Railcards: a third off train fares
A railcard takes a third off most train fares for about £30 a year: it pays for itself in two or three longer journeys. The full list, and who each one is for.
The railcards
- 16-25 Railcard: a third off, for ages 16 to 25 (or mature students).
- 26-30 Railcard: a third off, for ages 26 to 30.
- Senior Railcard: a third off, from age 60.
- Disabled Persons Railcard: a third off for you and a companion; cheaper than the others.
- Two Together Railcard: a third off when two named people travel together.
- Family & Friends Railcard: a third off adult fares and 60% off children's, travelling with a child.
- 16-17 Saver: half price for 16 and 17 year olds.
- Veterans Railcard: a third off for armed forces veterans.
- Network Railcard: a third off in London and the South East, from age 16.
All of them are sold at railcard.co.uk, most as a digital card in their app. Most cost about £30 for a year, with three-year versions cheaper per year; the Disabled Persons Railcard costs less.
Worth knowing
- Minimum fares apply on weekday mornings with most cards, so a very cheap early commute may not get the discount.
- The discount works on Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime fares alike (with the card's exceptions), bought online, in apps or at the station: say you have a railcard when buying, and carry it when you travel.
- Commuting several days a week? Season tickets and Flexi Seasons (8 days' travel in 28) can beat single fares; they're not railcard-discounted, so compare both.
- Free bus travel is a different scheme: the concessionary bus pass.
Plan the journey first: live times at every station, or door to door by bus and train.
Questions
- How much does a railcard cost and save?
- Most railcards cost about £30 a year (the Disabled Persons Railcard less) and take a third off most fares, so it pays for itself once you'd have spent about £90 on train tickets in the year.
- Which railcard can I get at 60?
- The Senior Railcard: a third off most fares, about £30 a year, with a three-year version that costs less per year.
- Does a railcard work on buses?
- No: railcards are for train fares. Free bus travel comes with the concessionary bus pass instead.
- When don't railcards apply?
- Most cards have a minimum fare on weekday mornings (roughly before 10am, outside July and August), and some fares are excluded. Check the card's terms before an early commute.
From National Rail's railcard terms. Prices and rules are theirs and can change: railcard.co.uk is the final word.