Student travel card

Cian59

I read on the application form that TCD SU has an express service for providing travel cards on the spot. Just wondering when's the earliest time we can get one.

Will I have to wait till I register?? Don't fancy paying inflated prices for much longer

Mark200

Yeah pretty sure you need a student card before you can get the travel card.

bscm

Most places (including Bus Eireann) accept TCD student cards... you don't technically need a travelcard unless the luas/DART doesn't accept TCD student cards

Lawliet

bscm wrote: »

Most places (including Bus Eireann) accept TCD student cards... you don't technically need a travelcard unless the luas/DART doesn't accept TCD student cards

Bus Eireann is more the exception than the rule. Dublin bus, Irish rail, the Luas, and the DART will only accept a valid student travel card, so if you're planning on taking them regularly it's well worth the fifteen euro to get one. If you try and present an ordinary student card with a student ticket you can get a fifty euro fine.

Tears in Rain

bscm wrote: »

Most places (including Bus Eireann) accept TCD student cards... you don't technically need a travelcard unless the luas/DART doesn't accept TCD student cards

Ha! If only! That's altogether too sensible for Ireland.

bscm

Tears in Rain wrote: »

Ha! If only! That's altogether too sensible for Ireland.

I had a travelcard every year since I turned 16, only got accepted in most places 6 times out of 10. They kept asking for a proper ID even though second level schools don't normally give them out (and these shops usually accepted my travelcard before, I just got a different sales person)

I'm just saying from my experience I wouldn't pay for one again now that I'm getting a TCD card (and plus AIB are sending me a voucher for one anyways )

Tears in Rain

bscm wrote: »

I had a travelcard every year since I turned 16, only got accepted in most places 6 times out of 10. They kept asking for a proper ID even though second level schools don't normally give them out (and these shops usually accepted my travelcard before, I just got a different sales person)

I'm just saying from my experience I wouldn't pay for one again now that I'm getting a TCD card (and plus AIB are sending me a voucher for one anyways )

Luas is the main reason I have one...I tested this out once or twice to see if my travelcard was redundant by showing the TCD ID instead, the inspectors always asked to see a travelcard when I did this though. That said, they might be a bit more sensible in applying the rules these days...

languagenerd

I think you can go in with another form of ID and your CAO acceptance letter. Depends on the person at the desk, but it worked for my friend last year (their course didn't register til the Friday of Freshers' Week, so they didn't have a card yet, but they needed to buy the Luas ticket on the Monday). Worth a shot if you're in town!

Lawliet

Tears in Rain wrote: »

Luas is the main reason I have one...I tested this out once or twice to see if my travelcard was redundant by showing the TCD ID instead, the inspectors always asked to see a travelcard when I did this though. That said, they might be a bit more sensible in applying the rules these days...

Not a bit, if anything they've gotten worse; on the train I use to only be asked for a travel card an odd time, but in the last few months they've been checking it constantly. And I've never been asked for an another ID.

brownacid

If you get a AIB student account they give you a voucher for a free student travel card, my lil bro has done this for the past 2 years so now has 3 student accounts with them! Also the travel card gives you discounts on many other things besides travel. Also the fine on Irish rail if you buy a student ticket and dont have one is 100 euro.

fh041205

Yea try and get the AIB voucher because you may as well. They usually have people around in freshers week signing people up. Student travelcard is the ONLY form of accepted ID on Irish Rail / Luas / DART and for the GAA strangely.

AgathaK

Will the SU office be opened from Monday to print the cards? I'll be there so might as well get it done...

Phareon

AgathaK wrote: »

Will the SU office be opened from Monday to print the cards?

It better be!! My reg isn't until Friday, so I assume we won't get our student cards til then! I'm gonna need some way to and from Halls every day In case of rain of course ;L

languagenerd

AgathaK wrote: »

Will the SU office be opened from Monday to print the cards? I'll be there so might as well get it done...

It's open every weekday during term time, not sure about during the summer. It'll definitely be open all through Fresher's Week anyway. It's in house 6 on the left.

ED E

Mark200 wrote: »

Yeah pretty sure you need a student card before you can get the travel card.

No, you just need it stamped by a 2nd or third level institution, I got mine done in 4th year. Just take the form and have the SU office stamp it.

If you like BigMacs the deal for the meal for a fiver straight is a nice little saving. Good for the post club munchies.

irishgirl10

So when is the earliest we can get one?

PurpleFistMixer

bscm wrote: »

I had a travelcard every year since I turned 16, only got accepted in most places 6 times out of 10. They kept asking for a proper ID even though second level schools don't normally give them out (and these shops usually accepted my travelcard before, I just got a different sales person)

I'm just saying from my experience I wouldn't pay for one again now that I'm getting a TCD card (and plus AIB are sending me a voucher for one anyways )

The point of the travelcard isn't to be a student card, it's to get student discount on travel stuff. As someone already said, your student card (ie TCD card) isn't sufficient to get travel discounts on most services (for some reason).

ED E

PurpleFistMixer wrote: »

..isn't sufficient to get travel discounts on most services (for some reason).

Because STC get a cut so its part of their terms for people who sign up to them.

Ahoyhoy

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

have the SU office stamp it.

The SU office can't stamp it but if you have your student number they can look you up and make sure you're a student, but you do need to have a different kind of photo id with you to prove you're that person. Even if you haven't registered yet your student number is just your CAO number. And the travelcard is totally worth having. All forms of public transport (aside from taxis and dublin bikes) will only take the travelcard as proof of student id, it's utter BS but fighting like mad with luas inspectors doesn't change that.

Believe me, I've tried.

Oh and you can get it pretty much now, as soon as you have any proof you're a Trinity student that will do. The office is open 9:30 to 5:00 but there's always queues at this time of year so try to go in early.

Amirani

Ridiculous that your third level ID/ISIC isn't considered valid. CIE are a sham in any case, cycling to college is the way to go.

languagenerd

PurpleFistMixer wrote: »

The point of the travelcard isn't to be a student card, it's to get student discount on travel stuff. As someone already said, your student card (ie TCD card) isn't sufficient to get travel discounts on most services (for some reason).

The travelcard has some good non-travel discounts too. I've definitely made my €14 back in Boots and on CDwow over the year.

It is annoying that standard student cards aren't sufficient - but maybe it's because every college has different cards and it would be hard for the inspectors to work out whether the card was authentic or not? At least (from their point of view) all the Travelcards look the same, so they can probably spot a fake...

Charlie Sheen

What's the story with this cards? If I get one, do I just buy one of those weekly dublin bus cards or something and get it cheaper?

languagenerd

Charlie Sheen wrote: »

What's the story with this cards? If I get one, do I just buy one of those weekly dublin bus cards or something and get it cheaper?

You have to get one to get student tickets on bus, Luas or train. If you're caught with a student ticket but no Travelcard, you get an instant fine (€45 on Luas, not sure about the others).

Buy the Travelcard, then ask for a student ticket when buying your weekly bus ticket.

Scrappychimow

niallsparky wrote: »

, cycling to college is the way to go.

Not when the winter kicks in.