16-25 Railcard - National Railcards

• Anyone aged 16 to 25,
• or over 25 and in full-time study
• Get a third off rail travel

• Get 1/3 off Standard Anytime, 
• Off-Peak, Standard Advanced and
• First Class Advanced fares
• £30 per year

• A 16-25 Railcard costs just £30 for a whole year

Get 1/3 Off Train Travel With A 16-25 Railcard

1. 1/3 off rail travel.
2. Average annual savings of up to £182!**.
3. Just £30 for 1 year or £70 for 3 years.
4. For everyone aged 16-25 and mature students.

How Much Can I Save?

People with a 16-25 Railcard save on average £182 per year**
or £4.64 per journey^.

If you’re travelling here’s an example of some of the savings you can make on train tickets:

Manchester - UCL:  Has a Railcard Price of

£68.60 = £45.25*

Glasgow - Leeds University:  Has a Railcard Price of

£51.40 = £33.90*

Birmingham - Cambridge University:  Has a Railcard Price of

£34.90 = £23.00*

Check How Much You Can Save

How Does Using a Railcard Work?

1. Get your Railcard.
2. Buy your discounted train tickets.
3. Have your Railcard with you when you travel.

• There’s every reason to be happy if you’re aged 16 to 25, because with this Railcard you’ll enjoy 1/3 off rail fares when you go by train.
• You can also apply for one if you’re a mature student in full time study, as long as you’re eligible. 
• It means you can save money on trips into town, days out to the coast, or weekend festivals – as many times as you like

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The Railcard costs just £30.
2. So after three or four trips, the card will have paid for itself.
3. And over a year, you could save an average of £179*.

 Your 16-25 Railcard Will Save You 1/3 Off A Wide Range Of Tickets.

1. Your Railcard doesn’t just save you money on travel.
2. It saves you money with our partners too – on days out, restaurants, hotels and more.
3. Visit our Offers and Rewards area regularly to keep up to date on the great deals available.

Get More For Your Money With A 3-year Railcard

• If you’re between 16 and 25, and you know you’re going to be doing a lot of travelling over the next 3 years, why not buy a 3-year Railcard instead?
• It costs just £70, saving you £20 on the price of three 1-year Railcards.
• What’s more you can get a 3-year 16-25 Railcard right up until the day before your 24th birthday.

* Average saving is based on the average saving made by 16-25 Railcard holders in 2013/14. 

16-25 Railcard A Quick Check To Make Sure You Are Eligible...

Are You 16-25?

• If you’re between 16 and 25 years old, you’re eligible.
• In this case, you can buy your Railcard online using a valid debit or credit card.
• Have a valid UK driving license or international passport, and a digital passport-style photo for uploading.
• It will then be delivered for free within 5 working days.

16-25 Railcard Are You A Mature Student?

To be eligible as a mature student and buy a 1-year Railcard, you will need:

1. To be attending a recognised college or university, for over 15 hours a week, at least 20 weeks a year.
2. Unfortunately, Open University, distance learning and part-time courses do not qualify.
3. To have the mature student section of the 16-25 Railcard application form completed by your College or University.
4. Have an NUS card or College/University photocard as proof of identity.

As a mature student, you can now apply online, but you’ll need to submit evidence of your eligibility when applying. You can do this by to uploading the signed Mature Student declaration (PDF. File size: 40KB) section of the 16-25 Railcard application form, a scanned copy of your student photocard, and a digital passport-style photo.

• Mature students will need to provide evidence of continuing study every year, and so are only eligible to apply for the 1-year Railcard.

When Can I Use My 16-25 Railcard?

1. Your 16-25 Railcard gets you 1/3 off Standard Anytime and Off-Peak fares, as well as Standard Advance and First Class Advance fares.
2. And because there’s no limit to the number of times you can use your Railcard, the potential for adventure is huge.

 16-25 Railcard Save On These Types Of Tickets

• Standard Anytime and Anytime Day Singles and Returns
• Standard Off-Peak and Off-Peak Day Singles and Returns
• Standard Super Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak Day Singles and Returns
• Standard and First Class Advance*
• Most Rail Rovers fares
• Gatwick Express, Stansted Express, Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect Services
• Oyster Off-Peak pay as you go Daily Price Cap and Off-Peak pay as you go single fares for journeys on National Rail, London Underground and Docklands Light Railway
• Off-Peak Day Travelcard Zones 1-6 and some ticket types offered by individual train companies - please enquire locally for details (Subject to minimum fare of £8.00)
• Anytime Day Travelcard Zones 1-6 when bought as part of ticket to London from outside the London Zones area (Subject to minimum fare of £17.50)
• Caledonian Sleeper dedicated tickets: Standard Sleeper Seat, Standard Sleeper Berth (Twin), Standard Sleeper Berth (Solo), First Class Sleeper Berth.
• PLUSBUS tickets

*These tickets need to be booked before you travel.

• A £12 minimum fare applies on all journeys made between 04:30 and 10:00 Monday to Friday
• Journeys that commence at 10:00 will receive the Railcard discount
• If you travel regularly between 04:30 and 10:00 Monday to Friday, to work or your place of study for instance, a weekly or monthly season ticket could be the best way for you to save money. Railcards do not give discounts on season tickets.
• The £12 minimum fare DOES NOT apply at weekends, on Public Holidays and during July and August. For full details of minimum fares, please ask at your local staffed station and some National Rail-licensed Travel Agents.
• Remember, not every ticket type is available for every journey that you might want to make, so it’s always best to check before booking. And be sure to read the full terms and conditions for using your Railcard.

1. Season tickets including Travelcard Season tickets
2. Eurostar tickets
3. First Class fares (except First Class Advance and Weekend First for some train companies, as mentioned above)
4. Some Train Company specific promotional offers
5. Tickets for special excursion or Charter trains and some coach / bus links, including Railair services
6. Most London Underground and Docklands Light Railway tickets (unless using Oyster pay as you go)

• A valid passport or UK driving licence to verify your identity
• A digital passport-style photo saved to your computer, tablet or mobile phone
• A debit or credit card

1. We aim to dispatch your Railcard within one working day of you ordering it, but it’s probably best to allow up to five working days for your 16-25 Railcard to arrive.
2. It’ll be sent out free of charge by First Class post, but if you prefer, you have the option to pay for Special Delivery.
3. You’ll need the physical Railcard with you to be able to get a discount on your rail ticket, so be sure to leave enough time before your journey for the Railcard to reach you.
4. If you need to travel straight away, you’re better off buying a 16-25 Railcard over the counter at your local staffed station.

• Your birth certificate
• Passport (all nationalities accepted)
• UK driving licence
• National identity card

• A passport-size photo
• Proof of eligibility if applying as a mature student

If you're renewing your Railcard, you'll need to fill in the application form, and take your existing Railcard and Photocard. These are automatically accepted as proof of your age. If you are renewing an online Railcard at a station you will need proof of age as above.

Once you've bought your Railcard at a station, you can then register it online.  This will make it easier for you to renew or buy other cards online.

16-25 Railcard By Phone

We do not sell by phone, only online

Time To Renew Your 16-25 Railcard?

You can renew your 16-25 Railcard online when it’s within one month of its expiry date.

Simply follow these easy steps:

• Log in to your account
• Click Renew next to the Railcard you wish to renew
• Check all the details are correct
• Pay, and you’re done!

If we have your email address, we’ll send you a reminder that your Railcard is due for renewal. But remember, it’s your responsibility to check that your Railcard is in date before buying or using Railcard-discounted tickets.

• If you didn’t buy your Railcard online, you can still renew it online.
• Just make sure you register your Railcard first so that you don't lose any validity.

Eligibility and Terms of Use

Can I Continue To Use My Railcard If I Have My 26th Birthday Before It Expires?

• Yes. You can buy or renew your 1-year 16-25 Railcard up to and including the day before your 26th birthday and keep using it until its expiry date.
• With 3-year 16-25 Railcards you can buy them up until the day before your 24th birthday, which will make the expiry date the day before your 27th birthday.

Can I Use My Railcard For Tickets For Travel On The London Underground?

• With your Railcard you can get 1/3 off Anytime Day Travelcard when bought as part of your journey to London from outside London Zones 1-9 (subject to a minimum fare which is currently £19.10).
• With an Oyster card, you can get your Railcard discount loaded onto your Oyster card to save 1/3 on single off-peak pay as you go fares on London Underground and Docklands Light Railway services in London.
• You will need to have registered your Oyster in your name to do this.
• Simply take your Oyster card and valid Railcard to a London Underground station and ask a member of staff to set the discount for you.
• You can also get the discount set at Oyster Ticket Shops and Visitor Centres.

I Am A Mature Student, Can I Buy Or Renew A Railcard Online?

• Yes. You will, however, need to complete a Mature Student Application Form to prove that you are still in full time study. You will need to get it endorsed by your university/college and also include a copy of your student photo identity card or NUS photo ID. 
• Please allow up to 5 working days for your Railcard application to be approved.

How Long Do I Have To Wait For My Railcard To Arrive?

• If you have ordered a plastic 16-25 Railcard online, please allow up to 5 working days for delivery.
• If you paid for ‘Special Delivery’ and placed your order before 15:45pm, your Railcard will be delivered within two days (Monday to Thursday) or three days (Friday to Sunday).
• If you have purchased a digital 16-25 Railcard, it will be available to use straight away.
• A download code will be sent to your registered email address, along with instructions on how to download your Railcard.
• You cannot travel on discounted tickets until you have received your Railcard.

Can I Use A Provisional Driving Licence To Prove My Age Online?

• Yes. Provisional driving licences can be used to demonstrate your age to our online system.

More Eligibility and Terms of Use

1. Buy a Railcard and keep it with you when you travel (on your phone or wallet).
2. Save on most tickets including Advance tickets.
3. £12 minimum fare applies on morning peak.

Is This Railcard For You? - A Quick check To Make Sure You Are Eligible...

1. Are you 16-25?.
2. Or a mature student in full-time study?
3. Good, you can apply!

If You Are Between 16-25

• When you are young you might find that you have a load of things you want to do and places to go, but never enough cash to do them.
• Having a Railcard can help you save on train journeys around Britain, making your daily trips a lot less painful for your (or your mum and dad’s) bank balance.
• You also have the option to get a 3-year or a 1-year Railcard.

If you are aged 16 or 17, you could save even more ££ with our 16-17 Saver, which gets you 50% off rail fares, including Season tickets!

Mature Students Still Get Lots Of Rail Card Options

If you are a mature student in full-time study, you can also make the most of these savings with the 1-year Railcard.

But you will need to show the following:

• A Mature Student section of the 16-25 Railcard application form completed by your college or uni as proof that you’re going to a recognised institution, for over 15 hours a week, at least 20 weeks a year.
• This 'does not' include Open University, distance learning and part-time courses.
• An NUS card or College/University photocard as proof of identity.

You can also renew your Railcard yearly, as long as you can provide proof that you’re still continuing your education.

Mature Student In Full-Time Study?

Complete this form and submit it with your Railcard application

Download Application Form

16-25 Railcard Terms & Conditions
Conditions of issue and use of the 16-25 Railcard and reduced priced tickets ('discounted tickets') bought with a 16-25 Railcard

1. ATOC Ltd enters into the contract for the issue and use of the 16-25 Railcard on behalf of the Train Companies. Reference to a ‘Train Company’ or the ‘Train Companies’ means those Train Companies which, pursuant to a franchise agreement, operate Passenger Railway Services in Great Britain. Any other licensed passenger train operators that may join the arrangement will accept the 16-25 Railcard for travel on their services.
2. You must sign the Railcard before use to show acceptance of all the conditions as stated here.
3. You must be aged 16-25 years old to purchase Railcard. Mature students are also eligible to purchase the 1-year Railcard if over 25 years old and in full time education (with valid proof). 3-year 16-25 Railcards are available online only and may be purchased up until the day before your 24th birthday.
4. The Railcard and tickets bought with it are not transferable and must not be given, loaned, or resold to anyone else.
5. Railcards purchased online will incorporate your photograph. If you have a Railcard that does not incorporate your photograph, you must carry a separate 16-25 Photocard (or where appropriate a ‘Permit to travel without Photocard’) and you must present this in any circumstance where you present your Railcard (buying tickets or travelling with reduced priced tickets).
6. Tickets for your journey should be purchased before boarding the train and when buying tickets you must show the Railcard. This does not apply if there was no ticket office at the station at which you began your journey or if the ticket office was closed and there was no ticket machine from which you could buy discounted tickets.
7. You must carry your Railcard with you on your journey and when asked by rail staff, you must show a valid ticket and valid Railcard. If you fail to do so, the Train Companies reserve the right to charge you the full price Standard Single fare for your journey as if no ticket was purchased before starting the journey and in some cases a Penalty Fare.
8. A £12 minimum fare applies for journeys starting between 4.30am-10am Monday to Friday excluding Advance Fares. This minimum fare does not apply on Public Holidays or throughout July and August.
9. The Railcard will not be valid if it is damaged. The Train Companies do not undertake to issue refunds on unused/unwanted Railcards, or to extend their validity. In the event of loss or damage an application for the replacement of a Railcard may be made: where the original Railcard was purchased at a rail station this may only be requested at a staffed station ticket office (the completed ‘Receipt’ voucher from the original application form must be produced); where the Railcard was purchased online, customers may only request a replacement online.
10. Only one replacement may be issued in a 12 month period for lost or damaged Railcards and a £10 administration fee is payable. No fee will be charged for the replacement of a stolen Railcard provided you have a crime reference number/documentation issued by the Police. You will be requested to show some form of identification if obtaining a replacement from a station.
11. The Railcard and all tickets issued at a Railcard discount are issued subject to the National Rail Conditions of Carriage and the conditions listed here. Copies of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage are available online at www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/46427.aspx
12. The Railcard does not become your property and if requested must be handed in to a representative of any Train Company.
13. The right is reserved to revise these Conditions. The Train Companies will endeavour to give three months’ notice of any changes before they are due to come into effect.
14. Fraudulent use of Railcards and Railcard discounted tickets may lead to criminal prosecution.
15. 16-25 Railcard Special note
16. As long as you are aged 25 at the time that the Railcard is purchased, you may still travel at the discounted fare throughout the validity period of the Railcard, even if you become 26 years old during that time. Likewise, 3-year 16-25 Railcards purchased online up until the day before your 24th birthday will be valid for a full 3 years.