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London , London Travel Tips & Inspiration , Moving to London Advice & Resources · August 14, 2023

What is a Railcard? Your Ultimate 2024 Railcard Guide + FAQ

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Wondering if you should get a Railcard ? (or what it is in the first place ? ). Look no further. Here’s everything you need about Railcards in the UK — from a London travel blogger.

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Living in one of the most expensive cities in the world tends to make you think of ways you can save a pretty penny or two. Cue Railcards .

Over the past seven years, using Railcards has saved me hundreds of pounds in transport in the UK, allowing me to get the cheapest fares on trains, the Tube, DLR, London Overground, National Rail, and even the Elizabeth Line.

But what is this magical card, you ask?

In this post, I’ll be answering ‘what is a Railcard?’, ‘what does a Railcard do?’, how to decide if you need a Railcard, what types of Railcards are there, how to get a Railcard, and some quick final tips to help with your Railcard journey (no pun intended). Let’s get into it!

If you definitely know you want a Railcard already, you can purchase your Railcard here .

If you definitely know you want a Railcard already, just skip down to the section ‘How Do I Get a Railcard?’ for a step-by-guide on how to get it set up or purchase your Railcard here .

What is a Railcard? Your Ultimate Railcard Guide + FAQ

What is a Railcard?

Before you think about getting a Railcard, you should probably know what it is.

A Railcard is a card issued by the National Rail network in Britain that allows passengers to get discounted fares when they use certain types of trains and other methods of transportation.

It’s available for adults and children alike, so everyone can benefit from discounted fares!

What Does a Railcard Do?

It makes it rain! In discounts that is.

When you purchase a Railcard , you’ll receive up to 1/3 off most train tickets. You can also get discounts on other services such as the Tube, DLR, London Overground, and the Elizabeth Line if you’re in London.

Each Railcard has different and very specific eligibility criteria and offers different types of discounts, so it’s important to make sure that you’re getting the one that best suits your needs.

How Much Is a Railcard?

As of 2023, Railcards start from £20 – £30 for a 1-year Railcard or £54 – £70 for a 3-year Railcard .

What you pay will depend greatly on what type of Railcard you’re applying for. To figure that out, have a look at the chart below!

How to Decide If You Need a Railcard

Deciding if you need a Railcard comes down to one thing — how long you’ll be in London.

Travelling to London:

As you’ll need to pay for a Railcard yearly, I don’t think it’s worth going through the process of getting a Railcard and utilizing the discounts if you’ll only be here for a week or two.

Since the price is £30 for 1-year or £70 for 3-years, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting an ROI on your savings (i.e – saving more than £30 a year/£70 in 3-years through the discount), which can only really happen if you’re here for an extended amount of time.

With that said, if you’re travelling loads by train during your London trip — it may be worth calculating if the savings would be worth it.

Short-term stays, Living in or Moving to London:

On the other hand, if any of the above applies to you the answer is YES, you should definitely get a Railcard .

Whether you’re a short or long-term Londoner — living in the city is synonymous with a lifestyle of constant travel on public transport, so why not save 1/3 off travel when you can?

What Types of Railcards Are There?

There’s currently nine types of Railcards , each offering various discounts for a certain demographic. These include:

• 16 – 17 Saver – 50% off Rail travel
• 16-25 Railcard – 1/3 off Rail and certain travel fares
• 26 – 30 Railcard -1/3 off off-peak Rails and certain travel fares
• Disabled Persons Railcard – 1/3 off Rail and certain travel fares for you and a friend or travel buddy
• Family & Friends Railcard – 1/3 off off-peak Rails and certain travel fares for four adults and four children who’ll get 60% off (must be aged 5-15)
• Network Rail – 1/3 off Rail fares in South East England, including up to 3 adults and 4 children
• Senior Railcard – 1/3 off all off-peak journies
• Two Together Railcard – 1/3 off off-peak Rail travel for you and your travel buddy (doesn’t need to be a couple)
• Veterans Railcard – 1/3 off Rail travel

P.S – Click here to learn more about which Railcard you’re eligible for

How Do I Get a Railcard?

Once you’ve decided whether or not a Railcard is right for you, you’ll need to get one. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1️⃣ IMPORTANT : Have a valid passport, UK licence, or EEA national identity card and a digital passport-style photo (or a really good selfie!) saved to your computer ready — you’ll need this to verify your identity and get your Railcard set up.

2️⃣ Head to Trainline and select ‘I know the right railcard for me’ or fill in the questionnaire about your age and travel habits to get the right option for you

3️⃣ Follow the steps and make sure you’ve downloaded the Railcard app to your phone to activate your pass

4️⃣ Go to your nearest Underground station and ask the TfL staff to connect your Oyster to your Railcard (you can do it on your phone as well, but I’ve found this way to be quicker/easier)

5️⃣ Start using your glorious Railcard discount!

Final Tips on Getting a Railcard: Railcard FAQ

• You can only connect your Oyster card to your Railcard. So if you’re currently using your contactless card, you’ll need to switch over to be able to take advantage of your Railcard discount ( Read More: Oyster Card vs Contactless: Which Should I Use? )
• Remember the 1/3 off pay-as-you-go Oyster travel is for off-peak fares only, so the discount won’t be applied when you’re travelling in peak times (Monday to Friday, except public holidays, between 06:30 and 09:30, and 16:00 and 19:00)
• Railcard discounts don’t work on buses (but buses are the cheapest out of all London transport options, so you’ll still save loads)
• Despite popular belief, Railcards are not just for British residents! So if you’re travelling here for an extended time and taking a lot of trains/public transport, it may be worth calculating if getting a Railcard would be worth the 1/3 discount during your stay (at £30 a year)
• Don’t hesitate to get your Railcard! Every day you don’t have it, you’re missing out on amazing transport deals in London & the UK — thank me later!

Thanks for reading my ‘What is a Railcard?’ Guide. If you enjoyed it, let me know on  Instagram !

Check out more london guides:.

• How to Get Around London: Your Ultimate Transport Guide
• Oyster Card vs Contactless: Which Should I Use?
• 5 Best Short-Term Accommodation Options in London
• Moving to London
• London Neighbourhood Guides

Happy Londoning,

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• Renew my Railcard
• Manage my Railcard

The official retailer of Railcards by National Rail

Get 1/3 off train travel for adults and 60% off for kids

If you are travelling, travel with confidence.

Buy Now Renew my Railcard

How much can I save?

People with a Family & Friends  save on average £113 per year** , or  £5.2 per journey^ . If you’re travelling here’s an example of some of the savings you can make on train tickets:

Railcard price

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How does using a Railcard work?

Get your Railcard

Buy your discounted train tickets

Have your Railcard with you when you travel

Eligibility and terms of use

• Buy a Railcard and keep it with you when you travel (on your phone or wallet)
• Save on most tickets including Advance tickets
• Valid at Off-Peak for journeys in London & SE
• Railcard holder must travel with a child for discount to apply

Read full eligibility and usage terms

Need help getting or using your Railcard?

Need help? Can't figure out what card to buy? Or just have a question?

Can I use my Railcard for tickets for travel on the London Underground?

With your Railcard you can get 1/3 off Anytime Day Travelcard when bought as part of your journey to London from outside London Zones 1-9 (subject to a minimum fare which is currently £19.60).

What happens if my child turns 16 while my Family & Friends Railcard is still valid?

Children who turn 16 while your Family & Friends Railcard is valid are still entitled to get a discounted child fare for a time. If you have a 1-year Family & Friends Railcard, your child who has turned 16 can travel as long as the 1-year Family & Friends Railcard is valid.

If you have a 3-year Family & Friends Railcard, your 16-year old can only travel as a child on the Railcard card until the day before they turn 17.

Can I use my Family & Friends Railcard at any time of day?

No. Railcard discounts are available throughout Britain but they are not available on tickets for morning peak period services, for journeys wholly within London & South East Network Railcard area on Mondays to Fridays. (The exceptions to this discounted fare rule are when you travel at weekends and on Public Holidays).   The times of morning off-peak services do vary by route and are normally related to the availability of Off Peak  Day tickets. It's best to check with ticket office staff before buying your tickets.

Am I eligible to use a Family & Friends Railcard?

Any adult can buy a Family & Friends Railcard. To use it, at least one of the group travelling must be named on the Railcard and there must also be at least one child travelling on a child rate ticket. The named Railcard holder must travel for the entire journey with any passengers who have been bought discounted tickets.

• Renew my Railcard
• Manage my Railcard

The official retailer of Railcards by National Rail

Get 1/3 off train travel with a Two Together Railcard

Buy now renew my railcard.

How much can I save?

People with a Two Together Railcard  save on average £89 per year** , or  £6.08 per journey^ . If you’re travelling here’s an example of some of the savings you can make on train tickets:

Railcard price

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Find yourself in some very special places with Warner, with an additional £10 off per...

How does using a Railcard work?

Get your Railcard

Buy your discounted train tickets

Have your Railcard with you when you travel

Eligibility and terms of use

• Buy a Railcard and keep it with you when you travel (on your phone or wallet)
• Save on most tickets including Advance tickets
• Valid Off-Peak Monday to Friday and Anytime at weekends and bank holidays

Read full eligibility and usage terms

Need help getting or using your Railcard?

Need help? Can't figure out what card to buy? Or just have a question?

Can I use the Two Together Railcard when I am travelling on my own?

No. The Railcard is for use by you and the second named adult on your Railcard when you are travelling together. The two named cardholders must travel together for the entire journey for their discounted tickets to be valid.

Can I use my Railcard for tickets for travel on the London Underground?

You cannot use your Two Together Railcard to get discounts on Oyster Pay As You Go or tickets bought from London Underground retailers.

However, you can buy discounted rail tickets for a journey which involves a cross London journey using the Underground to travel between two London mainline train stations. Anytime Day Travelcards are also available when bought as part of your National Rail ticket to London from outside London Zones 1-9, subject to a minimum fare of £19.60.

Can I travel with my Two Together Railcard at any time of the day?

You can travel on Two Together Railcard discounted tickets from 09:30am Monday to Friday and at any time on weekends and public holidays.  Two Together Railcard discounted tickets cannot be used between 04:30am and 09:29am Monday to Fridays (excluding public holidays).

How do I add a digital Railcard to my phone?

If you have already purchased a digital Railcard, you should have received an email which contains a download code. You will use this download code to add your digital Two Together Railcard on your phone or device.

First, you will need to download the Railcard app from the Apple Store or the Google Play store. Once downloaded, open the app and tap on the ‘+’ symbol on the ‘Your Railcards’ screen. The ‘Add Railcard’ screen will then show, and you will need to tap on the ‘+’ symbol under ‘Add an existing Railcard’ to enter your download code and add your Railcard.

Click here for the step by step guide on how to add a digital Railcard to your phone.

Browse Help by Category

Digital railcards, buying a digital railcard, types of digital railcard with trainline.

You can now buy the following digital Railcards with us and store them directly in your Trainline app.

Railcards by age

Age-based Railcards are great for students, young professionals and seniors.

• 16-17 Saver
• 16-25 Railcard
• 26-30 Railcard
• Senior Railcard (60+)

Railcards by Group

Railcards are great for friends, couples and family members. You don't need to be related or in a relationship to use them. They're a good option for anyone aged 31-59 who doesn't qualify for an age-based Railcard and also offer discounts on child fares.

• Family & Friends Railcard
• Two Together Railcard

Railcard by region

Lets you explore the Network Railcard area — 16 counties across the South East, including London — for 1/3 less.

• Network Railcard

Please note that the Disabled Persons Railcard and Veterans Railcard are not available to buy digitally with us. We are currently working on the ability to verify eligibility.  If you already have this type of Railcard you can still buy discounted train tickets through trainline. 

Make sure you have a compatible device

Can i buy more than one railcard.

You can have more than one Railcard, but for now you’ll have to buy them in separate transactions.

I no longer want the Digital Railcard

Railcards can be refunded within 14 days of purchase as long as they haven’t been used to buy discounted tickets. Please contact us to request a refund. 

Viewing Digital Railcard in app

Can one railcard be shown on multiple devices.

The Railcard is associated to only the email address it was purchased under and so it can be shown on any trainline app that is logged in with that email address - you can log into more than one device with the same email address. Two Together Railcard and Family & Friends Railcard both have more than one cardholder, however the Railcard is still associated to only the purchasing email address and so can only viewed through that one login.

I bought a Railcard on Trainline, but now I can’t find it in the app.

To view your Railcard in the app, you'll need to first log in to your account with the same email address you purchased with. After logging in, navigate to the Account tab and tap on "Your Railcards" to bring up the list of Railcards you've purchased. Then tap on "Download Railcard" to download it to your device.

I bought a Railcard for someone else

The Digital Railcard photo must be that of the persons who are going to use it for travel. The Railcard will only show in the app if logged in with the same email address as purchased. To move the Railcard to a different email address entirely then please contact us . 

Using the Digital Railcard for travel

Can i buy a railcard and apply the discount within the same booking.

Not at the moment, but we’re working on it. For now, you can buy your Railcard in one transaction and then book your train tickets straight afterwards in a separate transaction. To apply the discount, select the Railcard manually from the search screen.

Can I apply more than one Railcard to my booking?

Yes, but only up to the same number of passengers on the booking. You can use any Railcards in combination with each other. Whether the discount is applied or not depends on the ticket type you select.

Some Railcards will offer discounts for the people you’re travelling with too, so you may only need one Railcard between you.

How do I apply a Railcard discount?

• Select where you’re travelling from and to and the date and time you'd like to travel.
• Add your passengers and their relevant Railcards.
• Select ‘Get times & tickets’. If you're eligible for a discount, it will automatically be applied to your search results.

Why wasn’t my Railcard discount applied?

• For example, the Network Railcard is only valid for journeys in the South East of England.
• Railcards are not valid on European journeys (including Eurostar).
• If your Railcard discount only applies to Off-Peak travel, but you’re searching for journey that departs during peak times.
• The Network Railcard doesn’t offer discount on Advance tickets.

To see the full list of ticket types where a Railcard discount is not valid, click here.

Can I apply a Railcard discount retrospectively?

No. Please double check your Railcard discount has been applied before booking your tickets.

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Using railcards when visiting a country:, great britain, czechia / czech republic, the netherlands, switzerland, please support showmethejourney.

Using Railcards to save money on train tickets

Railcards can be used when visiting a country and can pay off when only taking a small number of journeys.

Rail passes allow the freedom to travel by trains on a set number of days, but railcards are different. They are valid for longer, typically for a year, and during this time they can be used to obtain tickets at a discounted price, so you can’t just hop on a train with a railcard, because you need to travel with the railcard and a ticket(s). The price and type of the ticket doesn’t typically matter, so railcards can be used in multiple scenarios; you can save money when booking a first class ticket last minute at a station, or when booking the cheapest 2nd class ticket you can find online. The online ticket agents will provide a facility to include the type of railcard you have when looking up a journey, the prices you will then see will include the discounted rate.

So the more journeys you book with the railcard, the more money you will save. Typically once you have booked a relatively small number of long-distance journeys, the savings made will be greater than the cost of purchasing the card. Conversely once you have purchased the card, if you then don’t book enough journeys, you won’t make an overall saving.

Railcards are also primarily aimed at national journeys, though some cards also give access to lesser discounts on international journeys, but because of this national focus, there can be an assumption that they can only be purchased and used by those residing in the country in which they are valid. This is typically the case for specific types of railcards which are allied to medical conditions or for students, but most other types of railcard can be purchased and used when visiting a country, so they can be worth considering if a holiday includes a number of rail journeys. This guide will only include railcards which can also be used by visitors .

Also worth looking out for are the types of railcard which are valid for specific ages of travelers, as the ages can differ from the typical national ticket policies as to when the full adult rate applies to ticket purchases. Many railcards are for use by families and give the ability to book children’s tickets at particularly low prices with the parents also travelling at a discount, while others enable young adults to travel at special ‘youth’ rates. While for those blessed with senior years, using railcards can be the only means of travelling by train at a discounted rate.

Also don’t assume that because most railcards are valid for a year, that they won’t provide good value for money, when only visiting a country for a holiday. A combination of railcard + tickets can also be better value for money than using rail passes, it depends on how long you will be holidaying and where you want to go. Railcards can offer particularly good value in comparison to rail passes if you want to book ahead, while rail passes offer great value for money when compared with more expensive last minute tickets.

A range of railcards are available which can be used by visitors to the UK on train journeys within England, Scotland and Wales The discounts which apply to tickets also apply when buying regional rail passes, including Spirit Of Scotland passes.

Family & Friends Railcard :

• Valid for one year, but at least one child aged 5 to 15 must be part of the travel party for the pass to be eligible
• Core benefits = 1/3 off adult Standard class tickets for up to 4 adults and 60% off child rate tickets for up to 4 children aged 5 to 15.

26-30 Railcard

• Valid for one year
• Core benefits = 1/3 off adult rate on all Standard Class tickets + 1/3 off adult rate on First Class Advance tickets + 1/3 off when using Oyster cards in London off-peak

Two Together Railcard

• Valid for one year, can be used by the two people named on the card
• Core benefits = 1/3 off all Standard and First Class tickets at the adult rate

Senior Railcard

• Valid for one year, can be used by people aged 60 and over
• Core benefits = 1/3 off all Standard and First Class tickets at the adult rates + 1/3 off when using Oyster cards in London off-peak.

Network Railcard (ideal for day trips from London )

• Valid for one year and can be used for journeys within the shaded area on this map .
• Core benefits = 1/3 off all Standard Class tickets at the adult rates for journeys within the area + you can take up to three more adults with you who also qualify for a 1/3 off + take up to four children aged 5 to 15 and receive a 60% discount on the child ticket rates.

Comparison with rail passes

One country InterRail passes are available for rail travel in Great Britain; along with Britrail passes for visitors to the UK who don't meet the InterRail criteria. Thanks to the extraordinarily high prices of walk-up tickets for long-distance rail journeys, both of these type of pass can be great value for money if you want to take spontaneous rail journeys. However, if you are happy to book ahead and commit to specific trains with Advance tickets, then it's possible that a combination of railcard + rail tickets; or railcard + rail tickets + regional rail passes will be money saver, even when visiting Britain for a holiday.

For example, if two people aged 40 wanted to take a holiday involving London and Scotland: A Two Together Railcard + a pair of Advance tickets for the journeys each way to and from Glasgow booked a month ahead + 4 day trips across Scotland from Glasgow using 2 x Spirit Of Scotland passes booked at the railcard rate, would have a total approximate cost of £410 / €480. But two x 2nd class Adult InterRail passes valid for six days of rail travel in Great Britain = €524

If the two people aged 40 were to be travelling with an 8 year and a 10 year old, the InterRail cost would still be €524, because there would be no charge for the two child rate InterRail passes, but the total tickets costs when using a Freinds and Family railcard would be approximately £515 / €605.

So as can be seen there are no 'rules' around whether rail passes will or won't be money savers, but if a holiday to Britain includes just two long-distance rail journeys, it's likely that a railcard + tickets will be a money saver. On the London and Scotland example above, the savings on the journeys between London and Glasgow, paid back the costs of the investment in the railcard.

OBB is the national rail operator in Austria and it offers a range of railcards which it calls Vorteilscards .

The most popular type of railcard is the Vorteilscard 66, which lives up to its name with a price of €66. It can only be purchased online and can then be used when booking tickets on the OBB website; it will be valid for a year. When booking it gives a discount of 50%.

The 'Vorteilscard Classic' card offers the same 50% discount for a year and costs €99, but this card can be purchased from and used at ticket counters. So unlike the Vorteilscard 66 card you can use it to purchase last minute tickets at a station just prior to boarding, either from a ticket counter or at a ticket machine.

In comparison InterRail passes and Eurail Passes for Austria cost from €146 for passes valid for 3 days of travel within a month; to up to 8 days of travel within a month for €258.

Discounted long-distance rail tickets in Austria are known as Sparscheine tickets and they can be great value for money, the Wien/Vienna ↔ Innsbruck journey is near the top of the longest possible rail journeys in Austria list, but the Sparscheine tickets on this route can cost as little as €29. Therefore when these prices are available, you'll need to be booking five or more trips at this distance before the Vorteilscard 66 becomes value for money. Though if you'll be taking five long-distance journeys, on for example a Wien → Graz → Salzburg → Bregenz → Innsbruck → Wien itinerary; and can find the prices at the €29 rate, a Vorteilscard 66 + five tickets discounted by 50% will cost around €141. In contrast a rail pass valid for five days will be more than €50 more expensive at €197.

The downside of travelling with Sparscheine tickets is that they can only be used on the specific trains selected when booking, but the more flexible Austrian tickets that can be spontaneously used on any train on a travel date can be 4 x more expensive. As a result the hop on at the last minute ability of Eurail/InterRail passes is often great value for money if you want to travel spontaneously.

If you don't want to be restricted to Sparscheine tickets, using the Vorteilscard Classic to obtain a discounted rate on last minute tickets at the station can be (a lot) more expensive than using the one country Eurail/InterRail passes valid for Austria. On that five city itinerary outlined above a Vorteilscard Classic card + the five tickets bought last minute at the station at a 50% rate, will typically cost more than €300, so the 5 day pass would save more than €100.

So the best means of working out whether a Vorteilscard Card + half price tickets, or a rail pass, or just booking tickets, will be the cheapest option, is to look up the journeys you want to take on the OBB website ; remembering to take 50% off the prices you see to obtain the Vorteilscard Card rate.

Travelling with Children:

In general children aged 5 and under travel for free and children aged 6 – 14 travel at half-fare on Austrian trains, but those discounted Sparscheine tickets are an exception. An adult purchasing them can travel with up to four children aged 14 and under at no additional charge. It's worth keeping this is in mind, if you'll be happy to commit ahead and use this type of ticket, because OBB also offers a Vorteilscard Family card. They cost only €19 and an adult travelling with one these and a valid adult ticket, can also travel with up to four children aged 14 and under at no additional charge. So there's no point in buying these if you will only be using Sparscheine tickets, but they can be good value for money if you'll want to take last minute day trips from major cities, during a holiday.

Adults don't receive a discount with the family cards, but they can be used in conjunction with a Vorteilscard 66 or a Vorteilscard Classic.

Though if you will be travelling with children aged 4 to 11, keep in mind that if you purchase an Adult one country Eurail / InterRail pass, you can add two child passes for no additional cost.

Those aged 15 to 25:

A Vorteilscard Jugend card costs only €19 and anyone aged 26 can use one to obtain a 50% discount on Austrian rail tickets, so for those aged 15 to 25 these cards will typically pay off when booking just two long-distance rail journeys; or just one, if a ticket is priced at more than €40!

Though prices for Austrian Eurail and InterRail passes at the Youth rate begin at €127 for 3 days of travel, so even at €19 for the card, if you will taking more than six long-distance journeys, it's likely that the value for money balance will tip towards the passes.

Those aged over 65:

A Vorteilscard Senior card costs €29 and gives the 50% discount on most Austrian rail tickets/ So the value money equation needs to be worked out against the prices of Austrian Eurail and InterRail passes at the special Senior rate =-though for the rail passes these cheaper prices apply to those aged 60 and over.

If you will be taking multiple rail journeys while on a holiday in Belgium, such as day trips from Gent to the likes of Antwerp, Brugge, Bruxelles, the Belgian Coast and Ypres, Multi Tickets can be money savers. Like a railcard, these 'tickets' are valid for a year, but atypically they cover the costs of 10 one way rail journeys, so when travelling with them you don't need to purchase separate tickets, when taking trains between any Belgian stations. Or you can take five trips and book tickets for two people.

Youth Multi passes are available for €55 for those aged 25 and under. Standard Multi passes are available for those aged 26 and over, which cost €87 for 2nd class and €132 for 1st class.

One country Eurail and InterRail pass are not solely available for travel in Belgium.

The Czech national rail company sells ' In Cards ' which can be great value for money when travelling by train in Czechia. A type of In Card valid for 3 months which gives a 25% discount on all Czech rail tickets costs 190 CZK, which is less than €8!

Though keep in mind that Czech rail travel is comparatively cheap, tickets on a smart express train for the 2hr 30min journey between Praha/Prague and Brno can be found for under 220 CZK, so the In Cards will likely only be value for money if you will be taking at least four city to city journeys, or two long day trips.

One country InterRail and One country Eurail passes for Czechia are also comparatively cheap compared to other countries, with Adult 2nd class pass prices starting at €93; the type of pass valid for three days of rail travel in a month.

Though at today's exchange rate €93 = 2289 CZK, so you don't need to be a math genius to work out that an In Card + only paying 75% of the ticket price is likely to be cheaper in a number of Czech rail travel scenarios; particularly if you don't mind booking ahead and committing to travel by specific departures. The Eurail and InterRail passes only offer good value for money against the last minute, more expensive Czech train ticket prices.

French national rail operator SNCF sells a range of railcards, known as Carte Avantage which are very popular in France; particularly as it's not uncommon for a journey of more than three hours by a standard TGV InOui service to be priced at more than €100, if you're not booking at least two months ahead.

A tad oddly SNCF offers three types of Carte Avantage cards which are split according to age, Jeune for those aged 12 to 26 and Adulte for those aged 27-59 and Senior for those aged 60 and over ; but they all cost €49, are valid for a year but the benefits they offer to the card holders aren't available on all trains. For one way journeys you can only access the benefits when travelling on Saturdays and Sundays/ For two way journeys /a round trip, you need to be staying overnight on a Saturday, or a Sunday, or travelling in at least one direction on a Saturday or Sunday.

Travel at those times and the benefits to the card holder are:

• a 30% reduction on tickets for travel by TGV (TGV InOui) and Intercités; in effect these are the standard French long-distance express trains ,
• When travelling at the times when the discounts apply, there are also maximum price caps, so on certain journeys by the TGVs, the discount can be more than 30%; max price of journeys of up to 1hr 30mins = €39; up to three hours = €59 and over three hours = €79,
• A 25-50% discount when travelling by regional TER train services in most regions; with Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Provence Cote d'Azure and Ile de France being the three regions where no discounts apply on the TER trains.
• A 30% discount on the high speed trains from France to Germany (not Thalys); to Italy (not Frecce), Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland.
• Those discounts also apply to one other person travelling with you, so you can purchase pairs of tickets at the discounted rates.

Each card holder can take up to three children at 60% of the child ticket costs, those aged 4-11 qualify for child ticket rates in France but when travelling with kids, their tickets will be discounted on any day of the week.

Working out whether combinations of Carte Avantage cards + discounted tickets will be better value for money during your holiday, than using one country InterRail or one country Eurail passes valid for France, can a somewhat convoluted process Though if you will be taking two or more journeys of 3hrs + during weekends, then it's worth doing the calculations; particularly if you will be travelling in July and August.

Something which needs to be factored in when doing the math is that the discounted tickets you book with the French railcards will include the seat reservations, but when using Eurail and InterRail the reservations for the TGV InOui services and on some Intercités services , will cost from €10.

Also if you won't be travelling solo, you also need to factor in that the benefits of the Carte Avantage cards extend to more than one traveller.

Purely as an example, ShowMeTheJourney looked up the comparative prices for two 'Adults' taking a round France trip of Paris → Bordeaux → Toulouse → Marseille → Nice → Paris in early July when booking 2 months in advance, The total cost for this itinerary with an Carte Avantage Adulte card was €345; the card saved €125 on the tickets, so when factoring in the price of the card the actual saving was around €75 - but the travel had to be taken when the discounts on the card could be applied. In contrast two InterRail or Eurail passes valid for the 5 days of travel plus two sets of four* reservation fees at €10 per journey = €474. (*reservations not required for the Marseille to Nice journey

When travelling solo the total ticket cost of Carte Avantage Adulte card + the five discounted tickets = €196; in contrast a five day InterRail pass + four reservations = €237. But in this one solo traveller scenario, stopping over in Nimes on the Toulouse to Marseille journey, plus a return trip to Avignon before heading off to Nice, would tip the balance in favour of the rail pass.

The German national rail operator DB offers multiple types of Bahn Cards which are railcards which can be used to obtain a 25% or 50% discount when booking tickets for train tickets in Germany. They can also be used to reduce the ticket price when booking journeys between Germany and Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina (ZFBH and ZRS), Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Netherlands, Republic of North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland.

Various types of Bahn Card are available, but what's particularly useful if you will be planning a holiday with numerous rail journeys in Germany is that Bahn Cards valid for 3 months are available, which are given the name of Trial Bahn Cards. The prices are:

• A Trial Bahn Card 25 which gives 25% off 2nd class journeys = €17.90
• A Trial Bahn Card 25 which gives 25% off 1st class journeys = €36.90
• A Trial Bahn Card 50 which gives 25 - 50% off 2nd class journeys = €72.90
• A Trial Bahn Card 50 which gives 25 - 50% off 1st class journeys = €146

If you're happy to commit in advance and book non-flexible, discounted Super Sparpreis tickets for specific departures, the prices of many long-distance German rail journeys in 2nd class start at €17.90. Therefore you need to make only four trips with a card which gives 25% off 2nd class journeys, for the Trial Bahn Card 25 card to be a money saver. However, those €17.90 ticket prices can be hard to track down if you're not booking more than a couple of months in advance, so prices of €39-49 can be more typical. At those prices you only need to make two long trips (one return journey) for the card to be worthwhile.

However the Trial Bahn Card 50 cards are only worth buying if you want to avoid the more restrictive terms of using Super Sparpreis tickets and Sparpreis tickets, because the 50% discount is only applied to the more expensive Flexible tickets. When booking Super Sparpreis tickets and Sparpreis tickets, the Trial Bahn Card 50 cards don't live up to their name and only provide for a 25% discount. Though as Super Sparpreis tickets can't refunded or exchanged, the combination of Trial Bahn Card 50 card + flexible tickets provides protection against a trip having to be cancelled.

For illustrative purposes, a round Germany trip of Cologne → Hamburg → Berlin → Munich → Freiburg → Cologne by ICE trains in early July, when booking 2 months in advance, at adult 2nd class rates was researched . The total cost of a Trial Bahn Card 25+ five tickets was €218; with a saving on the ticket price of around €60.

In contrast a one country InterRail pass and a one country Eurail pass for Germany, valid for 5 days of travel at the Adult rate, is €241.

Seat reservations on German express are optional, so if you want to reserve the same rates are payable whether you book tickets or travel with rail passes. Though if a stopover in Bamberg was taken on the Berlin → Munich journey and a stopover in Bonn on the Freiburg → Cologne journey were both factored into the trip, the rail passes then become better value for money.

The Italian national rail company, Trenitalia, offers a Silver Card for seniors, for those aged 65-74 it costs €30, but there is no charge for those aged over 75 and over. The cards can be purchased / obtained at station ticket desks but have your passport with you, you'll also need to take it with on journeys by Frecce and Intercity trains, which are Trenitalia's express trains .

However, when booking tickets online or at stations for journeys by these express train services, the Silver Card holder can only obtain a discount when booking 'Base tickets' and these are the most expensive type of tickets to travel by these trains. The Silver Cards enable a 15% discount on Base, tickets but a range of discounted tickets are available, in limited numbers, for journeys by these Frecce and Intercity trains and these tickets are typically discounted by more than 15%.

Where the Silver Card can pay off is for journeys by the R and RV regional train services , as they are only sold at a base price. Though with tickets for travel for fairly long-distances by these trains costing less than €30, if you're aged 60 -74, you're going to need to be taking more than seven such journeys for the initial investment in the card to pay off.

Conventional rail cards are not available in The Netherlands, but if you will be holidaying in The Netherlands and want to explore on more than one day by train , there is a method of using the national travel cards as a money saver, compared to buying tickets for each journey you'll be taking.

OV-chipkaarts are cards which can be used on public transport throughout The Netherlands, including the railways; instead of buying tickets you tap in and out of ticket gates when taking rail journeys (and tap machines on the buses, tram and metros). When visiting The Netherlands you can buy the OV-chipkaarts from a ticket counter at a Dutch railway station, one per person and each person will need to have a passport photo.

Once you have the OV-chipkaart, you can insert it into a ticket machine and load a Dal Vrij pass on to it, which costs €107.90 if you are aged 64 and under, or €46.80 if you are 65 and over. The plus of using the Dal Vrij pass is you can then use the OV-chipkaart for a month on any public transport at weekends or national holidays and during off-peak hours; which are weekdays from 09.00 to 16.00 and from 18.30 to 06.30. Or you can buy train tickets during those times for you and up to three other people travelling with you for a 40% discount on each ticket. With three or four days of extensive travel by public transport, the Dal Vrij pass will have paid for itself.

Though when you return home you'll need to log on to your online banking and cancel the direct debit for the Dal Vrij pass; to save Dutch people the bother of having to renew the Dal Vrij pass it is sold on a direct debit basis, but the T&Cs make it very clear that you can cancel the debit after the first month.

Conventional railcards aren't available for the majority of rail journeys in Spain unless you will be aged 60 and over when taking rail journeys in Spain. You can take your passport to an advance travel desk at Spanish stations and purchase a Tarjeta Dorada card for only €6! You can then use it to obtain discounts of 25 - 40% on Spanish rail tickets.

If you will be visiting Switzerland you can purchase Half Fare Cards HERE that will be valid for 1 month. They cost CHF 120 for adults, but live up to their name and give a 50% discount on most Swiss trains and public transport networks and that includes the Swiss mountain railways ; you can also use them to get a 50% discount on first class tickets and it doesn't matter whether you book online or last minute at the station

Half Fare Cards can be good value for money, even if you will only be spending a relatively short time in Switzerland, particularly if you want to travel spontaneously, so don't want to commit ahead to specific departures in order to obtain the Sparbillette (Supersaver) ticket rate. Use them to book last minute tickets on around three long-distance journeys and it's likely you'll make an overall saving, particularly if you book 1st class tickets.

If you will be travelling with children aged 6 to 15 then the Half Fare Card can be particularly good value for money, because when you buy it online and add children of this age to the travelling party, it automatically becomes a Swiss Family Card at no additional cost. The children aged 6 to 15 at the time of the trip then travel for free when accompanied by an adult; children aged 5 and under travel for free on Swiss railways in ay case.

Combining day passes with Half Fare Cards :

You can also use Half Fare Card to obtain Saver Day Passes at a 50% discount, so if you want to explore a large area of Switzerland in a single day or two and ALSO want to make some long-distance trips, the Half-Fare card can pay off. More info about how to use a Half Fare Card for visitors together with Saver Day Passes is available on the rail passes in Switzerland guide .

Though if you don't want to commit ahead to purchasing Saver Day Passes and would rather be spontaneous to take advantage of good weather etc, Half Fare Cards can also be used to purchase last minute Day Passes at a 50% discount . Though the flex type of Swiss Travel Pass, which is valid for three days of travel in a month, is cheaper than buying a Half Fare Card + 2 Day Passes.

That using rail passes in Switzerland guide also explains how the various types of rail passes can be cheaper than booking Swiss rail tickets, even at the Half-Fare Card rate; it depends on which journeys you will be taking.

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I wanted to share my passion for train travel and explain how anyone can take the fantastic journeys I have taken.

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A railcard can save you up to 1/3 off a wide variety of tickets, including some of those bought for journey’s using Southern Railway. Most Railcards cost £30 for a year and can be purchased online or from your local station.

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Do you have someone who you love taking the train with? Get a Two Together Railcard with a best friend, one of the family or that special someone. For just £30, you and the person you travel with can get huge discounts on rail fares. Getting a discount on getting away is always more fun when you share it with someone.

If you are 16 or older, the Two Together Railcard will save you 1/3 off a wide range of tickets, it applies to most adult fares across Great Britain.

Where can I buy the Two Together Railcard?

You can buy the Two Together Railcard here online, at any staffed station ticket office or National Rail-licensed Travel Agent.

How much can I save with the Two Together Railcard?

The Two Together Railcard costs just £30 so after just a few trips, the card will have paid for itself (the equivalent of paying £2.50 a month, if you buy annually).

Where and when can I use the Two Together Railcard?

The Two Together Railcard gets you 1/3 off Standard and First Class Anytime, Off-Peak and Advance fares when you travel together after 09:30 Monday to Friday, or anytime at weekends and public holidays with your Two Together Railcard.  Please visit https://www.twotogether-railcard.co.uk/using-your-railcard/travel-times-tickets/ to find out more.

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People with a Senior Railcard  save on average £86 per year** , or  £5.26 per journey^ . If you’re travelling here’s an example of some of the savings you can make on train tickets:

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Please click ‘’Buy Now’’ on the website homepage and follow the instructions on the screen. You will need to provide a valid passport or UK driving licence or National Identity number to verify your date of birth online and a digital passport-style photo if you have selected ‘Digital’ under ‘Choose the type of Railcard you would like’ section.

If you have ordered a plastic Senior Railcard, please allow 5 working days for delivery. You can choose to pay for ‘Special Delivery’, but you will have to place your order before 15:45pm to guarantee that your Railcard is delivered within two days (Monday to Thursday) or three days (Friday to Sunday).

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If you order online then yes, you can order one up to 14 days in advance of your 60th birthday. Please note that you cannot buy Railcards in advance of your 60th birthday from rail stations.

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Railcards mean saving on every train journey, giving you a discount of 34% off the full adult fare, and some offer up to 60% off child fares too. Discounts also apply on some London Travelcards , PlusBus , ferry services and Ranger and Rover tickets. 

There are a range of Railcards available for train travel that will save you money on each journey. It doesn’t matter if you’re going for a night out or heading somewhere nice for the weekend, or perhaps to follow your sports team throughout the season, no one likes to pay more than they have to and a railcard can make this a reality!

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