IELTS GT Reading: The Young Person’s Railcard

This General Training lesson focuses on Gap Fill

It comes from Cambridge Test Book 9.

• Listen to my Podcast for all the explanations

Section 1

Read the passage below and answer Questions 1-7.

The Young Person’s Railcard

A Young Person’s Railcard gives young people the opportunity to purchase discounted rail tickets across Britain. Just imagine where it could take you – to festivals, to see distant friends or to London for a weekend break.

Who can apply?

Absolutely anybody between 16 and 25 can apply. You will need to provide proof that you are under 26 years of age. For this, only your birth certificate, driving licence, passport or medical card will be acceptable. Alternatively, if you are a mature student over this age but in full-time education, you can also apply. In order to prove your eligibility, you will need to get your headteacher, tutor, or head of department to sign the application form as well as one of your photos, the latter also needing to be officially stamped. ‘Full-time education’ is defined as over 15 hours per week for at least 20 weeks a year.

Then go along to any major railway station, rail-appointed travel agent or authorised student travel office with your completed application form from this leaflet, together with £28, two passport-sized photos and proof of eligibility.

Using your railcard

You can use it at any time – weekends, Bank Holidays or during the week. But if you travel before 10 am Monday to Friday (except during July and August) minimum fares will apply. For full details of these, please ask at your local station or contact a rail-appointed travel agent.

Conditions

In cases where a railcard does not bear the user’s signature, it will be treated as invalid. Neither your railcard nor any tickets bought with it may be used by anybody else. Unless there are no purchase facilities available at the station where you began your journey, you will be required to pay the full fare if you are unable to produce a valid ticket for inspection during a journey.

Reduced rate tickets are not available for first-class travel or for Eurostar links to France and Belgium. Passengers will be charged the full rate if they want to use these services.

Questions 1-7

Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet.

1.  Railcard applicants over 25 need to be involved in ……………………….. .
2.  For mature, full-time students, one of the photographs submitted must be signed and ……………………….. .
3.  At certain times of the year, there are no ………………………. for railcard holders at any time of day.
4. If your railcard doesn’t have your ……………………….. it will be impossible to use it for travel.
5.  The benefits of a railcard are not transferable to ……………………….. .
6.  If you have no ticket but boarded a train at a station without any ……………………….. you will still be eligible for a discounted ticket.
7.  If railcard holders wish to use the Eurostar network they must pay the ……………………….. .

Answers

1.  Railcard applicants over 25 need to be involved in full-time education.

Absolutely anybody between 16 and 25 can apply. You will need to provide proof that you are under 26 years of age. For this, only your birth certificate, driving licence, passport or medical card will be acceptable. Alternatively, if you are a mature student over this age but in full-time education, you can also apply.

2.  For mature, full-time students, one of the photographs submitted must be signed and officially stamped.

In order to prove your eligibility, you will need to get your headteacher, tutor, or head of department to sign the application form as well as one of your photos, the latter also needing to be officially stamped.

3.  At certain times of the year, there are no minimum fares for railcard holders at any time of day.

You can use it at any time – weekends, Bank Holidays or during the week. But if you travel before 10 am Monday to Friday (except during July and August) minimum fares will apply.

4. If your railcard doesn’t have your signature it will be impossible to use it for travel.

In cases where a railcard does not bear the user’s signature, it will be treated as invalid.

5.  The benefits of a railcard are not transferable to anybody else.

Neither your railcard nor any tickets bought with it may be used by anybody else.

6.  If you have no ticket but boarded a train at a station without any purchase facilities you will still be eligible for a discounted ticket.

Unless there are no purchase facilities available at the station where you began your journey, you will be required to pay the full fare if you are unable to produce a valid ticket for inspection during a journey.

7.  If railcard holders wish to use the Eurostar network they must pay the full rate/fare.

Reduced rate tickets are not available for first-class travel or for Eurostar links to France and Belgium. Passengers will be charged the full rate if they want to use these services.

Get more Reading practice here.

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Listen to the second half of the podcast (Questions 8 – 14) here.

Part 2

Read the text below and answer Questions 8-14.

TRAIN TRAVEL INFORMATION

We offer several distinct options for you to choose the ticket that suits you best.

TICKET TYPE – DISCOUNT* – NOTES

standard returns – 20% – return within 60 days of outward trip

same day returns – 25% – ticket cannot be altered or refunded

children – 40% – children between 4 and 11

students –  25%  – student card must be shown

senior citizens – 25% – seniors card must be shown

groups (10-25 people) – 15% – discount on each section of the trip

globe-trotter tickets – according to ticket – Railpass, Tourist Card, Econopass

* Only one discount may apply to each fare.

CHANGES AND REFUNDS

Tickets may be refunded not later than 5 minutes before the departure of the train for a charge of 15% of the ticket price, or the journey may be changed to another day for a charge of 10% of the ticket price. (Not applicable to same day returns.)

CHANGES FOR SAME DAY TRAVEL

You may change your ticket once without charge for a journey on the same day as the original ticket.

INFORMATION OF INTEREST TO TRAVELLERS

•  When you buy your ticket it is up to you to check that the dates and times of the journey on it are exactly as you requested.
•  Ticket control and access to each train platform will be open until 2 minutes before departure of the train.
•  Each traveller may take one suitcase and one item of hand luggage. You may also check in 15 kgs of luggage not later than 30 minutes before departure, at no extra charge.
•  If you would like to charter a train, or make reservations for over 25 passengers travelling together, call the Sales Department.

OUR TIMETABLE IS GUARANTEED

If the arrival of your train at your destination is delayed by more than 5 minutes according to the timetable, we will refund the full price of your ticket if the delay is caused by our company.

Questions 8-14

Complete the summary below.

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 8-14 on your answer sheet.

An elderly person who is also studying full-time receives a concession of 8 ………………………. .

Large groups people who want to reserve seats should get in touch with the 9 ………………………. .

If travellers cancel their trip, they will usually receive back the ticket price less 10 ………………………. , or they may change the date of their trip by paying 11 ………………………. of the original value. These concessions do not apply in the case of 12 ………………………. . It is the passenger’s responsibility to make sure the 13 ………………………. and are correct.

Travellers should ensure they are ready to board the train with at least 14 ………………………. to spare. They may take a suitcase with them in the carriage as well as hand luggage. A traveller may check in 15 kilos maximum weight of luggage but this must be done at least 30 minutes before the train leaves.

Answers

An elderly person who is also studying full-time receives a concession of 8 25 per cent/%*

students – 25% – student card must be shown

senior citizens – 25% – seniors card must be shown

* Only one discount may apply to each fare.

*This is a weird ‘trick’ designed to catch you out! Elderly people (senior citizens) cannot get 50% if they are also a student, because ‘only one discount’ can be used.

Large groups of people who want to reserve seats should get in touch with the 9 Sales Department.

•  If you would like to charter a train, or make reservations for over 25 passengers travelling together, call the Sales Department.

If travellers cancel their trip, they will usually receive back the ticket price less 10 15%, or they may change the date of their trip by paying 11 10% of the original value.

Tickets may be refunded not later than 5 minutes before the departure of the train for a charge of 15% of the ticket price, or the journey may be changed to another day for a charge of 10% of the ticket price. (Not applicable to same day returns.)

These concessions do not apply in the case of 12 same day returns.

(Not applicable to same day returns.)

It is the passenger’s responsibility to make sure the 13 dates and times are correct.

•  When you buy your ticket it is up to you to check that the dates and times of the journey on it are exactly as you requested.

(In either order; both required for one mark)

Travellers should ensure they are ready to board the train with at least 14 2 minutes to spare.

•  Ticket control and access to each train platform will be open until 2 minutes before departure of the train.

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