Railcards can save you money, but some come with rules about when and how you can use them. Here’s what you need to know:
When you can use your Railcard
Most Railcards give you discounted fares during Off-Peak times, weekends, and public holidays.
Some age-related Railcards (like the 16–25 or 26–30 Railcard) can also be used during Peak times, but a minimum fare may apply.
The Disabled Persons Railcard can be used at any time.
Time and fare restrictions
Some Railcards have restrictions based on:
The time of travel (e.g., early morning Peak hours)
The price of the ticket
For example:
If you’re travelling between 04:30 am and 10:00 am, your Railcard discount might only apply to fares costing £12 or more.
Travelling before 10:00 am
If you’ve used your Railcard to buy an Anytime or flexible ticket and plan to travel before 10:00 am, make sure:
Your ticket costs at least £12, and
Your Railcard is valid at that time.
If it isn’t, your ticket won’t be valid before 10:00 am — even if it’s an Anytime fare — and you could be fined.
Booking with Trainline
When you search for tickets on Trainline and apply your Railcard:
We’ll automatically show the correct fares and valid travel times.
If you decide to travel earlier than the train you searched for, always double-check your Railcard’s restrictions first.
Full terms and conditions
You can read the full Railcard terms and conditions here.