Trains are expensive these days. It can be cheaper to book a return flight to continental Europe than to get the train from London to Manchester, and most of us just don’t have that much spare cash to throw away on getting from point A to point B.
That’s where railcards come in. There are a range of railcard variants, including for under 30s, over 60s, people who travel in pairs, families, veterans, and disabled people, each offering about a third off of your fare for £30 a year. Unfortunately, and it does not bring us any joy to tell you this, as of a couple of weeks from now, the exact amount which you will save is going down.
There is a silver lining though – it’s not lowering by much. The current discount is 34 percent, and it’s going down to 33.4 percent, which represents an increase of a few pence on most tickets, so don’t worry. This needn’t be the end of your loving relationship with the Great British railways. It is, however, annoying. And you’re not the only one who thinks so.
A representative for the lobby group Railfuture called the move a ‘step in the wrong direction,’ telling the BBC that, ‘as the slogan goes, every little helps, so why risk irritating passengers for a few pence?’
Nonetheless, this change is coming, so the best you can do is ensure you know exactly how you’re affected. Here’s some key facts to bare in mind if you’re thinking of renewing your railcard anytime soon.
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How much are railcards being reduced by?
As we said, you’ll still get just over a third off the price of a ticket, but the exact percentage is going from 34 to 33.4. This is such a small amount that the increase will usually be less than a pound.
This will see an off-peak return from London to Manchester, currently £109 or £71.90 with a railcard going to £72.55.
Which railcards are affected?
All national railcards will be affected by the reduced discount, including:
- 16-25 Railcard
- 26-30 Railcard
- Disabled Persons Railcard
- Family & Friends Railcard
- Network Railcard
- Senior Railcard
- Two Together Railcard
- Veterans Railcard
When does it take effect?
You have two weeks left to enjoy that extra 0.6 per cent off, with September 14 being cutoff. Any journey taken on or after September 15, 2024, including those which you book now in advance, will be impacted by the changes.
It is also worth being aware that all types of tickets will be affected, whether they be singles, returns, or open returns.
Why are railcard discounts being reduced?
According to Railcard, who manage the discounts on behalf of Network Rail, this decrease is partially due to their reluctance to increase the price of the passes themselves.
‘The cost of a Railcard hasn't increased for over 10 years,’ they explained. ‘[they are] just £30 a year - a cost that can be made back in just one or two journeys.’
It’s likely also part of a wider effort to increase revenue from ticket sales, which are yet to recover from the pandemic, although bosses have yet to confirm this.
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