TRAINLINE has issued a huge warning to passengers that must be followed or could risk being hit with £100 fine.

The digital platform, which allows customers to book travel online, is reminding users they can not use their Railcard on every train journey.

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A railcard is a discount card for young and retired people which helps them shave around a third off their travel costs.

However, Trainline said some Railcards can only be used on fares that are above a certain price, at a certain time. 

While others have specific restrictions on the times you can travel. 

For example, if you’re travelling between 4:30am and 10am, some Railcards can only be used on fares that cost £12 or more.

If you do not adhere to these rules you could face a £100 fine for not complying with the ticket rules.

A Trainline spokesperson told The Sun it is changing how it presents information to make the rules more easy for customers to understand.

They said: “While we have always applied railcards correctly and presented the right fees to our customers, recent events highlighted a sense of confusion for passengers around rail industry terms and conditions.

“And so, we have changed how we present this information in the booking flow, as well as adding information to our website, to give customers clarity when buying their tickets”

Travel cards have been in the spotlight recently after it was reported that Northern Rail passengers could be entitled to compensation.

The travel giant said it was dropping cases of people accused of wrongly using a 16-25 railcard to get discounted travel at the wrong time of the day, The Telegraph reported.

It was said that Northen was breaking a rule whereby passengers with a railcard travelling on the wrong train must be offered the chance to pay back the difference “on the spot”.

Instead, the travel giant was accused of whacking travellers with a find on the spot

A Northern Rail spokesperson told the outlet: “We are withdrawing any live cases and will also look to review anyone who has been prosecuted previously on this specific issue”.

The Sun has contacted Northern Rail for a comment,

How to avoid a fine when using your Railcard

Railcards are available to a number of different age groups, including students, young professionals and the elderly.

You have to pay for the card with the price usually working out at around £30 for a year or £70 for three years.

A number of different companies issue Railcards, such as Trainline which is the official retailer of Railcards by National Rail.

Trainpal is another option but the price remains the same.

Using the discount can help you save around a third on your travel costs.

However, it is important to note that you could be fined if you travel during peak time or pay a certain amount for your ticket.

This is especially important when you buy Anytime tickets or other flexible tickets.

For example, if you travel on a train before 10am and have used your Railcard to buy your ticket, make sure you didn’t pay less than £12.

This is because the ticket won’t be valid before 10am – even though it’s an Anytime ticket.

To avoid fines make sure that if you end up travelling on an earlier train, make sure to double-check any restrictions. 

You can read about the restrictions surrounding Railcards by visiting, https://www.railcard.co.uk/help/railcard-terms-and-conditions//

GREGGS is not a name you associate with fine dining or fancy booze.

However, as I tucked into a sausage roll covered in hot chilli sausage while drinking a £95 glass of champagne, I was surprised by how well they went together.

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Yesterday, I visited the chain’s new champagne bar pop-up in Newcastle.

The plush bar inside historic Fenwick’s Food Hall is opening to customers today and closing on December 31.

Shoppers will be able to get their hands on an assortment of savoury snacks including bakes, sausage rolls and melts with posh sauces, as well as cocktails based on classic sweet treats.

Foodies can even pair the savoury bites with some seriously posh champagne and Prosecco, with both small glasses and whole bottles on offer.

Prices for a glass start at £10 and range up to £75 while bottles start from £37 and go up to a whopping £425.

At the pre-launch of the champagne bar, I got a first try of some of the new Haute cuisine and bubbly on offer.

The space has been designed in the Art Nouveau style with a marble c-shaped bar which is scattered with crystal bells to call for attention.

A grand three-tiered glass display features a range of spirits too, with workers dressed in smart suit trousers and bow ties.

As I sat down, everything told me I was somewhere more akin to an underground club in 1900s Paris than your everyday Greggs branch.

I tried one starter, one main, two champagnes and a cocktail.

First up was the £4 sausage roll with hot honey chilli sauce which came with bits of chopped fresh chilli inside.

I never would never think of combining sausage roll with a sweet chilli sauce, but it was surprisingly better than predicted.

The sticky and tart sauce blended with the salty pork sausage meat well and the fresh chilli added a subtle kick.

That said, if you gave me the option of choosing between this and having a sausage roll with tomato ketchup, I’d choose ketchup every time as the flavours just pair better.

For the main option I tried the chicken bake with katsu curry sauce and pickled cucumber, which costs £4.75.

If I’m not buying a sausage, bean and cheese melt at Greggs, a classic chicken bake is my next choice, but I was sceptical the trio of flavours would work together.

I must admit I was wrong though, and the umami flavour from the katsu sauce paired really nicely with the creamy white sauce from the chicken bake.

That, combined with the freshness of the pickled cucumber, and the trio of flavours made for a really balanced bite.

The two champagnes I had were the Bollinger Rosé Brut, which is £22 per glass or £95 a bottle, and the Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque, on sale for £55 a glass or £295 a bottle.

The first was light, citrusy and really refreshing, with a subtle hint of apple in there for a bit of tang.

The Perrier was a bit more tart and aromatic, but I was less of a fan of this one.

I loved yum yums as a kid so I was buzzing to try to the yum yum twist cocktail next.

It combines rum with a yum yum flavoured soft drink and icing sugar around the rim of the glass and costs £11.

One sip and I was dragged back in time to being a school kid and tucking into a whole bag of the sweet pastries.

What’s on the menu?

Greggs’ champagne bar at Fenwick will be open daily from today, 11.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, excluding Thursdays, when it will shut at 7pm.

On Sundays, the bar will open at 11.30am and close at 4pm.

Shoppers keen to head down have to reserve ahead via www.fenwick.co.uk/events/restaurants/bistro-greggs-at-fenwick/bistro-greggs-at-fenwick

But what is actually on the menu crafted by Fenwick executive head chef Mark Reid? This is the full list with prices:

• Sausage Roll with Hot Honey Chilli Sauce – £4
• Vegan Sausage Roll with Harissa Coconut Yoghurt – £4
• Cheese & Onion Bake with Romesco Sauce & Almonds – £4.50
• Steak Bake with Peppercorn Aioli – £4.95
• Chicken Bake with Katsu Curry Sauce & Pickled Cucumber – £4.75
• Sausage, Bean & Cheese Melt with Bloody Mary Ketchup – £4.50
• Prosecco – Ca di Alte – £10 for glass or £37 for bottle
• Rosé Prosecco – Ca di Alte – £12 for glass or £42 for bottle
• Gremillet Brut Champagne – £15 for glass or £55 for bottle
• Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut – £18 for glass or £80 for bottle
• Bollinger Rosé Brut – £22 for glass or £95 for bottle
• Laurent Perrier Rosé – £25 for glass or £125 for bottle
• Rare Champagne Millesime – £40 for glass or £210 for bottle
• Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque – £55 for glass or £295 for bottle
• Louis Roederer Cristal – £75 for glass or £425 for bottle
• “Pink Jammie Fizz” cocktail – £11
• Yum Yum Twist cocktail – £11
• Cream Eclair cocktail – £12
• Non-Alcoholic Peach Melba cocktail – £7

Greggs loved to cause a buzz with its pop-up events – but it’s unlikely to be rolled out more widely.

If you live nearby then it would be easy to make the journey and pop in.

But will we soon see Greggs on posh menus? Unlikely.

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A £250MILLION fund set up to boost women in business and backed by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been snubbed by City institutions.

Only Barclays, asset manager M&G, bank Morgan Stanley, Visa and the British Business Bank have so far pledged support.

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Among those to say “No” to the Invest in Women Taskforce are NatWest, HSBC, Bank of America and Legal and General.

Aviva, which is headed by Amanda Blanc, is yet to commit, it is believed.

It follows research showing female founders attract under 2% of venture capital funding which is often key to get firms growing.

The Taskforce, cochaired by Barclays’ head of business banking Hannah Bernard and Brit entrepreneur Debbie Wosskow, was set up by the last government.

Reeves backs it and says the economy could be boosted by £250billion if women were able to start and scale businesses at the same rate as men.

She is facing calls to get pension funds to direct assets into femaleled companies and has been warned that rises to capital gains tax will blunt female entrepreneurs’ ambitions.

Emma Jones, of business-to-business service Enterprise Nation, said: “If the end game is no longer the prospect it once was, women may not see entrepreneurship as a career path.

“That would be a massive loss to the economy.”

Ms Wosskow said: “We are set on our mission of making the UK the best place in the world to be a female entrepreneur.

“We urge as many banks and investors as possible to join us.

“Everyone agrees that it is important that the industry comes together to solve this issue.”

ADDISON LEE SOLD FOR £269M

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THE UK’s biggest minicab operator, Addison Lee, has been sold by its founder’s son to a Singaporean taxi firm.

Cityfleet Networks, owned by Singapore’s Comfortdelgro, paid £269million.

The business has been sold by shareholders Cheyne Capital and Liam Griffin, son of founder John Griffin, who took back control of the business in 2020 to steer the firm through the pandemic.

Multi-millionaire John, who left school without qualifications, started the business with one car in 1975.

Liam last year attacked previous private equity owners, Carlye, for “making a hash” of plans to expand Addison Lee across regional cities. He said ComfortDelGro “share our philosophy, vision and ambition”.

Addison Lee transports around seven million people across the capital each year and has 7,500 drivers.

A LATTE TO PAY

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Starbucks has promised to shake up its menu and prices after customers became sick of its pricey pumpkin spice lattes.

The cafe giant, backed by celebrities such as singer Ed Sheeran, above, suffered a sales slump forcing it to scrap profit guidance for the year.

Starbucks said that global sales fell by seven per cent in the last three months as customers balked at the price of its drinks and the time it takes to queue at busy stores.

New boss Brian Niccol said the business would “simplify our overly complex menu, fix our pricing architecture and ensure that every customer feels Starbucks is worth it every single time they visit”.

It came as Coca-Cola yesterday reported a 1% sales slump.

LLOYDS BUDGET STABILITY ALERT

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LLOYDS, the UK’s biggest mortgage lender, has warned banks need a “competitive, stable” tax regime amid reports the Chancellor is planning a Budget tax raid.

Finance chief William Chalmers yesterday said the bank would welcome a Budget that promoted a “pro-growth agenda” and highlighted that Lloyds is already one of the UK’s biggest taxpayers.

He added: “It is also important to have a competitive, stable tax regime to encourage investment and lending.”

Lloyds made £1.8billion in profits in the third quarter of 2024, 2% lower than last year.

McD’S IN PICKLE

MORE than £10billion has been wiped off the value of McDonald’s after its quarter pounders were blamed for a deadly E.Coli outbreak.

The fast-food giant has been implicated in 49 cases in the US, which has resulted in 10 hospitalisations and one death.

Shares in the firm fell by as much as 15% in two days after the US Centers for Disease Control confirmed a link to its onions.

Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at SAXO, said: “McDonald’s revenues and earnings could face pressure.”

M IN TAX FEAR

MARKS & SPENCER boss Stuart Machin says firms will find it harder to create jobs if, as reported, employers’ national insurance contributions rise in the Budget.

Mr Machin said any jump, when coupled with other taxes that hit retailers, such as fuel duty, would increase the difficulty.

He said: “This Government was elected to promote a growth agenda, but what I’ve seen and heard so far doesn’t add up to a coherent growth narrative.”

Marks & Spencer has around 65,000 staff.

A £111MILLION bid for luxury handbag maker Mulberry has been dropped by Mike Ashley‘s Frasers Group. The decision comes one day after Mulberry said the offer was “untenable” without the backing of biggest shareholder Christina Ong.

BUILDERS AXE JOBS

HOUSEBUILDERS Barratt and Redrow are cutting 800 jobs just weeks after completing their £2.5billion merger.

The enlarged company said it was looking to make £90million of cost savings from efficiencies.

Staff affected will be in senior management, back office and central support roles, rather than development or sales.

The industry is already grappling with a shortage of construction workers.

A LEGENDARY store is set to close after over 50 years with “upset” shoppers mourning its loss.

J Maher’s Garden and DIY hardware store on Lever Edge Lane in Bolton, first opened its doors in 1973.

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The shop is now run by owners Barrie and Janette Maher, after inheriting it from Barrie’s parents, Rita and Jack Maher.

The pair work in the store with their son, Jon, and five other members of staff.

For decades, the hardware shop was a cornerstone for the local community.

But it has seen a sharp decline in sales since the pandemic which means the doors will now shut for good.

The popular store will pull down the shutters for the final time at the end of October.

It currently supplies allotment societies all over Greater Manchester, South Lancashire and Merseyside as well as bowling clubs, landscapers, schools, trade gardeners and nurseries.

The business has been struggling partly due to the rise in online shopping.

Barrie told The Bolton News: “After Covid, the way of shopping changed, people are going to big brands.

“We even set up our own website, but we struggled to compete as the bigger brands will always be at the top of the search.

“It’s like a depression over the whole country, people haven’t been to the store in the same way since before the pandemic.”

He added: “We’ve been here fifty-one years, people know us, and we have a great relationship with all our loyal customers, we know them by name and by sight.

“It’s upset a lot of people – since we announced the closure, the news has spread really quickly.”

The proposed ban on bagged peat composts by the end of this year has also been a “major blow” says owner, Barrie, as the businesses’ “niche product” was a large range of peat-based composts.

Janette told the outlet that the store sold last week via auction but they were not sure who bought the area or what it’ll be used for.

She added: “The staff weren’t stupid, they could sense that things were wrapping up. We’ve been scaling down for the past six months trying to shift our stock.

“The shop was a pillar in the community – my mum used to go dancing and the old blokes would always ask about the shop because they owned allotments, it was very much loved by people.”

Devastated patrons of the shop were quick to take to social media after news of the closure.

One wrote on Facebook: “Another great shop to close,It always remind me of a small Gregory & Porritts if Maher didn’t have it then nobody did,Always had lovely bedding plants & Xmas trees.

“So sad to see them go.”

Another added: “Absolutely gutted!…..been a major supplier for my gardening business for many years…..all the best Baz Jeanette and Jonathan.”

Meanwhile, a third said: “Brilliant shop, the owners are full of knowledge. Shame it is closing.”

“Yet another great shop to close. It’s the best hardware store for miles. Friendly staff always helpful. What a great loss I travelled from the other side of Bolton to visit here,” said another saddened customer.

But Janette said that there were still positives to look at despite the closure.

She continued: “We’re planning to use our retirement to travel the world and make new memories.

“We’d like to thank our loyal customers who’ve given us business over the past years.

“We’ve had some great customers and members of staff who’ve stayed loyal to us. They have worked to make the store what it was.”

SHOPPERS have threatened to boycott a major supermarket after a popular freebie has been scrapped for a second time, testing the loyalty of customers.

The members benefit was originally phased out back in February 2022 but saw a resurgence for a small number as a “goodwill gesture”.

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Owned by the John Lewis Partnership, Waitrose has announced that it will no longer offer free newspapers when loyalty card customers spend £10 or more.

Those with their name to a myWaitrose card were informed via email that they would no longer receive the discount newspaper vouchers from October 29.

First offered to shoppers in 2013, Waitrose clients needed to spend £5 or more during the week to reap the reward, with this doubling to £10 at weekends.

Then, in 2016 the Monday to Friday offer was raised to £10 with the perk later being scrapped just two years ago.

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At the time, the supermarket giant claimed that only 5pc of customers were taking advantage of the offer but since then a small number of loyalty card customers could still buy a discounted daily newspaper after 3pm.

This is not the first time the high-street brand has dropped benefits for its frequent spenders.

The offer which saw customers entitled to a free hot drink with every purchase was scrapped until the store decided to bring it back after facing backlash.

Reinstating the beverage allowance in 2022, shoppers could only claim theirs when bringing their own reusable cup.

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The loyalty scheme was originally launched in 2011 and has been incredibly popular ever since with the latest figures in 2022 suggesting around 9 million members.

Those opting to sign-up for the MyWaitrose card could receive money-off vouchers and discounts on dry cleaning products.

Waitrose Christmas Showcase 2024

However, since a change in its terms and conditions earlier this year, customers may no longer receive discount vouchers every week.

With the short notice period before the freebie is cut from the clasp of customers, many have already taken to social media to express their strong thoughts.

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One person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I think your decision to remove the newspaper vouchers for loyal customers who regularly shop with you is a major mistake.”

Another said: “Received an email giving 6 days notice that I’ll no longer receive free newspaper vouchers as part of your loyalty scheme.

“Given that the other benefits are of zero interest I shall take my custom and cash elsewhere.”

Someone else put: “Disappointing you are removing the free newspaper from your benefits.

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“My parents only go into Waitrose on the weekends for the free paper but always ended up buying other things walking through the store.

“Guess they’ll be no need for them to go there now.”

A fourth commented: “Gutted @waitrose is ending my newspaper vouchers.”

Someone else wrote: “What a shame – it was a great benefit – I cannot afford to buy them.”

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Another claimed the changes were a “middle-class disaster”.

One user posted a picture of the email they had received informing them that they would no longer be offered the daily newspaper vouchers.

The screenshot shows the list of other benefits that MyWaitrose customers can continue to enjoy, including:

• Personalised offers
• Free HotDrinks from our self-service machines with any purchase in store*
• Exclusive competitions
• Fish Fridays: save 20% on selected fish from the counter
• Sizzling Saturdays: save 20% on selected meat from the counter

A spokesperson for Waitrose previously told The Telegraph: “Our newspaper offer was retired in February 2022, as it was only being used by 5pc of customers. A small number retained the offer as a temporary goodwill gesture, but we’re phasing these out to invest in rewards that benefit all members.

“These customers will get additional rewards over the coming weeks to thank them for their loyalty, as well as our wider benefits, like free hot drinks and personalised offers, which remain hugely popular.”

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The Sun has approached Waitrose for comment.

Supermarket loyalty schemes – which has one?

MOST UK supermarkets have loyalty schemes so customers can build up points and save money while they shop.

Here we round up what saving programmes you’ll find at the big brands.

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• Iceland: Unlike other stores, you don’t collect points with the Iceland Bonus Card. Instead, you load it up with money and Iceland will give you £1 for every £20 you save.
• Lidl Plus: Lidl customers don’t collect points when they shop, and are instead rewarded with personalised vouchers that gives them money off at the till.
• Morrisons: The My Morrisons: Make Good Things Happen replaces the More Card and rewards customers with personalised money off vouchers via the app.
• Sainsbury’s: While Sainsbury’s doesn’t have a personal scheme, it does own the Nectar card which can also be used in Argos, eBay and other shops. You need 200 Nectar points to save up £1 to spend on your card. You need to spend at least £1 to get one Nectar point.
• Tesco: Tesco Clubcard has over 17million members in the UK alone. You use it each time you shop and build up points that can be turned into vouchers – 150 points gets you a £1.50 voucher. Here you need to spend £1 in Tesco to get one point.
• Waitrose: myWaitrose also doesn’t allow you to collect points but instead you’ll get access to free hot drinks, and discounts off certain brands in store.

Apparently, one third of people are suffering from imposter syndrome at any given time, and 70% will experience it at some point.

My former career as a scientist wasn’t all bad, but one example stands out as a low point. I don’t know if it was the origin of my imposter syndrome. But it certainly didn’t help.

Halfway through my PhD, I was giving my first talk at an international conference. After I’d finished, the floor was opened up to questions.

The best advice I’ve received is to remember that no one is perfect

The first hand raised was that of an older researcher and it turned out he didn’t really have a question; he just wanted to tell me and the rest of the audience that he thought my work was pointless. Although I’m not opposed to criticism, I do think it needs to be constructive.

It was easy, as a scientist, to feel like you were never doing enough — surrounded by professors and fast-rising superstars, all experts in their field. I remember worrying I wasn’t good enough and I would be exposed as a fraud.

I’m grateful my experience since changing to the advice profession has been one of night and day.

Whenever I have interacted with people in the wider industry, whether in a random email, at a conference or picking their brain over a coffee, I have been met with overwhelmingly helpful, friendly responses.

I’ve got better at recognising when negative thoughts start gnawing away at me

Contrast the above presenting experience with my first at a financial planning conference. Everyone was very welcoming, no one was rude and I even had several people approach me afterwards just to let me know they had liked the talk.

At work, I am hugely fortunate to have a supportive boss and leadership team, and a friendly group of colleagues.

Nevertheless, despite all these positive experiences I have had since changing career, imposter syndrome never completely goes away. I may have a great day, or even a great week, at work, but that doesn’t stop doubts creeping in the following week.

While I haven’t found the secret to eliminating imposter syndrome, I have taken steps to reduce it.

I’ve realised I need to stop comparing myself to others. There will always be someone better than you, but everyone is on their own journey and has their own trials.

One third of people are suffering from imposter syndrome at any given time

I’ve also got better at recognising when negative thoughts start gnawing away at me, and remembering that other people also experience this.

Finally, I think the best advice I’ve received to overcome it is to remember that no one is perfect — neither myself, nor the grouchy guy who didn’t like my work all those years ago!

Ryan Sharpe is a paraplanner at Almond Financial

This article featured in the October 2024 edition of Money Marketing. 

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