Frequently Asked Questions?

Most frequently asked questions

• Can I use my 16-25 Railcard at any time of day?
  A:

  Yes you can. However, for all journeys made between 4:30am and 10:00am Monday to Friday a minimum fare of £12 is payable, excluding Advance fares. There is no minimum fare when you travel at weekends, on Public Holidays, or during July and August.
  
  If you travel regularly before 10:00am, then a weekly or monthly season ticket may be more appropriate, though you won’t be able to get a Railcard discount.

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• Can I use my Railcard for tickets for travel on the London Underground?
  A:

  With your Railcard you can get 1/3 off Anytime Day Travelcard when bought as part of your journey to London from outside London Zones 1-9 (subject to a minimum fare which is currently £22.60).
   
  With an Oyster card, you can get your Railcard discount loaded onto your Oyster card to save 1/3 on single off-peak pay as you go fares on London Underground and Docklands Light Railway services in London. You will need to have registered your Oyster in your name to do this. Simply take your Oyster card and valid Railcard to a London Underground station and ask a member of staff to set the discount for you. You can also get the discount set at Oyster Ticket Shops and Visitor Centres.

  See the Transport for London website for more details on Oyster pay as you go.

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• Can I travel on discounted tickets if my Railcard expires before I complete my journey?
  A:

  No. You will not be able to travel with your discounted tickets if your 16-25 Railcard has expired. Discounted tickets are only valid if you are using them with a valid Railcard. You will need to renew your 16-25 Railcard before you begin and complete your journey.

  Click here for the step by step guide on how to renew your Railcard.

  If you have selected 'Digital' under ‘Choose the type of Railcard you would like’ section, your digital 16-25 Railcard will be available to use straight away. A download code will be sent to your registered email address, along with instructions on how to download your digital 16-25 Railcard. Mature students will have to wait a little longer as these applications are checked manually. Please allow up to 5 working days for your Railcard application to be reviewed and approved.

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• Will I have to pay the full fare if I forget to bring my Railcard when I travel?
  A:

  Yes. You must show your valid 16-25 Railcard (digital or plastic) when you buy your ticket and travel on the train. If you bought your Railcard at a station, both the paper printed Railcard and the photocard must be presented. Failure to present a valid Railcard will mean you have to pay a full fare or you may on certain services be liable for a Penalty Fare.

  A train company will normally allow you to claim back this extra expense on the first occasion in each year where this happens providing you can show that you owned a Railcard before you started your journey.

  Each train company will have their own process for doing this. You will need to provide proof of your Railcard and either the original and additional tickets that you have purchased, or if you have not yet paid, details of the notice to pay or notice of Penalty Fare. Where you have already paid for additional tickets you should contact the relevant train company’s customer services department; in the case of a notice to pay or notice of Penalty Fare, you should follow the instructions included on how to challenge or appeal the charge.

   

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• Can I laminate the paper Railcard I have bought at a station to protect it?
  A:

  No. Please do not laminate your Railcard. In most instances the heat of a laminating machine will turn the surface of your Railcard black, damaging it and making it illegible. If this happens you will need to buy a replacement Railcard (for a fee of £10 if you have had no previous replacements).

  Laminated Railcards cannot be accepted by rail staff as the lamination makes it difficult to validate that the Railcard has not been tampered with.

  To protect your Railcard please keep it in a plastic ticket wallet which is available for free from any staffed station ticket office.

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• Can I buy tickets at a discounted rate before my Railcard arrives?
  A:

  No. You must carry your Railcard with you on any journey where you have bought discounted tickets with the Railcard.

  Therefore, if you buy discounted Railcard tickets before you receive your Railcard, you do this at your own risk.

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• Can I use the 16-25 Railcard to get discounts on Season tickets and period Travelcards?
  A:

  We are sorry but the 16-25 Railcard gives no discount on Season tickets and period Travelcards.

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• Can I use my Railcard on any Train Company?
  A:

  Yes, your Railcard is accepted by all the Train Companies who operate Passenger Railway Services within England, Scotland and Wales.

  Railcards do not give discounts on Eurostar services, Charter services, and Heritage Railways unless state otherwise.

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• 16-25 Railcard Terms and Conditions
  A:

  Please click on https://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/help/railcard-terms-conditions/ for important terms and conditions that you need to understand before you use your Railcard.
   

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• Can I use my Railcard in conjunction with Train Company special offers?
  A:

  Yes. You can use it with the 2FOR1 Days Out Guide promotions and most offers given by train companies. Please note that your Railcard may get you the full 1/3 discount on some Train Company special offers, but many offers include a smaller discount or no discount at all. It's best to ask at your local station for details of a specific offer, or call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50.
  
  Alternatively, you can visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.

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• Will I receive the Railcard discount on any chargeable items I take on the train with me?
  A:

  The Railcard discount does not cover charges on various articles or animals.
  
  For details about which items carry a charge, and details of the charges, please call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50. 

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• Can I use the Railcard in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland?
  A:

  Railcards can be used for rail discounts in the area known as Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). They cannot be used for rail travel in either in Northern Ireland nor the Republic of Ireland.

  If you live in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland you can buy a Railcard to use for travelling in Scotland, Wales or England. For more information on concessionary rail travel schemes in Northern Ireland please see www.translink.co.uk  or the Republic of Ireland please see www.irishrail.ie .

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• Can I use my Railcard to buy my ticket on the train rather than at a station?
  A: Only if there is no ticket office, or the ticket office is closed and there is no ticket machine available to buy your discounted ticket at the station at which you began your journey.  If this is the case you can buy your discounted ticket from ontrain staff.
  
  Otherwise, if ticket facilities were available at the station you could be charged the full price Standard Single fare.

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• Can I use my Railcard to buy tickets for other people?
  A: No. The Railcard is for your use only, and provides discounts only on tickets bought for your own use. It does not cover anyone accompanying you.

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• Can I reserve my seat if booking a ticket in advance?
  A: Yes, providing that there are reservations available on the service on which you are travelling. Many train companies will allow you to reserve a seat free of charge on longer distance journeys.
  
  Please check with the local ticket office staff before buying tickets.

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