ACCEPTABLE PAYMENT TYPES
Acceptable forms of Payment for Tickets:
Cash
Any combination of notes and coins. Acceptable combinations of coins are:
- 1p and 2p coins up to 20p
- 5p and 10p coins up to £5
- 20p and 50p coins up to £10
- £1 and £2 coins up to any amount
However, a customer will not normally be refused a ticket for a low value fare because the combination of coins exceeds the above.
Jersey/Guernsey/Isle of Man coins will not be accepted.
The following bank notes will be accepted:
- Banks notes issued by the Bank of England and bearing a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen.
- Sterling notes issued by the following: Allied Irish Banks ply; Bank of Ireland, Northern Bank Ltd; Ulster Bank Ltd;
- Bank notes issued by Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank plc, Royal Bank of Scotland;
- Sterling bank notes issued by the Isle of Man Bank Ltd;
- Sterling bank notes issued by States of Jersey or Guernsey
Foreign Currency
Most train companies will not accept foreign bank notes.
National Transport Tokens
Tokens to the value of 10p, 20p and 50p are minted for purchase by local authorities and welfare organisations who distribute them, in lieu of money, for travel purposes.
National Transport Tokens are acceptable in payment, or part payment, for travel tickets and associated facilities e.g. reservations, supplements and purchase of timetables but will not be accepted for any on-train catering.
Change in cash may be given, but this must not exceed the value of the lowest token tendered. Tokens will not be exchanged for money.
Certain local councils operate independent token or voucher schemes for local travel. For information on whether these are accepted by Train Companies customers should get in touch with the issuing authority.
Credit/Debit Cards
Most major credit/debit cards are accepted.
The following cards, Solo, Electron are not accepted by all TOC's, however are accepted by :
- Gatwick Express - only available from Fast ticket machines at Gatwick Airport and London Victoria.
- Southern - only available from ticket office and Fast ticket machines.
- East Coast. However, if you are collecting your tickets from a self service machine at a station operated by National Express East Anglia, please note that Solo and Electron card payments are not accepted.
Customers will still be liable to a penalty fare if they and board a train within the Penalty Fares Area without a valid ticket.
Credit/debit cards accepted vary from TOC to TOC and the customer is advised to check in advance.
Cheques
Cheques will normally be accepted for goods and services when supported by the appropriate Cheque Guarantee Card and when the value of the card does not exceed the limit shown on the card. Exceptions to this rule are as follows:
- cheques for renewal of Season Tickets which are valid for one month or more;
- cheques bearing the name and address of a firm, company or other corporate body;
- cheques receive by post. (Companies may wait for the cheque to clear before tickets are dispatched, or goods and services supplied);
- cheques offer by customers who are travelling or have travelled, or otherwise benefited from Trains Company's services (and only in instances where no other recognised form of cash is available);
- cheques offer in payment of Train Company invoices previously rendered;
- Payable orders and girocheques issue by Government departments;
- cheques made payable to third parties or drawn on a foreign bank (or branch of an UK bank abroad) will not normally be accepted.
Eurocheques
These are no longer issued by banks and the Eurocheque guarantee has been withdrawn. The Maestro card can no longer be used as a Eurocheque guarantee card. Eurocheques may still be in circulation but Rail Settlement Plan recommends a strict policy of non-acceptance.
Travellers Cheques
Travellers cheques may be accepted for payment for meals, fares or other customer facilities.
Postal Orders
Postal Orders of the United Kingdom may be accepted as payment for goods and services providing they:
- bear an issue date stamp not more than six months old.
- are crossed and made payable to the appropriate Train Operating Company.
- are of a value that is not greater than the amount that is due as change will not be given.
Rail Travel Accounts (Warrants)
The Rail Travel Account Scheme for Traders, and other organisations are operated on behalf of the Train Companies and a number of other organisations.
Companies and organisations wishing to join this scheme should either:
Telephone: 0870 234 8711
Email: Warrants@icl.com
or write to:
Travel Trade Warrants Service (TTWS),P.O. Box 176,Stevenage SG1 2YABooks of warrants are supplied to participants so that they can obtain rail and other services with out payment at the time of booking; they may be exchanged for the follow;
- Rail journeys anywhere in Great Britain or Ireland with all types of tickets except those purchased with Railcards and Privilege tickets. (Any type of Ticket that can be purchased with cash may be exchanged for a warrant).
- Shipping services operating to British, Irish and Continental destinations and for through rail/ship journeys from selected stations to principle Continental and Irish destinations. Warrants are not valid for some journeys wholly on shipping services.
- Payment of excess fares, including excess for travelling in superior class.
- Restaurant or buffet car meals, snacks and drinks on the train.
- Accompanied animals and articles
- Air Tickets where specially authorised
- Car Parking Fees
- Seat Reservations, Sleeper Reservations
- Hertz Car Rental
Travel Vouchers
Travel vouchers may come in varying values and are used normally as compensation under the Passengers Charter.
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