Railcard and train ticket glossary

1

16-17 Saver

A separate railcard for 16 and 17 year olds that gives 50% off, including Season tickets, in England and Wales.

16-25 Railcard

A discount card that takes a third off most rail fares in Great Britain, for people aged 16 to 25 and full-time mature students aged 26 or over. It costs £35 for a year or £80 for three.

2

26-30 Railcard

The next step after the 16-25 Railcard: £35 a year for a third off, digital only, with a £12 weekday-morning minimum fare.

A

Advance fare

A cheaper ticket for a specific train, booked before the day of travel. The 16-25 Railcard takes a third off — in Standard and First Class — and the weekday-morning minimum fare doesn’t apply.

Anytime fare

A flexible ticket you can use at any time of day. The railcard takes a third off in Standard class.

ATOC Ltd

The company behind the official railcard websites, trading as Rail Delivery Group. It owns the Railcard logos.

C

Contactless

Paying for travel by tapping a bank card or phone. At the time of checking, railcard discounts can’t be linked to contactless — use Oyster instead in London.

Crime reference number

The reference the police give you when you report a crime. You need one for a free replacement of a stolen railcard.

D

Daily price cap

The most you pay in a day on London pay as you go. With the railcard on your Oyster, the off-peak cap is a third lower.

Digital Railcard

A railcard kept on your phone in the Railcard app instead of a plastic card. It costs the same and gives the same discount.

Download code

The code emailed to you after you buy a digital railcard, used to add it to the app.

M

Mature student

In the railcard rules, a full-time student aged 26 or over — on a course of more than 15 hours a week for at least 20 weeks a year. Mature students can buy the 1-year 16-25 Railcard.

Minimum fare

The lowest price a railcard can bring a fare down to. For the 16-25 Railcard it is £12 for journeys starting from 04:30 to 09:59, Monday to Friday — except Advance fares, public holidays and July and August.

O

Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak

Cheaper walk-up fares that you can only use at quieter times or on set routes. The railcard takes a third off them in Standard class.

Oyster card

London’s travel smartcard. You can add a 16-25 Railcard discount to a registered Oyster for a third off off-peak pay as you go.

P

Pay as you go (PAYG)

Paying for each journey with Oyster or contactless, instead of buying a ticket first.

Penalty Fare

A charge for travelling without a valid ticket — or without the railcard your ticket needs — where penalty fares apply. Currently in England it is £100 plus the full single fare (£50 plus the fare if paid within 21 days).

Public holiday (bank holiday)

A national holiday. The 16-25 Railcard’s weekday-morning minimum fare doesn’t apply on these days.

R

Rail Delivery Group (RDG)

The rail industry body that runs the national railcard schemes — the trading name of ATOC Ltd.

Railcard app

The free official app that holds a digital railcard. You can’t buy a railcard in it — only keep one there after you’ve bought it.

Renewal window

How early you can renew: online, up to 30 days before your current card runs out.

S

Season ticket

A weekly, monthly or annual ticket for regular journeys, such as commuting. The 16-25 Railcard gives no discount on Season tickets.

Split ticketing

Buying separate tickets for different parts of one journey to pay less overall. We found no official guidance on railcards and split tickets, so check with the retailer.

T

Ticket office

A staffed counter at a station. You can buy or renew a 1-year 16-25 Railcard there and get it the same day.

Travelcard (Day)

A ticket that combines a train journey to London with Tube and bus travel in the London zones. The railcard takes a third off an Anytime Day Travelcard bought from outside Zones 1–9, with a minimum fare.