18-year-olds to get half-price rail travel under new Railcard rules
UKPulse Consumer Desk
From 17 August, the 16-17 Saver Railcard will remain valid for a full year even if the holder turns 18, giving 18-year-olds half-price train travel on most services.
- The 16-17 Saver Railcard will remain valid for a full year from purchase, even if the holder turns 18, from 17 August.
- Previously, the Railcard expired on the holder's 18th birthday.
- The Department for Transport said the old rule left more than 70,000 students annually an average of £175 worse off.
Eighteen-year-olds will soon benefit from half-price train travel on most services, as the Department for Transport (DfT) announces a relaxation of Railcard rules.
From 17 August, the 16-17 Saver Railcard, which can be purchased by 16- and 17-year-olds, will remain valid for a full year from its purchase date, even if the holder turns 18. Previously, the Railcards expired upon the holder's 18th birthday.
The DfT said that the existing rule left more than 70,000 students annually an average of £175 worse off than peers in the same academic year who had not yet reached adulthood.
The 16-17 Saver Railcard costs £35 per year and entitles the holder to 50 per cent off most train fares.
Rail Minister Lord Hendy called the change a “common sense change” and said it was “exactly what passengers should expect from the railway”.
Why this matters: The change addresses an unfairness where some teenagers were significantly worse off than their peers due to their birthday falling earlier in the academic year.
What this means for you: If you are 16 or 17 and buy a 16-17 Saver Railcard, it will now remain valid for a full year even after you turn 18, saving you up to 50 per cent on most train fares.