Rail companies announce that the 26-30 Railcard will go on sale nationwide

• All 26 to 30 year olds will be eligible to save on average £125 a year on off-peak rail journeys, allowing more people to spend time with their friends and family or exploring new locations across Britain
• The first ever digital only Railcard will allow more people to benefit from travelling by train

Rail companies have together announced that over 4 million people will be eligible to take advantage of 1/3 off their leisure journeys, for just £30 a year, when the National Rail 26-30 Railcard launches before the end of this year. 

Launching nationwide as the first digital-only Railcard, the National Rail 26-30 Railcard will be available to buy at www.26-30railcard.co.uk and downloaded to the Railcard app on a smartphone. Once downloaded customers can then start travelling (and saving) straight away, with no need to wait for the post. If their phone runs out of battery or gets lost it can be swapped to another mobile device.

Jacqueline Starr, Managing Director of Rail Delivery Group said: “Britain’s rail companies are excited to announce that the National Rail 26-30 Railcard will be available across the country before the end of the year. It means more young people can explore Britain for less using our trains and benefit from saving a third on rail travel, making it cheaper to get out and enjoy the seaside or visit family and friends.”

Originally piloted in East Anglia on 6th December, the trial was extended nationwide on 13th March to gather additional insights to ensure the National Rail 26-30 Railcard was the right product for this age group. Those taking part in trial took approximately 6 leisure journeys a month, covering an average of 400 miles, and if this trend continues then National Rail 26-30 Railcard holders will save themselves an average of £125 a year when they travel by train.

Joseph Moore, who took part in the 26-30 Railcard trial in East Anglia said: "Like many people of my age group, I was gutted when I was no longer eligible for the 16-25 Railcard. I relied on it for travelling back home from university to see my family, plus going to explore new places with my friends. I used it to save money on getting the train for job interviews, and for staying in touch with people after I left university.”

“I was so excited to be able to take part in the 26-30 Railcard trial in East Anglia. Doing the survey each month made me realise how often I was going to see my friends and family. Once I realised how little I was travelling I made the conscious effort to spend more time making memories and improving my relationships. Travelling by train is so much easier, and a lot less stressful, than driving. I can’t wait to be able to buy my new Railcard when it’s released nationwide and am glad that it’s here to stay.”

More than four million existing Railcard customers save almost £600million a year on rail travel. Railcards enable customers to explore more of Great Britain, in an ultra-convenient and cost-effective way. The 26-30 Railcard is the seventh Railcard to launch since 1974.

The new Railcard is one of a number of measures that the rail industry is rolling out to improve for customers as part of its joint plan to change and improve. Last month, the rail industry announced that a new app to help disabled people will be used across the country next year and over the summer we carried out the first national consultation for easier fares. Next month, the rail ombudsman will launch and improve complaints handling for customers.

Keep your eyes peeled on @_Railcards Twitter or Facebook for more information about the roll out.
For more information about the National Rail 26-30 Railcard visit www.26-30railcard.co.uk

ENDS
 

NOTE TO EDITORS

• 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 will be made available by the end of the year. Once here the National Rail 26-30 Railcard will be here to stay.
• The National Rail 26-30 Railcard will cost £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 train trips.   
• The National Rail Railcards were created to help people enjoy leisure journeys across Britain, whether that’s travelling to see friends and family or going to explore a new location. There are terms and conditions in place on our Railcards to help make leisure rail travel more enjoyable for everyone. If you travel during peak times, regularly, it might be worth considering a season ticket. Or if it is a one-off journey, make sure you look into advance fares.
• The launch of the National Rail 26-30 Railcard marks a key milestone in the rail industry’s commitment to boost local communities by making rail travel more accessible.
• The 26-30 Railcard gets you 1/3 off most off-peak rail fares to travel across Great Britain. There are tickets, time restrictions and minimum fares, for more information visit 26-30railcard.co.uk