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Essentially, a train card is a discount card that allows you to save on the price of qualifying train tickets.

Cards are available for one or three years. Most people qualify for at least one type of card, depending on factors such as your age and who you usually travel with.

Here’s a list of the different cards you can get, what they cost, what they offer, and who’s eligible for them…

16-17 Savings railway card

This card costs £30 per year and gives 50% discount on travel.

16-17 Saver can be purchased by all 16-17 year olds, regardless of nationality. It is valid for one year or until your 18th birthday, whichever comes first.

It cannot be used on ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper services, or with some Oyster tickets and Travelcards for travel to London. So check out the details and how they apply to you.

16-25 Railway map

This card costs £30 for one year or £70 for three years.

It offers a third off adult rates and is suitable for those under 26 or full-time students of any age.

If you travel between 4:30am and 10am Monday to Friday, you’ll need to buy a minimum ticket price of £12 to use your rail card and get the discount.

26-30 Railway map

This card costs £30 for one year and also gives you a third off adult rates.

You can buy a Railcard 26-30 any time before your 31st birthday and continue to use it for a year until it expires.

As stated above, and for many of the other rail cards on this list, you’ll need to spend at least £12 to use the discount on travel between 4:30am and 10am Monday to Friday.

Disabled person’s railway card

This card costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years.

It offers you and your adult companion a third off.

You will be eligible if you receive disability benefits and/or have certain types of disabilities. Click here for more information on eligibility.

Your companion does not have to be a caregiver to be eligible.

Railway card for family and friends

This card costs £30 for one year or £70 for three years.

It offers a third off for adults and 60% off for children on most train fares.

When traveling with four children (five to 15 years old), up to four adults (aged 16 years and older) are eligible.

The card can have the names of two adults on it, but they don’t have to be traveling together to use it. You must travel with at least one child between 5 and 15 years of age.

There are some restrictions on its use. For example, it cannot be used on weekday mornings during rush hour between London and South East England stations.

HM Armed Forces Railway Map

This card costs £21 for one year and offers a third off for adults and 60% off for up to four children on most rail fares.

All members of the Regular Force and Volunteer Reserve, non-permanent permanent personnel and others are eligible to participate. Click here to see the full list.

You can use the discount on all journeys, but for journeys between 4.30am and 10am Monday to Friday (except July, August and public holidays) a minimum of £12 will be required.

The card is issued directly to members of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces by the relevant department of the Ministry of Defence, to which all inquiries should be directed.

Network railway map

This card costs £30 for one year and offers a third off most adult fares and 60% off children’s fares in London and the South East, which may be more than you think.

With this rail card you can take up to three adults with you and they will also get up to a third off the fare.

You can also bring up to four children aged 5 to 15 and receive a 60% discount on tickets.

It is not valid until 10am on weekdays, with the exception of certain services.

The minimum fare is £13 per adult Monday to Friday and the minimum fare is £1 per child aged 5 to 15 years at any time.

Senior railway card

This rail card for people aged 60 and over costs £30 for one year or £70 for three years, although some local councils offer it slightly cheaper.

Like most other cards here, it offers users a third off adult rates.

It is not valid during weekday morning peak hours between London and South East England stations.

Railway card “Two together”

This third rail card is for two specified individuals aged 16 years or older traveling together. The cost for one year is £30.

It’s designed to help people save money with the person they travel with the most – be it a couple, a friend or a colleague.

It is not valid between 4:30 and 9:30 on weekdays and both named persons must purchase tickets together and start and end their journey together.

Veterans Railroad Card

It costs £30 for one year or £70 for three years.

It offers users a third off for adults and 60% off for children on most train fares.

Those who have served one day or more in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) are eligible. It is also available to merchant seamen participating in legally defined military operations.

Check the eligibility criteria and who else can benefit.

How to apply for a Railcard?

You can apply online to National Rail for a digital or physical card.

They can also be purchased in person at the station ticket office using a physical card. You can buy a card for yourself or another person.

For some types of rail cards you will need to provide proof of identification. The following forms of ID are accepted:

• Passport
• Driving license (except Northern Ireland)
• EEA National Identity Card

Read more in our Basics series…