26-30 Railcard on track to save customers £281 a year

The 26-30 Railcard continues to break sales and savings records, since it went on sale at midday on 2nd January. This week will see the two hundred thousandth customer become a 26-30 Railcard holder, helping them save 1/3 on their rail fare for just £30 a year. Since the 26-30 Railcard went on sale in January customers have saved £10,532,513 on their rail journeys, if this trend continues the 26-30 Railcard will save customers an average of £281 a year - the equivalent of 36,530g of chocolate from 281 £1 Easter eggs.

Some of the most popular destinations people will be travelling to this Easter includes:

London to Brighton

• Cost of a Super Off-Peak Return a with 26-30 Railcard: £8.25
• Cost of a Super Off-Peak Return without a 26-30 Railcard: £12.50
• Total saving with a 26-30 Railcard: £4.25

London to Manchester

• Cost of a Super Off-Peak Return a with 26-30 Railcard: £57.40
• Cost of a Super Off-Peak Return without a 26-30 Railcard: £87.00
• Total saving with a 26-30 Railcard: £29.60

London to Cambridge

• Cost of a Super Off-Peak Return a with 26-30 Railcard: £8.60
• Cost of a Super Off-Peak Return without a 26-30 Railcard: £13.00
• Total saving with a 26-30 Railcard: £4.40

London to Leeds

• Cost of a Super Off-Peak Return a with 26-30 Railcard: £74.90
• Cost of a Super Off-Peak Return without a 26-30 Railcard: £113.50
• Total saving with a 26-30 Railcard: £38.60

London to Edinburgh

• Cost of a Super Off-Peak Return a with 26-30 Railcard: £97.30
• Cost of a Super Off-Peak Return without a 26-30 Railcard: £147.50
• Total saving with a 26-30 Railcard: £50.20

This Easter 10.3m journeys are expected to take place by train, with the majority of tickets for Easter travel being bought on the day. Customers could be saving themselves 1/3 on adult fares and 60% of kids fares with one of seven National Rail Railcards. 

Railcards, including the new 26-30 Railcard, are one of a number of measures that the rail industry is rolling out as part of its joint plan to change and improve for customers. Over 1,000 extra train services are being added this year, delivering more frequent trains for passengers and better connecting towns and cities across the country. 

Britain’s rail companies have also published proposals to overhaul the country’s fares system, making it easier to use and bringing it up to date with how people travel today.

Jyoti Bird, Director of Marketing, Propositions and Partnerships at Rail Delivery Group said:

“We’re delighted that 26-30 Railcard holders are set to make even better savings than originally predicted. Since 1993 Railcard customers have been able to save an estimated £8.5bn on their rail journeys, the introduction of the 26-30 Railcard has helped the rail industry build on these fantastic savings for its customers. The savings customers can make on their journeys provides them with more money to make the most of the areas they’re travelling to, and to stay better connected to friends and family”.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:

“It is fantastic to see that the 26-30 Railcard is helping young people save millions of pounds on their journeys.

"Alongside the 16 & 17 railcard which will be released later this year, this government is committed to ensuring the railway is open to everyone.”

For more information about Railcards visit www.railcard.co.uk

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• 26-30 Railcard stats based on figures from 2nd January and 17 March 2019
• Easter Egg price and weight based on Dairy Milk with Mini Eggs (130g) from Asda
• Savings are based on a Super Off-Peak Return journey for one person using a 26-30 Railcard. Price checked on 19th March 2019 for travel on 20th April 2019.
• In 2018 there were 10.1m journeys across the 4 days of Easter (Friday to Monday) based on YTD journey growth 10.3m journeys are expected to take place across the network over Easter weekend.
• For travel on the Friday 4% of passengers booked a week in advance ramping up to 9% the day before travel.
• For travel on the Saturday 7% of passengers booked a week in advance ramping up to 16% the day before travel.
• For travel on the Sunday 23% of passengers booked a week in advance ramping up to 39% the day before travel.
• For travel on the Monday 11% of passengers booked a week in advance ramping up to 25% the day before travel.
• Canterbury Kent to Wick in Scotland has been the longest journey taken with the 26-30 Railcard so far (881m).
• When you travel by train you can also make great savings on days out at over 250 attractions across Britain. Visit daysoutguide.co.uk for more information.
• National Rail was formed by Britain’s Rail Companies to provide a range of products to help customers save money on their leisure travel, whilst also connecting communities, families and businesses across Britain. 
• The National Rail 26-30 Railcard costs £30 a year, a cost that can be made back in just one journey.
• More than four million existing Railcard customers save almost £600million a year – £152 each on average – on rail journeys.   
• The 26-30 Railcard gets you 1/3 off most Off-Peak and Advance rail fares to travel across Great Britain. There are tickets, time restrictions and minimum fares, for more information visit 26-30railcard.co.uk

Images and quotes are available upon request.  

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Sarah Apps
Sarah.Apps@raildeliverygroup.com
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