Concessionary Fares on the British railway network
Encyclopedia
In addition to the large number and variety of short-term or localised promotional fares that have been available to passengers on the British railway network
in recent decades (especially since privatisation
), there are many permanent concessionary fare schemes available to passengers. Some of these take the form of Railcards, which can be purchased by people who qualify according to the conditions, and which give discounts for all journeys over a period of time; other concessions are available for individual journeys. In all cases, details of the type of concession will be printed on the passenger's travel ticket, to distinguish reduced-rate tickets from those sold at the standard full fare.
introduced several discount cards that were available to certain groups of people. Various reasons are usually cited:
All of the schemes were retained after privatisation, despite some threats of abolition. By generating extra income at off-peak times when trains are generally less crowded, they offer a potential commercial benefit for the TOCs.
Participation in the Young Persons, Senior and Disabled Persons Railcard schemes is mandatory for all TOCs under their franchise agreements; the Family and HM Forces Railcard schemes are notionally voluntary, but all TOCs participate in them. For the Network Railcard, which has a restricted geographical area, all TOCs in the relevant area are members of the scheme and participate in it. The revenue applicable to each TOC from the use of each Railcard is calculated by the Association of Train Operating Companies
(ATOC), and voting rights and costs payable are attributed accordingly.
7% of fare revenue is derived from travel using one of the Railcard schemes. This amounts to approximately £400m, of which £60m is estimated by ATOC to be attributable entirely to the existence of the Railcards - if they were not available, journeys to a total value of £60m per year would not be made by rail. Approximately 2,200,000 Railcards are in use at any one time in Britain.
This railcard costs £28.00, and is available to anybody between the ages of 16 and 25 (inclusive) - a person may purchase one the day before their 26th birthday and use it up to their 27th. Also, full-time students aged 26 or above may buy one. (In this instance, a "full-time student" is considered to be a person who studies at a "recognised educational establishment" for at least 15 hours per week and 20 weeks per year, or a person who holds an International Student Identity Card
.)
The standard discount on the full adult fare is 34%, to the nearest £0.05; virtually all ticket types qualify for a discount. No discounts are available for accompanying children. In addition, a minimum fare applies before 1000 Monday to Friday; this used to be £8.00 for a single ticket and discounted returns, and £16.00 for full-price return ticket types. However, from 17 May 2009 the minimum fare changed to £12 regardless of whether it was a single or a return ticket bought. Although most discounted tickets become available after 0930, the minimum fare of £12 is still charged until 1000. During July and August the minimum fare rule does not apply. Tickets issued at the minimum fare bear the wording MIN.
Official website
This railcard costs £28.00, and is available to anybody aged 60 or over. Applications must be supported by a valid birth certificate
, passport
or driving licence
confirming the applicant's age. Up to the early 1990s, up to four accompanying children could travel for £1.00 each, and the standard discount on the full adult fare was 50%. The railcard was known at that time as the Senior Citizen Railcard. In 1992, however, the "new" Senior Railcard was phased in; the standard discount became 34%, and there was no longer a discount for accompanying children. Again, not all ticket types qualify for a discount. Certain county councils or other local authorities subsidise Senior Railcards for their residents.
Official website
This railcard costs £26.00, and is available to anybody aged 16 or over. A second adult can be named as a co-holder. At least one adult (which must include one of the named holders) and one child must travel in order to receive the discounts, which are:
The maximum group size is four adults and four children. One of the adults in the group must always be the cardholder (or the co-holder, in the case of a jointly-held railcard). Not all ticket types qualify for a discount.
Official website
This railcard was introduced in 1986, when Network SouthEast
was created. It gives a 34% discount on many (but again, not all) types of ticket within the Network SouthEast area. Similar to the Family Railcard, but without the requirement for a child to be travelling to obtain the discount, groups of up to four adults and four children may travel together and gain the following discounts:
There have been various changes to the Network Railcard's conditions since 1986, and as with the Senior Railcard, a previous version existed under a different name (the Network Card). The current version costs £25.00.
Official website
The qualification criteria also changed slightly at this date. Disabled Persons Railcards are not issued at National Rail stations; they must be applied for by post http://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/buying-your-railcard.
Official website
s, and in most cases the partners and dependent children of eligible members. Discounts for the Railcard holder are generally 34% (subject to minimum fares), although Supersaver, Saver and Advance/SuperAdvance tickets are discounted by 26%. Up to four accompanied children may travel at a 60% discount on the standard Child fare, with a £1.00 minimum fare. HM Forces Railcards cost £15 and are distributed at a local level by the Pay and Administration Offices at the member's Unit.
Official website
Official website
between Shrewsbury, Aberystwyth and Machynlleth. The Railcard can only be purchased at Aberystwyth and Machynlleth stations, and is only available to residents of the area.
and Oxford
(and intermediate stops). Cardholders must be aged 16 or over, no co-holders can be named, and there are no discounts for accompanying adults or children. The Railcard can be bought at any staffed station on the route. The discount is not available until the 08.44 train from Worcester and the 08.48 train from Oxford on weekdays, but there are no weekend restrictions.
Cardholders must be aged 16 or over, and no co-holders can be named, but up to four accompanied children can travel at a 60% discount on the standard Child fare (subject to a £1.00 minimum fare). (In the early years, up to two children could travel for a flat fare of £2.00.) Only residents in certain postcode areas within the region of validity may apply; however, an arrangement between the Friends of the Settle–Carlisle Line user group and train operator Northern Rail
allows members of the group to buy a "Gold Card" (a plastic magnetic stripe card
with an integrated circuit chip
, rather than a printed paper card) giving them the same benefits as the Railcard. This card costs £12.00.
and Cornwall
, was introduced on 10 September 2006 to replace two Railcards which covered the counties separately: the Devon Railcard and the Cornish Railcard. It gives discounts for the holder (who must be aged 16 or over) and one accompanying adult of 34% on Cheap Day and Saver Singles and Returns for journeys wholly within the two counties, and 34% on the countywide Devon Day Ranger and Cornwall Day Ranger tickets, and line-specific Rangers for the following branch line
s: Atlantic Coast Line
, Looe Valley Line
, Maritime Line
, Tamar Valley Line
and Tarka Line
. The only exception is the St Ives Bay Line
Day Ranger, which is discounted by 50% when the Railcard is used. Up to four children can accompany the adult(s) for a flat fare of £1.00 each for point-to-point tickets, or £2.00 for Day Rangers. While the array of discounts is broadly the same as those available with the Devon Railcard, the former Cornish Railcard offered 34% discounts on Standard Day Singles and Returns as well. These tickets were available for travel during the peak period (before 9.30am). This change prompted criticism that people who travelled frequently but not daily at peak times in Cornwall would have to pay more: although all season tickets for journeys within Cornwall were reduced in price from 10 September 2006, they are only cost-effective for regular travellers (four or five weekdays per week).
The original Cornish Railcard was one of the earliest examples of a local Railcard, having been introduced on 4 November 1983. It originally cost £6.00 for adults, and there was a child version priced at £3.00. All journeys wholly within Cornwall (First and Second Class) were charged at half price, as were returns to Plymouth
, just across the border into Devon. Some other offers for travel outside Cornwall were included until May 1984, at which point the Railcard was halved in price. By 1986, a 50% discount was only available on Cheap Day Returns; all other tickets received a 34% discount. Reduced-rate Seven Day Season Tickets could also now be bought by Railcard holders. Also, the price had increased to £7.00 (adults) and £3.50 (children). By 1989, another major change had taken place: only Cornwall residents could buy the Railcard; a Photocard (photographic identity card) was required; the Child version was withdrawn; Cheap Day Return discounts had been cut to 34%; the Tamar Valley Line
(Plymouth
–Gunnislake
) was included in its entirety, although parts of it lie within Devon; and the design of the APTIS card (British Rail form number BR 4599/77) had changed significantly, now incorporating a stylised map of the Cornish peninsula and the railway lines serving the county.
and Great Ayton
inclusive, and also for journeys from these stations to the other stations on the line - Nunthorpe
, Gypsy Lane
, Marton
and Middlesbrough
. The 34% discount, and accompanying child discount (again subject to the £1.00 minimum fare), is also available on the Tees Day Ranger ticket, which offers unlimited journeys on the route in one day; and on return tickets on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
, a preserved railway
running from Grosmont
to Pickering
. Cardholders must be aged 16 or over, and no co-holders can be named, but up to four accompanied children can travel at a 60% discount on the standard Child fare (subject to a £1.00 minimum fare). The Railcard is only available to residents living in the boroughs of Stockton-on-Tees
, Middlesbrough
and Redcar and Cleveland
and the Hambleton
, Scarborough
and Ryedale
districts of North Yorkshire
. All revenue raised through the sale of these Railcards is used by the Esk Valley Railway Development Company, a not-for-profit organisation
which runs the line as a "Community Railway", to maintain and improve the line.
to Shrewsbury
. A 34% discount is available on all fares for journeys between any two stations on the route. Up to two children can accompany the cardholder for a flat fare of £2.00. The Railcard may be purchased at Llandrindod station
, or by postal application. The scheme was relaunched and extended on 29 September 2005.
- principally the IV and KW postal districts. A 50% discount is available for the cardholder for all journeys on the following routes, with up to two children accompanying the cardholder being charged a £2.00 flat fare:
Railcards are issued after an application form is completed and submitted by post or to the ticket office at , , Inverness, Kyle of Lochalsh, Mallaig, Oban, Thurso or Wick stations.
The current form of the Railcard dates from 3 January 1999, when a previous version covering a more restricted geographical area was merged with the former West Highland Railcard, which was itself introduced in 1993.
The "original" Highland Railcard scheme appears to date from 1988, as ticket stock (British Rail form number BR 4599/79) was being printed in that year, but only the details of its subsequent relaunches are known. The first change happened as from 1 October 1991, with a six-month Railcard being priced at £4.00 and giving a 34% discount on all ticket types for journeys between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh, Thurso and Wick. In September 1994, the Railcard was made available free, and a 34% discount was available on the standard Child fare for one accompanying child. From 3 January 1999, when the West Highland Railcard was integrated into it, the price became £5.00 and two accompanying children could travel for £2.00 each. The price subsequently rose to its current £7.50 level.
The West Highland Railcard lasted just over five years, from 1 October 1993 until 3 January 1999, but the boundaries of its validity were extended, it changed from priced to free of charge, and the areas prospective holders had to live in to qualify were altered. For the first year, the Railcard cost £5.00 for 12 months, and could be used for all journeys between Mallaig and Helensburgh Upper
, and for through tickets on to Glasgow Queen Street. All fares were discounted by 34% with the Railcard, and one accompanying child could travel for 34% off the Child fare. As with the Highland Railcard, a relaunch in September 1994 made the card free of charge; the route to Oban was included at the same time. The British Rail form number for the ticket stock was BR 4599/145.
. Discounts of 34% are available on all journeys on the routes collectively known as the West Wales Line
: the Fishguard Harbour, Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock branch lines, and the common section from Whitland
via Carmarthen
through to Swansea
. Standard Day Returns now receive the discount, although tickets bought with the Railcard cannot be used on the section of the Heart of Wales line between Swansea and Llanelli
. The Railcards can be bought at Haverfordwest
and Carmarthen stations.
network in South Wales, discounts are available with two Railcards:
Introduced on 30 May 1999, at a cost of £5.00 for one year, and gives a 50% discount on Cheap Day Return fares for journeys wholly within the Valley Lines area. There are no discounts for accompanying passengers. Tickets are issued with status code VAL-S. From February 2000, the price was reduced to £4.00 for permanent residents of the county borough
s of Rhondda Cynon Taff
and Merthyr Tydfil
. The form number of the ticket stock used is RSP 4599/206.
Introduced at the same time as the Valleys Senior Railcard, this costs £9.00 for one year, and gives a 26% discount on Standard Day and Cheap Day Single and Return fares in the area, and a 10% discount on Seven Day Season Tickets. Originally, only Cheap Day Returns and season ticket received a discount. The demise of the Cornish Railcard means that this is the only Railcard anywhere in Great Britain that offers a discount on Season Tickets (although New Deal Photocards also do). Ticket stock bears the form number RSP 4599/216.
The Maesteg Line
was initially excluded from the routes on which the railcards were valid; this anomaly was removed on 5 January 2003.
.jpg)
Between 12 May 1985 and 8 October 1988, holders of Annual Season Tickets could buy an Annual Season Ticket Holder's Railcard which gave a 50% discount on Cheap Day Return fares and 34% off Saver tickets for journeys throughout the British Rail network. Discounted tickets were issued with the status code AST-H. Up to four children could travel with the Railcard holder for £1.00 each; their tickets were printed with status code CHAST. Discounted Cheap Day Returns could not be bought on Fridays.
From September 1987, more than 12 months before the Annual Season Ticket Holder's Railcard was discontinued, a similar scheme began in the Network SouthEast
area of London and southeast England. Annual season tickets issued for journeys within this area became known as Gold Cards, and the season ticket functioned as a Railcard giving various benefits which were broadly the same as those received by holders of the former Network Card: 34% discounts for themselves and accompanying adults on most off-peak fares, £1.00 flat-fare tickets for children, and First Class Supplement upgrades. The same time restriction (after 10.00am on weekdays; all day at weekends and on public holidays) also applied. When a Gold Card holder is travelling on the route covered by their Gold Card with accompanying adults or children, a separate discounted ticket does not have to be purchased by the Gold Card holder in order to secure the relevant discounts for the other members of the group.
As of 2007, these discounts are still available. When the Network Card changed to the more restrictive "Network Railcard" format, with children receiving a 60% discount subject to a minimum £1.00 fare (rather than a £1.00 flat fare in all cases) and adults being subject to a £10.00 minimum fare on weekdays, the Gold Card's conditions remained the same as before, and have not changed since. Notably, First Class Supplement tickets are still available for Gold Card holders, whereas this benefit has been withdrawn for the Network Railcard. These supplements cost £5.00 for adults and £3.00 for accompanying children, and permit travel in First Class accommodation. (When first introduced, these supplements cost £3.00 and £1.50 respectively.)
A card giving the same benefits, usually known as the Partner's Card but officially named Gold Card Partner's Network Card, is also available. Initially, Gold Card holders could have a free Network Card issued to them on behalf of a friend, relative or partner; but from 8 January 1989, the new Partner's Card (on dedicated APTIS ticket stock, form number BR 4599/69) was issued instead, at a cost of £1.00. A relative or friend of the Gold Card holder could be nominated, and the Partner's Card could be used independently of the Gold Card—the two cardholders did not have to travel together. The First Class Supplement benefit was withdrawn from Partner's Cards at the same time as from Network Railcards. Nowadays, the card issued to the partner is once again a Network Railcard. It still costs £1, but is subject to the substantial minimum fare rule.
Following the introduction of the Gold Card and the Partner's Card, a new status code was introduced for tickets issued with these: GOLDC for adult tickets, with child tickets showing CHNGC. GOLD was occasionally seen on adult tickets in 1990.
A traveller purchasing an annual Travelcard
loaded on an Oyster card
is issued a "Gold Record Card" when the ticket is sold (or by post for tickets issued online or by telesales). The Gold Record Card can be used to access Gold Card discounts in the same way as a Gold Card annual season ticket issued by train operating companies.
, through its executive agency Jobcentre Plus
(formerly the Employment Service), administered a scheme whereby unemployed people can gain discounts of 50% on a wide range of travel and Season tickets. This was intended to assist them in their search for employment, although they can be used for discounts on leisure journeys as well. The Employment Service authorised and issued the cards, which were valid for three months at a time. Discounts were available on all Standard class travel tickets within England and Wales, Peak and Off Peak One Day Travelcard
s, Seven Day Season Tickets and Travelcards, and Longer Period (one month and more) Season Tickets and Travelcards, subject to the validity of the Photocard. There were no discounts for First Class tickts. The scheme was introduced in 1998, with Photocards being issued from 24 May 1998. The scheme was initially run on a trial basis, but is now finished since the introduction of the UK Government's Work Programme. It was governed by an agreement between ATOC and Jobcentre Plus, which was last renewed in 2002.. By July 2000, 54,000 New Deal Photocards had been issued.
There is a separate scheme in Scotland. Photocards are issued for periods of up to six months, but discounts are only available on Seven Day Season Tickets for journeys wholly within Scotland. JobCentres themselves also sell certain Standard Day Return tickets for Scottish journeys, again at a 50% discount. These arrangements began on 6 April 1998.
Document explaining the New Deal Scheme, including full details of discounted tickets
Bahncard in Germany. A study undertaken jointly by Railfuture and the Rail Passengers Council (now known as "Passenger Focus") in April 2003 suggested that 3 million people would buy such a Railcard for £20.00 if it gave a ⅓ discount on off-peak fares. The "most conservative forecast" indicated that 2.7 million people would buy a card at this price and with this discount, increasing passenger mileage per annum by 11% and rail industry profits by £50 million. The profit-maximising
combination was found to be a price of £30.00 and a 50% discount on off-peak fares; passenger mileage would rise by an estimated 25% and profits would increase by £70 million. All Railfuture reports, including the full study, are available here.
On tickets issued for children, the wording CHILD will appear in the "concessions" (status code) field of the ticket(s).
Children can gain further reductions by travelling with adults who are using certain Railcards, or adults travelling on certain other concessionary tickets.
-administered scheme. Three or four adults can travel for the price of two on various off-peak ticket types; additionally, up to four accompanying children pay £1.00 each. The group must travel together at all times. No further discounts (using Railcards, for example) are available for any of the passengers.
Adult tickets are issued with the status code GPS-3 or GPS-4 as appropriate. Child tickets can be issued in a variety of ways - typically, ticket type CHILD FLAT FARE will be used, but occasionally the dedicated status code CHGPS will be used in conjunction with the same ticket type description as shown on the adults' tickets.
At first, the scheme applied only in the London and South East (former Network SouthEast
) area; but from January 2006, it was extended to cover Train Operating Companies (TOCs) outside this area. In addition, some TOCs allow children to be "upgraded" to adults to benefit from GroupSave when two adults travel with a child.
The National Rail "GroupSave" sub-site describes the scheme in the London and South East (former Network SouthEast
) area, where it duplicates the Network Railcard's function to some extent.
The British Railways Board
made detailed provisions for the carriage of large and/or heavy items, pets and similar, and specific fare ranges and ticket status codes were set up within the APTIS
and PORTIS/SPORTIS
ticket issuing systems for these. In the later British Rail era, articles could be carried free of charge subject to the following conditions:
A charge of 50% of the standard adult fare, subject to a maximum fare of £4.00 or £8.00 (depending on the type of ticket held by the passenger), would be charged for the following:
In all of these cases, a ticket with the status code AAA would be issued for the article. This was represented as A A A on APTIS and PORTIS tickets until 1988. (Such tickets also showed NIL adults and NIL children, uniquely.)
Items exceeding the weight or size parameters, including furniture, canoes, hang-gliders and large musical instruments, had to be issued with a ticket at the standard adult rate.
Most railcards and certain other concessionary fares could be combined with the Accompanied Animals and Articles discount, resulting in much larger discounts on the standard adult fare. The status code RCAAA was used when a railcard was held.
Since privatisation, the situation has become less clear-cut, with many Train Operating Companies allowing greater freedom for such items to be carried free of charge. Appendix B of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage sets out the current allowances and fare details. The special status codes are no longer used.
There are also various reciprocal travel arrangements for railway staff from many countries outside Europe.
launched a scheme to allow people training guide dogs for the blind to travel on their services free of charge.
Virgin Trains' CharityLine is over 10 years old and feedback shows that most charities now wish to book online and so thetrainline.com provide Virgin Trains with an online booking facility for charities.
Tickets can be bought up to 23.59 the day before travel and collected from a FastTicket machine at the station. The scheme requires the traveller to be in possession of a valid charity photo ID card or dated letter of authority on charity headed paper with discounted charity tickets.
The discount is available to registered charities that are able to prove a minimum 10% voluntary funding level. This can be validated by a letter from your Finance Director, or similar, stating your 10% minimum voluntary funding; or for charities with an income over £500,000, a link to the page on the Charity Commission website (OSCR in Scotland) that shows your charity's funding status.
, as part of their options, allow residents in the West Midlands (County)
, as defined by Dudley
, Wolverhampton
, Walsall
, Sandwell
, Birmingham
, Solihull
and Coventry
Council areas, to use local rail services (within the West Midlands) using their National Concessionary Passes for free after 0930hrs Weekdays and all day weekends/Bank Holidays. No Separate ticket is needed.
Rail transport in Great Britain
The railway system in Great Britain is the oldest in the world, with the world's first locomotive-hauled public railway opening in 1825. As of 2010, it consists of of standard gauge lines , of which are electrified. These lines range from single to double, triple, quadruple track and up to twelve...
in recent decades (especially since privatisation
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
), there are many permanent concessionary fare schemes available to passengers. Some of these take the form of Railcards, which can be purchased by people who qualify according to the conditions, and which give discounts for all journeys over a period of time; other concessions are available for individual journeys. In all cases, details of the type of concession will be printed on the passenger's travel ticket, to distinguish reduced-rate tickets from those sold at the standard full fare.
Railcards
Before the rail network was privatised, British RailBritish Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
introduced several discount cards that were available to certain groups of people. Various reasons are usually cited:
- To encourage off-peak and leisure travel
- To provide greater access to rail services for low-income groups, creating a social benefit
- To generate new sources of income: certain groups of people may be encouraged to perform a modal switch to rail transport if given the benefit of cheaper fares
All of the schemes were retained after privatisation, despite some threats of abolition. By generating extra income at off-peak times when trains are generally less crowded, they offer a potential commercial benefit for the TOCs.
Participation in the Young Persons, Senior and Disabled Persons Railcard schemes is mandatory for all TOCs under their franchise agreements; the Family and HM Forces Railcard schemes are notionally voluntary, but all TOCs participate in them. For the Network Railcard, which has a restricted geographical area, all TOCs in the relevant area are members of the scheme and participate in it. The revenue applicable to each TOC from the use of each Railcard is calculated by the Association of Train Operating Companies
Association of Train Operating Companies
The Association of Train Operating Companies is a body which represents 24 train operating companies that provide passenger railway services on the privatised British railway system. It owns the National Rail brand. The Association is an unincorporated association owned by its members...
(ATOC), and voting rights and costs payable are attributed accordingly.
7% of fare revenue is derived from travel using one of the Railcard schemes. This amounts to approximately £400m, of which £60m is estimated by ATOC to be attributable entirely to the existence of the Railcards - if they were not available, journeys to a total value of £60m per year would not be made by rail. Approximately 2,200,000 Railcards are in use at any one time in Britain.
16 - 25 Railcard (Formerly Young Persons Railcard)
International Student Identity Card
The International Student Identity Card is a photo identification card that identifies the holder as a full-time student. It is currently a form of identification that is internationally recognized .Cardholders gain access to special discounts with many companies, particularly on travel-related...
.)
The standard discount on the full adult fare is 34%, to the nearest £0.05; virtually all ticket types qualify for a discount. No discounts are available for accompanying children. In addition, a minimum fare applies before 1000 Monday to Friday; this used to be £8.00 for a single ticket and discounted returns, and £16.00 for full-price return ticket types. However, from 17 May 2009 the minimum fare changed to £12 regardless of whether it was a single or a return ticket bought. Although most discounted tickets become available after 0930, the minimum fare of £12 is still charged until 1000. During July and August the minimum fare rule does not apply. Tickets issued at the minimum fare bear the wording MIN.
Official website
Senior Railcard
Birth certificate
A birth certificate is a vital record that documents the birth of a child. The term "birth certificate" can refer to either the original document certifying the circumstances of the birth or to a certified copy of or representation of the ensuing registration of that birth...
, passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
or driving licence
Driver's license
A driver's license/licence , or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck or a bus, on a public roadway. Most U.S...
confirming the applicant's age. Up to the early 1990s, up to four accompanying children could travel for £1.00 each, and the standard discount on the full adult fare was 50%. The railcard was known at that time as the Senior Citizen Railcard. In 1992, however, the "new" Senior Railcard was phased in; the standard discount became 34%, and there was no longer a discount for accompanying children. Again, not all ticket types qualify for a discount. Certain county councils or other local authorities subsidise Senior Railcards for their residents.
Official website
Family and Friends Railcard (Formerly Family Railcard)
- Adult: 34% off the full adult fare
- Child: 60% off the full child fare, subject to a minimum fare of £1.00
The maximum group size is four adults and four children. One of the adults in the group must always be the cardholder (or the co-holder, in the case of a jointly-held railcard). Not all ticket types qualify for a discount.
Official website
Network Railcard
Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast was one of three passenger sectors of British Rail created in 1982. NSE principally operated commuter trains in the London area and inter-urban services in densely populated South East England, although the network reached as far west as Exeter...
was created. It gives a 34% discount on many (but again, not all) types of ticket within the Network SouthEast area. Similar to the Family Railcard, but without the requirement for a child to be travelling to obtain the discount, groups of up to four adults and four children may travel together and gain the following discounts:
- Adult: 34% off the full adult fare, subject to a minimum fare of £13.00 per ticket issued or £14.80 for travelcards. There is no minimum fare at weekends, or on bank holidays except for Travelcards which are subject to a £5 minimum fare.
- Child: 60% off the full child fare, subject to a minimum fare of £1.00 per ticket issued.
There have been various changes to the Network Railcard's conditions since 1986, and as with the Senior Railcard, a previous version existed under a different name (the Network Card). The current version costs £25.00.
Official website
Disabled Persons Railcard
This railcard was available in a one-year version for £14.00 until 5 September 2006 since then it has also been available in a 3 year version. As of June 2011 it currently costs:- Valid for one year; £20.00
- Valid for three years; £54.00
The qualification criteria also changed slightly at this date. Disabled Persons Railcards are not issued at National Rail stations; they must be applied for by post http://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/buying-your-railcard.
Official website
HM Forces Railcard
These are available to all members of the regular armed forces, certain reservistReservist
A reservist is a person who is a member of a military reserve force. They are otherwise civilians, and in peacetime have careers outside the military. Reservists usually go for training on an annual basis to refresh their skills. This person is usually a former active-duty member of the armed...
s, and in most cases the partners and dependent children of eligible members. Discounts for the Railcard holder are generally 34% (subject to minimum fares), although Supersaver, Saver and Advance/SuperAdvance tickets are discounted by 26%. Up to four accompanied children may travel at a 60% discount on the standard Child fare, with a £1.00 minimum fare. HM Forces Railcards cost £15 and are distributed at a local level by the Pay and Administration Offices at the member's Unit.
Official website
Two Together Railcard
The Two Together Railcard offers a discount of one-third on most off-peak tickets nationwide, for two named individuals travelling together. During its trial period, which lasts from 5 September 2011 until 19 May 2012, the main applicant for a Two Together Railcard must live within the West Midlands area (postcodes beginning B, CV, DY, WS or WV).Official website
Local Railcards
The Network Railcard is the main example of a local railcard, but various others are available in much more localised areas, or even for a single line. In many cases, adult tickets are issued with the status code LOCRC (Local Railcard); child tickets show CHLOC. Some of the Railcards have unique status codes assigned to them, however.Cambrian Railcard
This costs £5.00 for a year. Cardholders must be aged 16 or over, no co-holders can be named, and there are no discounts for accompanying adults or children. A discount of 34% is available on Day Singles, Cheap Day Returns, Saver and Supersaver tickets on the Cambrian Coast routeCambrian Line
The Cambrian Line is a railway from Shrewsbury to Welshpool, Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. The railway runs first through the central part of Wales and then along the coast of Cardigan Bay....
between Shrewsbury, Aberystwyth and Machynlleth. The Railcard can only be purchased at Aberystwyth and Machynlleth stations, and is only available to residents of the area.
Cotswold Line Railcard
This costs £7.50 for a year, and gives 34% discounts on Standard Day singles and Cheap Day singles and returns between Worcester Foregate StreetWorcester Foregate Street railway station
Worcester Foregate Street railway station, opened by the Great Western Railway in 1860, is situated in the centre of the city of Worcester, in Worcestershire, England. It is physically the smaller of the two stations serving the city, but is more centrally located...
and Oxford
Oxford railway station
Oxford railway station is a mainline railway station serving the city of Oxford, England. It is about west of the city centre, northwest of Frideswide Square and the eastern end of Botley Road, and on the line linking with . It is also on the line for trains between and Hereford via...
(and intermediate stops). Cardholders must be aged 16 or over, no co-holders can be named, and there are no discounts for accompanying adults or children. The Railcard can be bought at any staffed station on the route. The discount is not available until the 08.44 train from Worcester and the 08.48 train from Oxford on weekdays, but there are no weekend restrictions.
Dales Railcard
This was introduced in 1995, and after a trial period until 31 August 1995 when the price was set at £5.00, the cost settled at £10.00 per year for a number of years. There was a subsequent increase to £12.00 per year, but during 2007 a discounted price of £10.00 applies. The Railcard gives a discount of 34% on all Standard Day, Cheap Day and Saver tickets within the region of validity. This complex area covers:- All journeys between the following stations (inclusive): CarlisleCarlisle railway stationCarlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
, BramptonBrampton (Cumbria) railway stationBrampton railway station is on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway in northern England, serving the town of Brampton. The station is located about a mile southeast of the town, near the village of Milton. Staff were removed from the station in 1967, with the main buildings demolished in stages...
, GargraveGargrave railway stationGargrave railway station serves the village of Gargrave in North Yorkshire, England. It is north west of Leeds on the Leeds to Morecambe Line operated by Northern Rail who also manage the station....
and WenningtonWennington railway stationWennington railway station serves the village of Wennington in Lancashire, England. It is situated on the Leeds to Morecambe Line and operated by Northern Rail, who provide all passenger train services. The station was formerly a junction between the lines to Lancaster and Carnforth , but the... - Journeys from all of these stations to all stations on the routes to Morecambe, Bradford Forster Square and Leeds (inclusive) - but not via Penrith
- Journeys from Skipton to all stations on the routes to Morecambe and Brampton (inclusive) - but not via Penrith
Cardholders must be aged 16 or over, and no co-holders can be named, but up to four accompanied children can travel at a 60% discount on the standard Child fare (subject to a £1.00 minimum fare). (In the early years, up to two children could travel for a flat fare of £2.00.) Only residents in certain postcode areas within the region of validity may apply; however, an arrangement between the Friends of the Settle–Carlisle Line user group and train operator Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
allows members of the group to buy a "Gold Card" (a plastic magnetic stripe card
Magnetic stripe card
A magnetic stripe card is a type of card capable of storing data by modifying the magnetism of tiny iron-based magnetic particles on a band of magnetic material on the card...
with an integrated circuit chip
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
, rather than a printed paper card) giving them the same benefits as the Railcard. This card costs £12.00.
Devon & Cornwall Railcard
This Railcard, covering the counties of DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, was introduced on 10 September 2006 to replace two Railcards which covered the counties separately: the Devon Railcard and the Cornish Railcard. It gives discounts for the holder (who must be aged 16 or over) and one accompanying adult of 34% on Cheap Day and Saver Singles and Returns for journeys wholly within the two counties, and 34% on the countywide Devon Day Ranger and Cornwall Day Ranger tickets, and line-specific Rangers for the following branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
s: Atlantic Coast Line
Atlantic Coast Line, Cornwall
The Atlantic Coast Line is a community railway line in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The line runs from the English Channel at Par, to the Atlantic Ocean at Newquay.-Route:The Atlantic Coast Line starts from Par station, in the village and port of Par...
, Looe Valley Line
Looe Valley Line
The Looe Valley Line is an community railway from Liskeard to Looe in Cornwall, United Kingdom, that follows the valley of the East Looe River for much of its course...
, Maritime Line
Maritime Line
The Maritime Line is a railway line that runs in the valley of the River Fal from Truro to Falmouth on the south coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom.-History:...
, Tamar Valley Line
Tamar Valley Line
The Tamar Valley Line is a railway line from Devonport in Plymouth Devon, to Gunnislake in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The line follows the River Tamar for much of its route.-History:...
and Tarka Line
Tarka Line
The Tarka Line is a railway line from Exeter to Barnstaple in Devon, England. The line follows the River Creedy, River Yeo and River Taw for some of its route...
. The only exception is the St Ives Bay Line
St Ives Bay Line
The St Ives Bay Line is a railway line from to in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It was opened in 1877, the last new broad gauge passenger railway to be constructed in the country...
Day Ranger, which is discounted by 50% when the Railcard is used. Up to four children can accompany the adult(s) for a flat fare of £1.00 each for point-to-point tickets, or £2.00 for Day Rangers. While the array of discounts is broadly the same as those available with the Devon Railcard, the former Cornish Railcard offered 34% discounts on Standard Day Singles and Returns as well. These tickets were available for travel during the peak period (before 9.30am). This change prompted criticism that people who travelled frequently but not daily at peak times in Cornwall would have to pay more: although all season tickets for journeys within Cornwall were reduced in price from 10 September 2006, they are only cost-effective for regular travellers (four or five weekdays per week).
The original Cornish Railcard was one of the earliest examples of a local Railcard, having been introduced on 4 November 1983. It originally cost £6.00 for adults, and there was a child version priced at £3.00. All journeys wholly within Cornwall (First and Second Class) were charged at half price, as were returns to Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, just across the border into Devon. Some other offers for travel outside Cornwall were included until May 1984, at which point the Railcard was halved in price. By 1986, a 50% discount was only available on Cheap Day Returns; all other tickets received a 34% discount. Reduced-rate Seven Day Season Tickets could also now be bought by Railcard holders. Also, the price had increased to £7.00 (adults) and £3.50 (children). By 1989, another major change had taken place: only Cornwall residents could buy the Railcard; a Photocard (photographic identity card) was required; the Child version was withdrawn; Cheap Day Return discounts had been cut to 34%; the Tamar Valley Line
Tamar Valley Line
The Tamar Valley Line is a railway line from Devonport in Plymouth Devon, to Gunnislake in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The line follows the River Tamar for much of its route.-History:...
(Plymouth
Plymouth railway station
Plymouth railway station serves the city of Plymouth, Devon, England. It is situated on the northern edge of the city centre close to the North Cross roundabout...
–Gunnislake
Gunnislake railway station
Gunnislake railway station serves the village of Gunnislake in Cornwall, England. There are also connecting buses from here to the town of Tavistock. However the station is located in or nearer to the villages of Drakewalls and Albaston...
) was included in its entirety, although parts of it lie within Devon; and the design of the APTIS card (British Rail form number BR 4599/77) had changed significantly, now incorporating a stylised map of the Cornish peninsula and the railway lines serving the county.
Esk Valley Railcard
This costs £12.00 per year, and gives a discount of 34% on all Standard Day, Cheap Day and Saver tickets in the area of validity. This covers journeys between WhitbyWhitby railway station
Whitby railway station serves the town of Whitby in North Yorkshire, England. It is the terminus of the Esk Valley Line, connecting with the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at Grosmont, and provides mainline running for NYMR trains during the summer months...
and Great Ayton
Great Ayton railway station
Great Ayton railway station serves the village of Great Ayton in the county of North Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Esk Valley Line and is operated by Northern Rail who provide all of the station's passenger services.-History:...
inclusive, and also for journeys from these stations to the other stations on the line - Nunthorpe
Nunthorpe railway station
Nunthorpe railway station serves the town of Nunthorpe within the borough of Middlesbrough in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Esk Valley Line and is operated by Northern Rail who provide all of the station's passenger services. One of the two passing loops...
, Gypsy Lane
Gypsy Lane railway station
Gypsy Lane railway station serves the suburbs of Nunthorpe and Marton-in-Cleveland within the borough of Middlesbrough in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England...
, Marton
Marton railway station
Marton railway station serves the settlement of Marton, a suburb of Middlesbrough in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated on Ladgate Lane, at the end of The Grove, near Ormesby Hall...
and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough railway station
Middlesbrough railway station serves the large town of Middlesbrough in the borough of Middlesbrough and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. The station is managed by First TransPennine Express and has two platforms...
. The 34% discount, and accompanying child discount (again subject to the £1.00 minimum fare), is also available on the Tees Day Ranger ticket, which offers unlimited journeys on the route in one day; and on return tickets on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a heritage railway in North Yorkshire, England. First opened in 1836 as the Whitby and Pickering Railway, the railway was planned in 1831 by George Stephenson as a means of opening up trade routes inland from the then important seaport of Whitby. The line...
, a preserved railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
running from Grosmont
Grosmont railway station
Grosmont railway station serves the village of Grosmont in North Yorkshire, England. It is located on the Esk Valley Line which serves one platform and is operated by Northern Rail who provide the station's passenger services...
to Pickering
Pickering, North Yorkshire
Pickering is an ancient market town and civil parish in the Ryedale district of the county of North Yorkshire, England, on the border of the North York Moors National Park. It sits at the foot of the Moors, overlooking the Vale of Pickering to the south...
. Cardholders must be aged 16 or over, and no co-holders can be named, but up to four accompanied children can travel at a 60% discount on the standard Child fare (subject to a £1.00 minimum fare). The Railcard is only available to residents living in the boroughs of Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees (borough)
Stockton-on-Tees is a unitary authority area and borough in the Tees Valley area of north east England, with a population in 2001 of 178,408, rising to 185,880 in 2005 estimates....
, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough (borough)
-External links:*...
and Redcar and Cleveland
Redcar and Cleveland
The borough of Redcar & Cleveland is a unitary authority in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England consisting of Redcar, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Guisborough, and small towns such as Brotton, Eston, Skelton and Loftus. It had a resident population of 139,132 in 2001, and is part of the Tees...
and the Hambleton
Hambleton
Hambleton is a local government district of North Yorkshire, England. The main town and administrative centre is Northallerton, and includes the market towns and major villages of Bedale, Thirsk, Great Ayton, Stokesley and Easingwold....
, Scarborough
Scarborough (borough)
Scarborough is a non-metropolitan district and borough of North Yorkshire, England. In addition to the town of Scarborough, it covers a large stretch of the coast of Yorkshire, including Whitby and Filey....
and Ryedale
Ryedale
Ryedale is a non-metropolitan district of the shire county of North Yorkshire in England. Settlements include Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Malton, Norton-on-Derwent, Pickering, and Terrington.-Derivation of name:...
districts of North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
. All revenue raised through the sale of these Railcards is used by the Esk Valley Railway Development Company, a not-for-profit organisation
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
which runs the line as a "Community Railway", to maintain and improve the line.
Heart of Wales Line Railcard
Introduced in May 2000, this costs £5.00 for one year, and is available to residents aged 16 or over of certain postal districts along the line of the route, which runs from SwanseaSwansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
to Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
. A 34% discount is available on all fares for journeys between any two stations on the route. Up to two children can accompany the cardholder for a flat fare of £2.00. The Railcard may be purchased at Llandrindod station
Llandrindod railway station
Llandrindod railway station serves the town of Llandrindod Wells in Mid Wales. It is located on the single line Heart of Wales Line and is served by four trains each way on Mondays to Saturdays, two each way on Sundays. Passenger services are operated by Arriva Trains Wales. The facility to pass...
, or by postal application. The scheme was relaunched and extended on 29 September 2005.
Highland Railcard
This costs £7.50 per year, and is available to applicants aged 16 or over who live in certain areas of the north and west Highlands of ScotlandScottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
- principally the IV and KW postal districts. A 50% discount is available for the cardholder for all journeys on the following routes, with up to two children accompanying the cardholder being charged a £2.00 flat fare:
- The Kyle of Lochalsh LineKyle of Lochalsh LineThe Kyle of Lochalsh Line is a primarily single track railway line in the Scottish Highlands, running from Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh. The population along the route is sparse in nature, but the scenery is beautiful and can be quite dramatic, the Kyle line having been likened to a symphony in...
between and - The Far North LineFar North LineThe Far North Line is a rural railway line entirely within the Highland area of Scotland, extending from Inverness to Thurso and Wick.- Route :...
between Inverness and its two termini ( and ) - The West Highland LineWest Highland LineThe West Highland Line is considered the most scenic railway line in Britain, linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban on the west coast of Scotland to Glasgow. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the iconic...
between and its two termini ( and )
Railcards are issued after an application form is completed and submitted by post or to the ticket office at , , Inverness, Kyle of Lochalsh, Mallaig, Oban, Thurso or Wick stations.
The current form of the Railcard dates from 3 January 1999, when a previous version covering a more restricted geographical area was merged with the former West Highland Railcard, which was itself introduced in 1993.
The "original" Highland Railcard scheme appears to date from 1988, as ticket stock (British Rail form number BR 4599/79) was being printed in that year, but only the details of its subsequent relaunches are known. The first change happened as from 1 October 1991, with a six-month Railcard being priced at £4.00 and giving a 34% discount on all ticket types for journeys between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh, Thurso and Wick. In September 1994, the Railcard was made available free, and a 34% discount was available on the standard Child fare for one accompanying child. From 3 January 1999, when the West Highland Railcard was integrated into it, the price became £5.00 and two accompanying children could travel for £2.00 each. The price subsequently rose to its current £7.50 level.
The West Highland Railcard lasted just over five years, from 1 October 1993 until 3 January 1999, but the boundaries of its validity were extended, it changed from priced to free of charge, and the areas prospective holders had to live in to qualify were altered. For the first year, the Railcard cost £5.00 for 12 months, and could be used for all journeys between Mallaig and Helensburgh Upper
Helensburgh Upper railway station
Helensburgh Upper railway station serves the town of Helensburgh, Scotland, on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde to the west of Glasgow. It is located in a residential area uphill from the town centre and is by far the smaller of the town's two stations....
, and for through tickets on to Glasgow Queen Street. All fares were discounted by 34% with the Railcard, and one accompanying child could travel for 34% off the Child fare. As with the Highland Railcard, a relaunch in September 1994 made the card free of charge; the route to Oban was included at the same time. The British Rail form number for the ticket stock was BR 4599/145.
Pembrokeshire Railcard
This costs £5.00 for one year, and is available to residents (aged 16 or over) of certain postal districts in PembrokeshirePembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
. Discounts of 34% are available on all journeys on the routes collectively known as the West Wales Line
West Wales Line
The West Wales Lines are a group of railway lines from Swansea through Carmarthenshire to Pembrokeshire, West Wales...
: the Fishguard Harbour, Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock branch lines, and the common section from Whitland
Whitland railway station
Whitland railway station serves the town of Whitland in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is located on the main route of the West Wales Line from Swansea. To the west of the station, the lines diverge, with one branch serving Pembroke and the other Milford Haven or Fishguard...
via Carmarthen
Carmarthen railway station
Carmarthen railway station is situated south of the River Towy on the edge of the town of Carmarthen. It is located on the West Wales Line and is managed by Arriva Trains Wales, who operate most of the passenger trains serving it...
through to Swansea
Swansea railway station
Swansea railway station is a railway station that serves Swansea, Wales. The station is one of four in the City and County of Swansea and is the fourth busiest in Wales after Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street and Newport.-History:...
. Standard Day Returns now receive the discount, although tickets bought with the Railcard cannot be used on the section of the Heart of Wales line between Swansea and Llanelli
Llanelli railway station
Llanelli railway station is the railway station serving the town of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is located on the West Wales Line and the Heart of Wales Line...
. The Railcards can be bought at Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest railway station
Haverfordwest railway station serves the town of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire.The usual service pattern is one train every two hours in each direction, southwards to Milford Haven railway station and northwards to Manchester Piccadilly via , and ....
and Carmarthen stations.
Valleys Line Railcards
On the Valley LinesValley Lines
Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes is the busy network of passenger suburban railway services radiating from Cardiff, Wales. It includes lines within the city itself, the Vale of Glamorgan and the South Wales Valleys....
network in South Wales, discounts are available with two Railcards:
- Valleys Senior Railcard
Introduced on 30 May 1999, at a cost of £5.00 for one year, and gives a 50% discount on Cheap Day Return fares for journeys wholly within the Valley Lines area. There are no discounts for accompanying passengers. Tickets are issued with status code VAL-S. From February 2000, the price was reduced to £4.00 for permanent residents of the county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
s of Rhondda Cynon Taff
Rhondda Cynon Taff
Rhondda Cynon Taf, or RCT, is a county borough in the South Wales Valleys of Wales. It consists of 3 valleys: the Rhondda Valley, Cynon Valley and Taff-Ely Valley...
and Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
. The form number of the ticket stock used is RSP 4599/206.
- Valleys Student Railcard
Introduced at the same time as the Valleys Senior Railcard, this costs £9.00 for one year, and gives a 26% discount on Standard Day and Cheap Day Single and Return fares in the area, and a 10% discount on Seven Day Season Tickets. Originally, only Cheap Day Returns and season ticket received a discount. The demise of the Cornish Railcard means that this is the only Railcard anywhere in Great Britain that offers a discount on Season Tickets (although New Deal Photocards also do). Ticket stock bears the form number RSP 4599/216.
The Maesteg Line
Maesteg Line
The Maesteg Line is commuter rail line in South Wales from Cardiff to Bridgend and Maesteg. The line follows the South Wales Main Line as far as Bridgend, where it then diverges to continue to Maesteg.-History:...
was initially excluded from the routes on which the railcards were valid; this anomaly was removed on 5 January 2003.
Gold Card and Gold Card Partner's Card
From September 1987, more than 12 months before the Annual Season Ticket Holder's Railcard was discontinued, a similar scheme began in the Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast was one of three passenger sectors of British Rail created in 1982. NSE principally operated commuter trains in the London area and inter-urban services in densely populated South East England, although the network reached as far west as Exeter...
area of London and southeast England. Annual season tickets issued for journeys within this area became known as Gold Cards, and the season ticket functioned as a Railcard giving various benefits which were broadly the same as those received by holders of the former Network Card: 34% discounts for themselves and accompanying adults on most off-peak fares, £1.00 flat-fare tickets for children, and First Class Supplement upgrades. The same time restriction (after 10.00am on weekdays; all day at weekends and on public holidays) also applied. When a Gold Card holder is travelling on the route covered by their Gold Card with accompanying adults or children, a separate discounted ticket does not have to be purchased by the Gold Card holder in order to secure the relevant discounts for the other members of the group.
As of 2007, these discounts are still available. When the Network Card changed to the more restrictive "Network Railcard" format, with children receiving a 60% discount subject to a minimum £1.00 fare (rather than a £1.00 flat fare in all cases) and adults being subject to a £10.00 minimum fare on weekdays, the Gold Card's conditions remained the same as before, and have not changed since. Notably, First Class Supplement tickets are still available for Gold Card holders, whereas this benefit has been withdrawn for the Network Railcard. These supplements cost £5.00 for adults and £3.00 for accompanying children, and permit travel in First Class accommodation. (When first introduced, these supplements cost £3.00 and £1.50 respectively.)
A card giving the same benefits, usually known as the Partner's Card but officially named Gold Card Partner's Network Card, is also available. Initially, Gold Card holders could have a free Network Card issued to them on behalf of a friend, relative or partner; but from 8 January 1989, the new Partner's Card (on dedicated APTIS ticket stock, form number BR 4599/69) was issued instead, at a cost of £1.00. A relative or friend of the Gold Card holder could be nominated, and the Partner's Card could be used independently of the Gold Card—the two cardholders did not have to travel together. The First Class Supplement benefit was withdrawn from Partner's Cards at the same time as from Network Railcards. Nowadays, the card issued to the partner is once again a Network Railcard. It still costs £1, but is subject to the substantial minimum fare rule.
Following the introduction of the Gold Card and the Partner's Card, a new status code was introduced for tickets issued with these: GOLDC for adult tickets, with child tickets showing CHNGC. GOLD was occasionally seen on adult tickets in 1990.
A traveller purchasing an annual Travelcard
Travelcard
The Travelcard is an inter-modal travel ticket for unlimited use on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Tramlink, London Buses and National Rail services in the Greater London area. Travelcards can be purchased for a period of time varying from one day to a year,...
loaded on an Oyster card
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
is issued a "Gold Record Card" when the ticket is sold (or by post for tickets issued online or by telesales). The Gold Record Card can be used to access Gold Card discounts in the same way as a Gold Card annual season ticket issued by train operating companies.
New Deal Photocard
The Department for Work and PensionsDepartment for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is the largest government department in the United Kingdom, created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security and headed by the Secretary of State for Work and...
, through its executive agency Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus was a government agency for working-age people in Great Britain. The agency was formed when the Employment Service, which operated Jobcentres, merged with the Benefits Agency, which ran social security offices, and was re-named Jobcentre Plus on 1 April 2002...
(formerly the Employment Service), administered a scheme whereby unemployed people can gain discounts of 50% on a wide range of travel and Season tickets. This was intended to assist them in their search for employment, although they can be used for discounts on leisure journeys as well. The Employment Service authorised and issued the cards, which were valid for three months at a time. Discounts were available on all Standard class travel tickets within England and Wales, Peak and Off Peak One Day Travelcard
Travelcard
The Travelcard is an inter-modal travel ticket for unlimited use on the London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Tramlink, London Buses and National Rail services in the Greater London area. Travelcards can be purchased for a period of time varying from one day to a year,...
s, Seven Day Season Tickets and Travelcards, and Longer Period (one month and more) Season Tickets and Travelcards, subject to the validity of the Photocard. There were no discounts for First Class tickts. The scheme was introduced in 1998, with Photocards being issued from 24 May 1998. The scheme was initially run on a trial basis, but is now finished since the introduction of the UK Government's Work Programme. It was governed by an agreement between ATOC and Jobcentre Plus, which was last renewed in 2002.. By July 2000, 54,000 New Deal Photocards had been issued.
There is a separate scheme in Scotland. Photocards are issued for periods of up to six months, but discounts are only available on Seven Day Season Tickets for journeys wholly within Scotland. JobCentres themselves also sell certain Standard Day Return tickets for Scottish journeys, again at a 50% discount. These arrangements began on 6 April 1998.
Document explaining the New Deal Scheme, including full details of discounted tickets
Campaign for a National Railcard
Railfuture, an independent pressure group for rail users, has been campaigning for a number of years for a National Railcard to replace the plethora of different railcards. Such a card would take a similar form to DB'sDeutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
Bahncard in Germany. A study undertaken jointly by Railfuture and the Rail Passengers Council (now known as "Passenger Focus") in April 2003 suggested that 3 million people would buy such a Railcard for £20.00 if it gave a ⅓ discount on off-peak fares. The "most conservative forecast" indicated that 2.7 million people would buy a card at this price and with this discount, increasing passenger mileage per annum by 11% and rail industry profits by £50 million. The profit-maximising
Profit maximization
In economics, profit maximization is the process by which a firm determines the price and output level that returns the greatest profit. There are several approaches to this problem...
combination was found to be a price of £30.00 and a 50% discount on off-peak fares; passenger mileage would rise by an estimated 25% and profits would increase by £70 million. All Railfuture reports, including the full study, are available here.
Children
At all times, up to two children under the age of 5 may travel free of charge with an accompanying adult, and do not require a ticket (but see the Family Railcard article for one exception to this). Children between the ages of 5 and 15 (inclusive) travel at half of the standard adult fare. (Full adult fare for journeys are almost always in multiples of £0.10; in the rare instances where the adult fare is a multiple of £0.05, the Child fare will be rounded up to the nearest £0.05.)On tickets issued for children, the wording CHILD will appear in the "concessions" (status code) field of the ticket(s).
Children can gain further reductions by travelling with adults who are using certain Railcards, or adults travelling on certain other concessionary tickets.
GroupSave
Since 1999, many Train Operating Companies have elected to join this ATOCAssociation of Train Operating Companies
The Association of Train Operating Companies is a body which represents 24 train operating companies that provide passenger railway services on the privatised British railway system. It owns the National Rail brand. The Association is an unincorporated association owned by its members...
-administered scheme. Three or four adults can travel for the price of two on various off-peak ticket types; additionally, up to four accompanying children pay £1.00 each. The group must travel together at all times. No further discounts (using Railcards, for example) are available for any of the passengers.
Adult tickets are issued with the status code GPS-3 or GPS-4 as appropriate. Child tickets can be issued in a variety of ways - typically, ticket type CHILD FLAT FARE will be used, but occasionally the dedicated status code CHGPS will be used in conjunction with the same ticket type description as shown on the adults' tickets.
At first, the scheme applied only in the London and South East (former Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast was one of three passenger sectors of British Rail created in 1982. NSE principally operated commuter trains in the London area and inter-urban services in densely populated South East England, although the network reached as far west as Exeter...
) area; but from January 2006, it was extended to cover Train Operating Companies (TOCs) outside this area. In addition, some TOCs allow children to be "upgraded" to adults to benefit from GroupSave when two adults travel with a child.
The National Rail "GroupSave" sub-site describes the scheme in the London and South East (former Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast was one of three passenger sectors of British Rail created in 1982. NSE principally operated commuter trains in the London area and inter-urban services in densely populated South East England, although the network reached as far west as Exeter...
) area, where it duplicates the Network Railcard's function to some extent.
Accompanied Animals and Articles
All quotations and statistics in this section are taken from the May 1991 edition (No. 6) of the Ticket Examiners' Handbook, produced by the British Railways Board.The British Railways Board
British Railways Board
The British Railways Board was a nationalised industry in the United Kingdom that existed from 1962 to 2001. From its foundation until 1997, it was responsible for most railway services in Great Britain, trading under the brand names British Railways and, from 1965, British Rail...
made detailed provisions for the carriage of large and/or heavy items, pets and similar, and specific fare ranges and ticket status codes were set up within the APTIS
APTIS
APTIS was the Accountancy and Passenger Ticket Issuing System used on Rail transport in Great Britain until 2007.It was widely known as the All-Purpose Ticket-Issuing System, a description which was used during the development of the...
and PORTIS/SPORTIS
PORTIS/SPORTIS
PORTIS and latterly SPORTIS were portable ticket issuing systems used on Rail transport in Great Britain until 2006...
ticket issuing systems for these. In the later British Rail era, articles could be carried free of charge subject to the following conditions:
- Weight: not to exceed 154 lb (First Class) or 110 lb (Standard Class)
- Able to be "taken into the coach without inconvenience to other customers, or ... readily loaded and accommodated in the guard's van"
A charge of 50% of the standard adult fare, subject to a maximum fare of £4.00 or £8.00 (depending on the type of ticket held by the passenger), would be charged for the following:
- "Dogs, cats and other small inoffensive animals or birds" (maximum of two per passenger)
- Non-folding prams (maximum of two per passenger)
- Skis and surfboards (maximum of one per passenger)
- CelloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
s (maximum of one per passenger) - Disabled persons' "runabout" or other electric vehicles (maximum of one per passenger; not permitted in InterCity 125InterCity 125The InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail's High Speed Train fleet. The InterCity 125 train is made up of two power cars, one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages, and is capable of , making the train the fastest diesel-powered locomotive in regular service in the...
, InterCity 225InterCity 225The InterCity 225 is a locomotive-hauled domestic train in the United Kingdom, comprising a Class 91 electric locomotive, nine Mark 4 coaches and a Driving Van Trailer...
or sliding-door trains)
In all of these cases, a ticket with the status code AAA would be issued for the article. This was represented as A A A on APTIS and PORTIS tickets until 1988. (Such tickets also showed NIL adults and NIL children, uniquely.)
Items exceeding the weight or size parameters, including furniture, canoes, hang-gliders and large musical instruments, had to be issued with a ticket at the standard adult rate.
Most railcards and certain other concessionary fares could be combined with the Accompanied Animals and Articles discount, resulting in much larger discounts on the standard adult fare. The status code RCAAA was used when a railcard was held.
Since privatisation, the situation has become less clear-cut, with many Train Operating Companies allowing greater freedom for such items to be carried free of charge. Appendix B of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage sets out the current allowances and fare details. The special status codes are no longer used.
Privilege tickets
Some railway employees, their spouses or partners and their dependent children are able to travel on the railway network free of charge or at a substantial discount on the standard adult or child fare, depending on the type of staff travel pass, privilege pass or staff identity card they possess. In cases where free travel is not available—either on certain routes or on all routes—the standard discount for adults is 75% of the full adult fare (i.e. a quarter-rate fare), although certain cheap-rate tickets (such as Off Peak Day Returns) are not available in conjunction with the discount. Such tickets are endorsed with status code PRIV. Children travel at an 88% discount on the standard adult fare, usually subject to a maximum fare of £2.00. The status code for child privilege tickets is CHPRV. An "Accompanied Animals and Articles" ticket can be issued in conjunction with a privilege ticket, although as noted above such tickets are very rarely issued now; such a ticket would be endorsed with status code PRAAA, and would be at a discount of 88% to the standard adult fare, subject to a maximum fare of £1.00.Foreign railway employees
Employees, and in some cases their spouses and/or dependent children, of most railway companies in Europe west of the border of the former Soviet Union (excepting Sweden, which withdrew from the arrangements in 2001, and Albania which was never a member) can obtain tickets at a 50% discount on the full adult fare (75% discount in the case of employees of the Belgian, French, Irish, and Northern Irish railways). Employees, and in some cases depending on reciprocal arrangements their spouses and/or dependent children, can obtain 1 or (in the case of Belgian, Dutch, French, Irish, and Northern Irish railways) 2 coupon tickets per year each giving up to two days free travel on four occasions in a three-month validity period. A much smaller number of railways allow 1 coupon ticket per year on a reciprocal basis to each other's retired former staff, and sometimes to their spouses.There are also various reciprocal travel arrangements for railway staff from many countries outside Europe.
c2c Guide Dogs scheme
In 2005, c2cC2c
c2c is a British train operating company that is part of the National Express Group. It provides passenger rail services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London to east London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway...
launched a scheme to allow people training guide dogs for the blind to travel on their services free of charge.
Virgin Trains scheme for employees of Registered Charities
Virgin Trains offer qualifying charities a 20% discount off the full range of Virgin Trains-only Advance Purchase fares, including First Class.Virgin Trains' CharityLine is over 10 years old and feedback shows that most charities now wish to book online and so thetrainline.com provide Virgin Trains with an online booking facility for charities.
Tickets can be bought up to 23.59 the day before travel and collected from a FastTicket machine at the station. The scheme requires the traveller to be in possession of a valid charity photo ID card or dated letter of authority on charity headed paper with discounted charity tickets.
The discount is available to registered charities that are able to prove a minimum 10% voluntary funding level. This can be validated by a letter from your Finance Director, or similar, stating your 10% minimum voluntary funding; or for charities with an income over £500,000, a link to the page on the Charity Commission website (OSCR in Scotland) that shows your charity's funding status.
West Midlands local residents
As part of the National Concessionary Pass scheme for buses, Authorities have the option of adding extra concessions to their area local residents. The West Midlands Passenger Transport ExecutiveWest Midlands Passenger Transport Executive
The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive , sometimes known as Centro, is a local government organisation responsible for certain transport services in the West Midlands county in England....
, as part of their options, allow residents in the West Midlands (County)
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
, as defined by Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
, Sandwell
Sandwell
Sandwell is a metropolitan borough of the West Midlands with a population of around 289,100, and an area of . The borough is named after Sandwell Priory, and spans a densely populated part of both the Black Country, and the West Midlands conurbation, encompassing the urban towns of Blackheath,...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
and Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
Council areas, to use local rail services (within the West Midlands) using their National Concessionary Passes for free after 0930hrs Weekdays and all day weekends/Bank Holidays. No Separate ticket is needed.
External links
- Rail Cards Home Page
- House of Commons Transport Committee - "How fair are the fares? Train fares and ticketing" - Formal Report and Minutes. Published 10 May 2006
- House of Commons Transport Committee - "How fair are the fares? Train fares and ticketing" - Session Report. Published 10 May 2006
- "From Competition to Co-operation in the UK Railway Industry", Malin Cohn, 2003
- ATOC National Fares Manual Section F - Discounted Travel