Basically, a railcard is a discount card that allows you to save money on the price of eligible train tickets.
The cards are available for either one year or three years. Most people will be eligible for at least one type of card, depending on factors such as your age, and who you normally travel with.
Here’s a list of the different cards you can get, what they cost, what they offer, and who is eligible…
16-17 Saver Railcard
This card costs £30 a year and comes with 50% off fares.
The 16-17 Saver can be purchased by all 16 and 17-year-olds regardless of nationality. It’s valid for one year or until your 18th birthday, whichever comes first.
It cannot be used for ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper services, or with certain Oyster tickets and Travelcards for travel in London. So do check the details and how they apply to you.
16-25 Railcard
This card costs £30 for a single year, or £70 for three years.
It offers a third off of adult fares and is for those under 26 or full-time students of any age.
If you’re travelling between 4.30am and 10am, Monday to Friday, you’ll need to buy a ticket with a minimum cost of £12 to use your railcard and get that discount.
26-30 Railcard
This card costs £30 for one year and also offers a third off of adult fares.
You can buy a 26-30 Railcard any time before your 31st birthday and keep using it for a whole year, until its expiry date.
As above, and with many of the other railcards on this list, you’ll need to spend at least £12 to use your discount on journeys between 4.30am and 10am, Monday to Friday.
Disabled Person’s Railcard
This card costs £20 for one year, or £54 for three years.
It offers you and an adult companion a third off.
You will qualify if you receive disability-related benefits and/or have certain disabilities. Click here for more information on eligibility.
Your companion doesn’t need to be a carer to qualify.
Family & Friends Railcard
This card costs £30 for one year, or £70 for three years.
It offers a third off for adults and 60% for children on most rail fares.
Up to four adults (aged 16+) are eligible when travelling with up to four children (five to 15).
Two adults can be named on the card but they don’t need to travel together to use it. You do need to be travelling with at least one child, aged 5-15.
There are some restrictions on its use. For example, it cannot be used on weekday mornings peak-time between London and southeast England area stations.
HM Forces Railcard
This card costs £21 for one year and offers a third off for adults and 60% off for a maximum of four children on most rail fares.
All members of regular forces and volunteer reserve, non-regular permanent staff and more are eligible. Click here to see the full list.
You can use the discount on all journeys, but you will require a minimum £12 fare for journeys 4.30am to 10am, Monday to Friday (except July, August and public holidays).
The card is issued directly to HM Forces Personnel by their corresponding Ministry of Defence service unit to whom all enquiries should be made.
Network Railcard
This card costs £30 for one year and offers a third off most adult fares and 60% off child fares in the London and the South East area – which might be bigger than you think.
With this railcard, you can take up to three adults with you and they also get up to a third off their fare.
You can also take up to four children aged 5-15 with you, and get 60% off their tickets.
It is not valid before 10am on weekdays, except for some services.
There is a £13 minimum fare per adult Monday to Friday and a £1 minimum fare per child aged five to 15 at all times.
Senior Railcard
This railcard for those aged 60 and over costs £30 for one year, or £70 for three years, though some local councils offer this slightly cheaper.
Like most of the other cards here, it offers users a third off adult fares.
It is not valid on weekday mornings peak time between London and South East England area stations.
Two Together Railcard
This third off railcard is for two named people aged 16+ travelling together. It costs £30 for one year.
It’s intended to help people save with the person they travel with most – be that a couple, friend or colleague.
It is not valid from 4.30am to 9.30am on weekdays and both named people must purchase tickets together and start and finish their journeys together.
Veterans Railcard
This costs £30 for one year or £70 for three years.
It offers users a third off adult fares and 60% off for children on most rail fares.
Those who served one day or more in HM Armed Forces (regular or reserve) are eligible. It is also available to merchant mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations.
Check the eligibility criteria and who else can benefit.
How do I apply for a Railcard?
You can apply online with National Rail for a digital or physical card.
You can also buy them in person at a staffed station ticket office for a physical card. You can buy a card for yourself or another person.
For certain types of railcards, you will need to provide proof of identity – forms of ID accepted are:
- Passport
- Driving Licence (excluding Northern Ireland)
- EEA National Identity Card
Read more in our Basically series…
