How to add your Railcard to your phone

Add or transfer your digital Railcard to your phone in a few simple steps.

Illustration of a purple phone with a digital Railcard added and a green tick

Before you begin, you’ll need to have a couple of things ready to go:

Illustration of a purple phone with a blue and white National Rail double arrow icon on the screen

Download the Railcard app

If you don’t have the Railcard app yet, you can download that latest version free on Android and iOS.

Illustration of a purple mobile phone with cogs on the screen and a green speech bubble with 5 asterisks

Activation link

We send you an email with your activation link at the time of purchase, or you can access the link in My account.

Add your digital Railcard to your phone

The quickest and easiest way to access your Railcard is using an activation link, simply follow the instructions below:

Important information

If you bought a 16-17 Saver or Veterans Railcard, you will need to use a download code to add your Railcard to your phone.
Bought a Railcard through Trainline, Trip.com or another retailer? Visit the retailer’s website to access your Railcard.

Step 1: Use your activation link

Your activation link can be found in an email we send you at the time of purchase.

If you can’t find your activation link, sign in to your Railcard account and select ‘Add Railcard to app’

Screenshot of an email with a link that enables to you add your Railcard to the app.

Step 2: Your Railcard is ready

Your Railcard will appear under ‘My Railcards’ in the app.

Now, all you have to do is book your next adventure!

Screenshot of a successfully activated Railcard in the app.

Frequently asked questions

Why isn’t my activation link or download code working?

If you’re having problems with your activation link or download code, it may have expired or you may have reached your device limit. You can save your Railcard on up to 2 devices at a time.

If your activation link or download code has expired:

You can get a new activation link or download code in your Railcard account.

If you need to remove a registered device:

1. Sign in to your Railcard account

2. Go to ‘Manage my account’

3. Select ‘Registered devices’

4. Select the device you‘d like to remove

5. Get a new download code to add your Railcard to a new device

What should I do if I have lost my phone?

If you’ve lost your phone, you can remove the device from your registered devices in your Railcard account.

How to remove a registered device:

1. Sign in to your Railcard account

2. Select ‘Add Railcard to app’

3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to view your devices

4. Select the device you’d like to remove

Once that’s done, you can add your Railcard to your new phone.

If you have a 16-17 Saver or Veterans Railcard, you’ll need to sign in to your Railcard account and request a new download code.

Is my phone compatible with digital Railcards?

The Railcard app is available to download on Apple iOS 15.0 and later, and Android 8.0 and later.

Why can’t I add my digital Railcard to another phone?

If you’re having problems with adding your Railcard to an additional phone, you may have reached your device limit.

You can save your Railcard on up to 2 devices at a time. If you want to add it to a third, you will need to remove it from one of your existing devices through your account.

How to remove a registered device:

1. Sign in to your Railcard account

2. Select ‘Add Railcard to app’

3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to view your devices

4. Select the device you’d like to remove

Can the second cardholder download the Family & Friends Railcard on their device?

Yes. If you have a second cardholder named on your Family & Friends Railcard they can also download the Railcard to their device.

All you need to do is share your activation link with them. They can then use the Railcard, even when you aren’t, provided they are travelling with a child age 5 to 15.

Feeling stuck?

If you’re still having problems with your Railcard or your Railcard account, our customer service team can help.

Contact Railcard Help Team