Railcards and cheaper fares
Which railcard is right for you?
Answer four questions: the tool lists the national railcards you can hold, the most useful first.
Which railcards can I get?
Look first at
26-30 Railcard
Mature students aged 26 and over can also hold a 16-25 Railcard; veterans have their own card.
Railcards cut the price of most train tickets across Great Britain by a third, for a yearly fee, and the right one depends on your age, who you travel with and where. Young people aged 16 to 25, and mature students, can hold the 16-25 Railcard; those aged 26 to 30 the 26-30 Railcard; people of 60 and over the Senior Railcard. Couples or any two named adults travelling together can share the Two Together Railcard for £35. Families with children aged 5 to 15 use the Family & Friends Railcard, which takes a third off for adults and 60% off for children. The Network Railcard covers London and the South East. The Disabled Persons Railcard costs £20 and also discounts a companion, and the Veterans Railcard serves those who served in the armed forces. The 16-17 Saver gives 50% off, seasons included. Most cards cost £35 a year, several also £80 for three years. Each has its own limits, set out below.
Fare with the railcard
You pay
£26.67
| Discount | 33.3% |
| Saving | £13.33 |
| Minimum fare | £12 |
1-year card can be bought until the day before the 26th birthday, 3-year card until the day before the 24th.
Schemes and rules read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method
All national railcards
| Railcard | Who | 1 year | 3 years | Discount | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-25 Railcard | 16 to 25, and mature students aged 26 and over | £35 | £80 | 33.3% | minimum fare £12 before 10am Monday to Friday, except Advance tickets, public holidays and July and August |
| 26-30 Railcard | 26 to 30 | £35 | - | 33.3% | minimum fare £12 before 10am Monday to Friday, except Advance tickets and public holidays |
| Senior Railcard | 60 and over | £35 | £80 | 33.3% | Cannot be used for weekday morning peak trips inside the London and South East area, public holidays aside. |
| Two Together Railcard | two named people aged 16 and over | £35 | - | 33.3% | not before 09:30 on weekdays |
| Network Railcard | 16 and over | £35 | - | 33.3% | minimum fare £13 Monday to Friday |
| Family & Friends Railcard | any adult aged 16 or over | £35 | £80 | 33.3% | Weekday morning peak trips inside the London and South East area are excluded; £1 minimum child fare. |
| Disabled Persons Railcard | people with a qualifying disability, from age 5 | £20 | £54 | 33.3% | No time restrictions. |
| 16-17 Saver | 16 and 17 | £35 | - | 50% | 50% off Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance and season tickets, no minimum fare; bought from 17 August 2026 it lasts a full year even past the 18th birthday. |
| Veterans Railcard | veterans of the UK armed forces | £35 | £80 | 33.3% | minimum fare £12 before 10am Monday to Friday, except Advance tickets, public holidays and July and August |
Choosing in three questions
- Your age. Under 31, an age-based card is usually the obvious choice; 60 and over, the Senior card.
- Who you travel with. A regular companion makes the Two Together card worth a look, children make the Family & Friends card the strongest.
- Where and when. Mostly in London and the South East after 10am? The Network card has no age condition. Weekday mornings? Check the card's time limit or minimum fare.
Fare with the railcard
You pay
£26.67
| Discount | 33.3% |
| Saving | £13.33 |
| Minimum fare | £12 |
1-year card can be bought until the day before the 26th birthday, 3-year card until the day before the 24th.
Minimum fares and time limits, explained
A minimum fare is the lowest price you pay with the card at certain times: with the 16-25 card, a ticket used before 10am on a weekday cannot cost less than £12 after the discount, except Advance tickets and in July and August. A time limit is stricter: the card gives no discount at all on trains before a set time. The Network card combines both: valid after 10am on weekdays, with a minimum fare of £13 on weekdays. These rules decide whether a card pays for itself on your trips, which the break-even page works out.
Railcards and Delay Repay
A railcard fare is still a ticket like any other: if the train is late, Delay Repay applies to the discounted price you paid. If the train is cancelled and you give up, the discounted price comes back in full. The railcard itself is not refunded or extended because of disruption.
The railcard must be carried on every journey, on the app or as a card, and shown with the ticket when asked.