the less than positive approach to customers. I need to make several journeys before I 'get back' the cost of the card, and I'm not in a position this year to gamble £30.

I thought they lasted 3 years, usually. I have one which will expire next year - and I've probably had my money's worth already.

Ah - sorry - I think you have only a one year one - I remember now the 3 year ones cost more.

[Petrushka]

I thought they lasted 3 years, usually. I have one which will expire next year - and I've probably had my money's worth already.

Ah - sorry - I think you have only a one year one - I remember now the 3 year ones cost more.

My 3 year Senior Railcard (£70) expired in June and as I was using it every day to commute to work before I retired last December I easily got my money's worth out of it. What has irked me is that I had no emails whatever from the company regarding the card during the pandemic and had no idea of the policy until learning from the Guardian yesterday. I've not renewed mine and now don't envisage any train travel until next spring at the earliest.

[LMcD]

My 3 year Senior Railcard (£70) expired in June and as I was using it every day to commute to work before I retired last December I easily got my money's worth out of it. What has irked me is that I had no emails whatever from the company regarding the card during the pandemic and had no idea of the policy until learning from the Guardian yesterday. I've not renewed mine and now don't envisage any train travel until next spring at the earliest.

Welcome proof that 'they' don't know everything about us yet, in the form of an email from Greater Anglia inviting me to renew my Young Person's Railcard .... it's been many years since I qualified for one of those, and my last annual season ticket before I moved and started to work from home expired in 1986.

[Dave2002]

I went on a train early in September. So far I seem to have survived the experience. However, I'm perhaps unlikely to make very many more train journeys before my rail card expires in March next year. After that I'll probably not renew until I plan more trips. The savings made in previous years could have been considerable, from a combination of many fairly short "commuter line" outings, and several long distance journeys. Since we moved both categories of rail usage have reduced considerably, so there's no rush to renew, but one or two long trips could make a new card worthwhile.

[oddoneout]

I thought they lasted 3 years, usually. I have one which will expire next year - and I've probably had my money's worth already.

Ah - sorry - I think you have only a one year one - I remember now the 3 year ones cost more.

Yes I have the single year one as over the past 3 years it has been a way of using up accumulated Tesco Reward points, which otherwise would have gone to waste as I don't shop at Tesco(points accumulated on a Tesco credit card I no longer use) and none of the other 'rewards' on offer are suitable. Now I don't have enough points for renewal I had originally intended to go for the 3 year option as much better value, but given the current uncertainties which mean the main financial justification - visiting son's family - are still ruled out there doesn't seem much point.
I took out a 5 year membership of the local heritage railway last year and haven't been able to get any use this year as they aren't running at all. I don't know if they have any plans for a subs extension but I'm not so bothered in that case as the money is going directly to good use, which I can see when I walk down to the supermarket opposite the station or look at the line at the bottom of my garden. Rather different from paying to a company that exists solely to administer a discount scheme and which seems to have a pretty poor(if unfortunately not at all uncommon) attitude to its customers. I don't believe anyone made much(if any) of an effort to sell a better approach to the government, preferring instead the easy option of hiding behind said government's rules/decisions.
And yes Pet I think the lack of communication from the company was both poor and unnecessary. I suspect it added to the well publicised problems it faced trying to sort out renewals etc as people had no clue, or were given conflicting or just plain wrong information, about what was happening and so had to contact the company repeatedly.

[oddoneout]

Welcome proof that 'they' don't know everything about us yet, in the form of an email from Greater Anglia inviting me to renew my Young Person's Railcard .... it's been many years since I qualified for one of those, and my last annual season ticket before I moved and started to work from home expired in 1986.

Wonder which young person was invited to renew their Senior Railcard...

[Dave2002]

Wonder which young person was invited to renew their Senior Railcard...

I'm rather glad to see that not every company or organisation doesn't know everything about us! Obviously they should use Google or Apple more.

[french frank]

that not every company or organisation doesn't know everything about us

I'll have to think about that one

[Anastasius]

My wife just came back from shopping in just two stores in Hexham this morning and based on her feedback I despair.

I can now see why Covid is rampant in Northumberland if the actions of people out shopping inside M&S and Waitrose is anything to go by. Standing round in groups of 6 or 7, chatting away and because masks can make the sound muffled sometimes, pulling them down to make themselves heard better.

But this all pales into insignificance considering the actions of a cretin in M&S. He was standing in front of the bread counter and needed to cough. Proceeded to pull his mask down without thinking and coughed and spluttered all over the bread. Speechless. Words fail me.


I wish Covid was IQ selective.

[Dave2002]

I'll have to think about that one

So will I!

[Petrushka]

My wife just came back from shopping in just two stores in Hexham this morning and based on her feedback I despair.

I can now see why Covid is rampant in Northumberland if the actions of people out shopping inside M&S and Waitrose is anything to go by. Standing round in groups of 6 or 7, chatting away and because masks can make the sound muffled sometimes, pulling them down to make themselves heard better.

But this all pales into insignificance considering the actions of a cretin in M&S. He was standing in front of the bread counter and needed to cough. Proceeded to pull his mask down without thinking and coughed and spluttered all over the bread. Speechless. Words fail me.


I wish Covid was IQ selective.

I've noticed no such problems here. Mask wearing is very good indeed in my town and you wouldn't get through the door in Waitrose without one. Social distancing also being observed very closely and this applies to all age groups, including children. Even teenagers are generously acknowledging their thanks when you give distance.

Not been up to Hexham for very many years. Had reason to visit a place called Prudhoe which isn't far away.

[Serial_Apologist]

So will I!

It seems all right, Dave - and I have considerable difficulties with disentangling double negatives. (That's assuming that that is what you would have to think about!)