Railcard discount: How much is a Railcard and how to save BIG

Rail fares may be rising again, but the good news is you can save BIG with a railcard. Here's what you need to know.

Travelling by train in the UK can feel like the worst value for money. Search any rail ticket site, and it can be as much as £160 return (or more) per person between two UK cities, especially if it's at the last minute and you're restricted by departure times.

The good news is that there are various ways to avoid paying exorbitant prices, and all you need is a railcard!

Better still, these railcards aren't restricted to students, seniors, and families. Over 20 million people in Great Britain can save with the right Railcard. See below for one that fits your needs and budget.

What is a Railcard?

In a nutshell, a railcard is a discount card that allows you to save money on train travel. A card typically costs between £20 and £35 per year (sometimes much less, depending on the type) and gives you a significant amount off rail fares, making it an excellent option for anyone planning a trip this year.

Railcards can be purchased online, and you can then download them as digital Railcards to your smartphone.

You can then book your train tickets online or in person, but to qualify, you must be able to present your Railcard during your journey, or your ticket will be invalidated.

How much can I save with a Railcard?

Savings with a railcard depend on where you are going, how many times you use the train, your age and the discounts that you use to buy the Railcard. The chart below can give you an idea of how much you can save.

* Annual saving is based on the average savings made by Railcard holders, excluding the price of the Railcard.

Are Railcards cost-effective?

Buying a Railcard for just one trip can be cost-effective and save you more than the cost of a Railcard. This is because some long-distance or peak-time train tickets in the UK (and Europe) are costly, so purchasing a Railcard just for that journey, even if you never use it again, can save you money.

For example, a London to Edinburgh anytime return ticket costs £150+.

With a 16-25 Railcard (£30), the ticket drops to £99 (saving £51). Net savings: £51 - £30 (Railcard cost) = £21 saved—even if you only take this one trip!

Railcards like Friends & Family and Two Together let you buy discounted tickets for others, so splitting costs can make it even cheaper.

All in all, this means there aren't any significant downsides to buying a railcard, but there is a range of factors you need to be aware of when using them:

• You must always have your railcard when making a journey (on your phone is fine).
• Railcards can't be used on specific peak journeys.
• Always check the T&Cs of your Railcard for specific restrictions, such as a £12 minimum fare on morning peak tickets.
• The Two Together / Family Railcards require you to travel with another person.
• To justify a £30 Railcard, you'd need to save £30+ on tickets, which could require several trips.

How to get a Senior or Veteran's Railcard:

Before buying any railcard, check eligibility and terms of use to ensure its value.

For instance, you can buy a Senior Railcard in advance online, up to 2 weeks before your 60th birthday, but it will only be valid for travel from your birthday onwards. You cannot buy before your 60th birthday. 

If you buy a Veterans Railcard, you must have served at least one day in His Majesty's UK Armed Forces or UK Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations.

Secondly, with all railcards, you must upload your identification online or present it at a station when buying your railcard.  This means having a valid UK Driving Licence, Passport or EEA national Identity card.

With a veteran's card, you can show various identification papers, including a copy of your military identification card (MOD Form 90), Veterans Recognition (ID) Card, Veterans UK Status card, Certificate of Service or Certificate of Discharge.

How much is a Student Railcard?

There are various student railcards:

• 16 -17 - 50% off standard Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance and Season tickets for just £35 a year.
• 16 - 25 - also known as the student railcard, offering a third off fares
• 25 - 30 mature students/millennial card - valid for mature students and those under 30, a third off all fares

These cards are fantastic for any student travelling around the UK and come with big savings; for instance, from London to Edinburgh, instead of being £81.90, the return is just £54.40. Manchester to London is £28.50 instead of £43.50.

Again, always check the terms and conditions, and know that you must keep them with you when you travel (on your phone or wallet).

Also, if you're using it to travel to college or university, peak-time tickets have a £12 minimum fare.

Lastly, when you start university, many places, such as insurance companies and banks, will offer a free student railcard upon signing up, so keep an eye out for those deals.

How much can I save with a Friends and Family Railcard?

The Friends and Family Railcard is perhaps one of the most well-known of these cards. Up to 4 adults and four children can travel on one card, with a third off all fares and children aged 5 to 15 getting a 60% discount.

For example, if you travel from London to Brighton, £46.20 will be £25.40 (saving £50.80 for two adults), and more for kids' tickets. Again, there are restrictions, such as railcard holders having to travel with a child for the discount to apply.

Also, Railcard discounts are unavailable on tickets for morning peak period services and journeys wholly within the London & South East Network Railcard area on Mondays to Fridays. 

The Two Together Railcard, also known as the 2 for 1 Railcard, is for anyone over 30 and under 60 who isn't travelling with children. It costs £35 a year, so £17.50 per person, allowing people who travel together to save an average of £104 per year. 

For example, for 2 Adults travelling from Nottingham to Edinburgh, the price without a Railcard is £311.40. Railcard saving £104.10.

The Two Together Railcard is valid off-peak Monday to Friday and anytime on weekends and bank holidays.

The Disabled Persons Railcard is for travellers with visual or hearing impairments who receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP). This card qualifies the holder for a one-third discount for themselves and an adult companion.

10 ways to get an even bigger discount with Railcards:

The good news about all railcards is that you can get even bigger discounts when you buy them by being smart about discounts and savings.

1. Opt for a three-year railcard. Buy a three-year Railcard and save £25. For example, a 16 - 25 Railcard is £35 a year but is just £80 for three years, saving £25. 
2. Visit London on the cheap. If you're coming to London, combine your Railcard with a London Oyster card, and 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 must have registered your Oyster in your name to do this.
3. Shop at Tesco for a cheaper railcard. Get a 16-25 Family & Friends, Senior or Two Together Railcard via Tesco Clubcard for £17.50 in Clubcard vouchers instead of the usual £35. 
4. Find an app deal. Download the TrainPal app and get up to £9 off Family & Friends Railcard App Orders. Plus, up to 33% off Train Ticket Bookings.
5. Sign up for Trip.com. You can get 20% off railcards with Trip.com. For example, you can get a Family and Friends Railcard for £28 a year, saving you £7.
6. Get your teen a railcard. If you have a teen, consider the 16 - 17 Railcard (handy for those university open days). This gives them 50% off standard anytime, off-peak, advance, and season tickets for just £35 a year, for an average annual savings of up to £400.
7. Buy a Network Railcard. If you live in the South East and are over 16, you can get a Network Railcard. This will give you an average annual savings of £154* plus partner discounts.
8. Choose your bank carefully. Lastly, if you're opening a student bank account, certain banks like Santander UK offer a free four-year 16-25 Railcard with their Edge Student account. The Railcard is worth around £100 and can be used for travel all over England, Scotland, and Wales. 
9. Look at what's available in your area only. For example, Club 50 is available in Scotland only but is better value than the Senior Railcard. It costs £15 annually and has a flat-fare deal of just £17 return between any two stations in Scotland at certain times of the year. 
10. Railcard discounts. A relatively unknown perk is that railcards have significant discounts for meal cards, hotels and more.

Save money with a European Railcard:

Finally, here is a quick word on European Railcards, which can save you a fortune this summer in Europe.

The Interrail Pass is an all-in-one Rail Pass that allows you to travel on almost all European trains. It also allows you to access 35 railway and ferry companies in 33 countries.

Even better, this Railcard is for everyone, from youths to adults and seniors, with children aged 4 to 11 going free with an adult who pays full fare.

You can even use it to travel from your home station to the closest National Rail station to your point of exit from the country, back home again afterwards, and on Eurostar services as long as you book your seat in advance.

There are two types of passes:

1. The Interrail Global Rail Pass is ideal for multi-country trips.

With a Global Rail Pass, you can get 15 days of unlimited train travel. This means you can travel on as many trains as you like on each of your 15 travel days – perfect for visiting 14–16 destinations.

Plus, you can use your 15 travel days any time within 2 months of your start date. Spread them out or use them back-to-back – it's up to you.

2. The Interrail One Country Pass—30 countries are available, and railcards start from £99 for three days.

For example, you can travel in Italy by rail for five days of unlimited train travel. This means you can travel on as many trains as you like on each of your five travel days—perfect for visiting four to six destinations in a month for £140.

If you're heading to one country or even living there for a set period, there are also country-specific railcards:

• France: Carte Avantage (youth, adult, senior, and family) gives 30–60% off French train tickets (TGV, TER, Intercités). Kids travel for €5–10 (Family card).
• Benelux: Rail Pass (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg). This offers 10 fixed-price journeys in Benelux.
• Renfe Spain: Tarjeta Dorada (only for Seniors 60+). 25–40% off Spanish trains (AVE, Media Distancia).
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If you've found this post helpful, it's worth looking at our posts on how to avoid hidden holiday costs, Cheap London theatre tickets, and what Avios points are to help you save money in summer 2025.