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Get 1/3 off rail travel

16-25 Railcard

Buy a 16-25 Railcard Renew my Railcard


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Get 1/3 off train tickets
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Also available to mature students aged 26 and over
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Enjoy deals on food and more
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Save around £212 a year*

What is a 16-25 Railcard?


Your 16-25 Railcard is the travel buddy that gets you where you’re going for less. Save on train tickets across Great Britain and go wherever life takes you.

Get a 1-year Railcard or save £25 with a 3-year Railcard. After just a few trips, your Railcard pays for itself! Perfect for uni, work and weekend getaways.

*Annual saving is based on the average savings made by combined Railcard holders between April 2025 and March 2026, excluding price of Railcard.

Good to know

  • You can buy or renew a 1-year Railcard any time before your 26th birthday.

  • You can buy or renew a 3-year Railcard any time before your 24th birthday.

  • If you’re aged 16 or 17, you can get 50% off train tickets with the 16-17 Saver Railcard.

Am I eligible for a 16-25 Railcard?


The 16-25 Railcard is available to anyone aged 16 to 25, plus mature students aged 26 and over.

Just turned 26? No worries – you can buy a 26-30 Railcard to keep the savings going!

If you’re aged 25 and under:

Buy or renew your 1-year Railcard on the day before your 26th birthday and keep saving for another year.

Buy or renew your 3-year Railcard on the day before your 24th birthday and keep saving for another 3 years.

If you’re a mature student aged 26 and over

  • You must be in full-time education in Great Britain

  • Your 16-25 Railcard is valid for 1 year

  • You can renew your 16-25 Railcard if you’re still in full-time education. Full-time education is over 15 hours per week, and over 20 weeks per year

  • Distance learning programmes, part-time courses, and The Open University are not eligible

  • You’ll need to fill out a mature student application form and get it signed by your college or university

  • You’ll need to provide a valid student ID, like an NUS card or college/university photo ID

What travel discounts can I get with a 16-25 Railcard?

  • Travel at any time. A minimum fare of £12 applies if travelling before 10am, Monday to Friday

  • Minimum fare does not apply to Advance tickets, on public holidays, or during July and August

  • Ticket types included:

    • Standard Anytime (Day, Single, or Return)

    • Standard Off-Peak (Day, Single, or Return)

    • Standard Super Off-Peak (Day, Single, or Return)

    • Standard and First Class Advance

  • In and around London:

    • Anytime Day Travelcards when bought as part of your ticket from outside London Zones 1 to 9 (subject to minimum fare of £23.60)

    • Oyster pay as you go Off-Peak (National Rail, London Underground and Docklands Light Railway)

    • Gatwick Express, Stansted Express and Heathrow Express

  • Caledonian Sleeper tickets – Club Solo or Classic Solo rooms and seated products

  • PlusBus day tickets

  • Combined rail to sea journeys:

    • some rail/sea journeys with Wightlink and Red Funnel Ferries to stations on the Isle of Wight

    • Hovertravel services to and from Ryde Hoverport

    • discount is only available on tickets as part of a journey from/to a National Rail station or on combined rail/sea journeys from/to Ryde Hoverport

  • Rover tickets and Ranger tickets

View full terms and conditions

How to buy your 16-25 Railcard

You will need to provide ID to prove your age and eligibility, along with a passport-style photo.


Accepted forms of ID


• Passport

• UK driving licence (excluding Northern Ireland)

• EEA national identity card


If you are a mature student, you will also need to complete a mature student application form that has been stamped by your place of study, your current university/college photo ID, and a passport-style photo.

You’ll need to fill out a mature student application form and have it signed by your college or university.


Once that’s sorted, you can buy your Railcard online. You’ll be asked to upload the completed form, along with your student ID, before checkout.

To buy online, visit the 16-25 Railcard sales page and follow the instructions on screen. You will need to provide your proof of ID and a passport-style photo. 


For a digital Railcard

Once your online payment has been successful you will receive an email confirmation and acknowledgement of your application number (this confirmation cannot be used to buy discounted tickets).


We will then send you another email with an activation link to download your Railcard to the Railcard app. 


For a physical Railcard

  • Please allow up to 10 days for standard delivery

  • Special Delivery orders placed before 5pm, Monday to Thursday, are delivered within 2 days

  • Special Delivery orders placed before 11am, Friday to Sunday, are delivered within 3 days


For a mature student 16-25 Railcard

If you are a mature student you will have to wait a little longer for your Railcard as these applications are checked manually. Please allow an additional 5 working days for your Railcard application to be reviewed and approved.

To buy your 16-25 Railcard at a station you will need to download a Railcard application form and take the completed form to any staffed station ticket office to apply in person. 


You will need to provide 1 of these forms of ID:

• Passport

• UK driving licence (excluding Northern Ireland)

• EEA national identity card


and a passport-style photo.


If you are a mature student you’ll need to download a mature student application form and have it signed by your college or university, then take the completed form, accompanied by your current university/college photo ID, and a passport-style photo to any staffed station ticket office to apply in person. 

How to use your Railcard

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1

Buy your Railcard

Buy a digital or physical Railcard online, or you can buy a physical Railcard at a staffed station.

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2

Book your tickets

Use your Railcard when buying tickets to save instantly.

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3

Carry your Railcard

Keep your digital or physical Railcard on you when travelling.

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Are you a mature student?

You can get a 16-25 Railcard if you’re aged 26 and over, in full-time education, and attend courses on campus.

Fill out the mature student application form and have it signed by your college or university.
Once that’s sorted, you can buy your Railcard online.

You’ll be asked to upload the completed form, along with your student ID, before checkout.

Download mature student form

Why people choose a Railcard

" Whether I'm going to uni or home to see friends, my 16-25 Railcard saves me every time!"

Alice

Offers you’ll love

Your Railcard opens up a world of exclusive offers on your favourite food, experiences and entertainment.

3 months FREE reading at Readly Offer

3 months FREE reading at Readly

With Readly, you’ll unlock access to an incredible selection of over 8,000 newspapers and magazines, all at your fingertips.

View offer
Gousto: Get 55% off and free delivery on your first box Offer

Gousto: Get 55% off and free delivery on your first box

Change the way you eat and choose from 500+ recipes per month.

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60 days free with tastecard Offer

60 days free with tastecard

Get 2-for-1 meals or 25% off your total bill at thousands of restaurants across the UK.

View offer
Hoseasons Parks and Lodges Offer

Hoseasons Parks and Lodges

Save 5% on Hoseasons Lodges, Parks and Boating breaks with your Railcard

View offer

Need a helping hand?

If you need support with your Railcard or your account, we can help.

Get help with my Railcard

Yes you can. However, for all journeys made between 4:30 and 10:00, 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.

Yes. With your Railcard you can get 1/3 off an Anytime Day Travelcard when bought as part of your journey to London from outside London Zones 1 to 9 (subject to a minimum fare of £23.60).


You can also 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.


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

No. The 16-25 Railcard provides discounts only on tickets bought for your own use. It does not cover anyone accompanying you.

Yes. You can buy or renew your 1-year 16-25 Railcard up to and including the day before your 26th birthday and keep using it until its expiry date.


You can buy a 3-year 16-25 Railcard up until the day before your 24th birthday, which will make the expiry date the day before your 27th birthday.

No, unfortunately the 16-25 Railcard does not give you a discount on Season tickets or weekly and monthly Travelcards.

Yes! You can renew your 16-25 Railcard before your 26th birthday if the Railcard is due to expire in less than 30 days.


If your 16-25 Railcard has an expiry date after your 26th birthday, you can buy a 1-year 16-25 Railcard before your birthday, or buy a 26-30 Railcard once you’ve turned 26!


I have a 1-year 16-25 Railcard

You can renew or buy a new 1-year Railcard up to the day before your 26th birthday.


I have a 3-year 16-25 Railcard

You can renew or buy a new 3-year Railcard up to the day before your 24th birthday.

You can get a 16-25 Railcard as a mature student if you’re aged 26 and over, in full-time education, and physically attend courses on campus at a recognised unviersity or college.


Full-time education is at least 15 hours per week, for at least 20 weeks per year.


Distance learning programmes and part-time courses are not eligible for the 16-25 Railcard.


If you’re a mature student who attends full-time courses at the Open University Milton Keynes campus, you are eligible for a 16-25 Railcard.


The 16-25 Railcard for mature students is valid for 1 year.


Download a mature student application form to get started.

Enjoy fantastic deals on days out when you travel by train

Find things to do, 2FOR1 deals, 1/3 OFF savings and many other great discounts at top attractions across Great Britain, with National Rail’s Days Out Guide.

Visit Days Out Guide
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Start using your Railcard today

Download the Railcard app and add your Railcard to your phone. It’s so simple – just use the activation link in your confirmation email.

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Need assistance for your train journey?

If you are a disabled or less mobile passenger, you can: