It's official. The new 26-30 Railcard is here to stay and is available right now.
For just £35 a year, the 26-30 Railcard is your ticket to better value train travel, giving you 1/3 off leisure journeys across the National Rail network, including along London Northwestern Railway routes! Whether you’re catching up with friends, planning a spontaneous city getaway or heading out for a solo explore, the 26-30 Railcard helps you get there for less.
Read our guide to discover the benefits of 26-30 Railcards and how to use your Railcard savings for day trips, family visits and city breaks by train.
Benefits of a 26-30 Railcard
With a 26-30 Railcard, take advantage of:
- 1/3 off your ticket prices for Standard Anytime, Advance, Off-Peak and First Class fares
- Discounted rail travel on most journeys across the entire UK rail network, including along LNR routes
- Digital-only Railcard format, so there’s no need to remember a physical card when you travel
Eligibility and restrictions
To qualify for the 26-30 Railcard savings, you simply need to be between the ages of 26 and 30.
Keep in mind that for travel before 10 am, a minimum fare of £12 applies unless you are travelling with an Advance ticket, on a public holiday or during July and August. If you're a regular early-bird commuter looking to save on your morning trip, you'll find even better value with our range of season tickets and flexi season tickets.
How to buy or renew your 26-30 Railcard
The 26-30 Railcard is a digital-only discount, designed to live on your phone so you never have to worry about leaving it behind. Simply apply online and, once approved, you’ll receive a digital download code to activate your Railcard in-app .
- Proof of age: A valid UK driving licence, international passport, or EEA National Identity Card.
- A photo: A digital passport-style headshot.
- Payment: A credit or debit card.
Once downloaded, you can start saving on your train trips immediately, with no need to wait around for a physical Railcard to arrive in the post. Plus, if your phone dies or you upgrade your device, you can easily transfer your Railcard to another smartphone for stress-free travel all year round!
You can quickly renew your 26-30 Railcard via your online account up to 30 days before it expires, too, ensuring you don’t miss a single day of savings!
How to use a 26-30 Railcard
Using your 26-30 Railcard discount is easy! When searching for train tickets online or via the LNR app, simply select the 26-30 Railcard options and your 1/3 discount will be automatically applied to all eligible fares.
Remember to take your digital Railcard with you to show to ticket inspectors or station staff during your journey,
Frequently asked questions
Yes, a minimum fare of £12 applies for journeys made between 04:30 and 10:00 Monday to Friday. This minimum fare does not apply to advance tickets or travelling on public holidays or weekends.
For full terms & conditions, please visit https://www.26-30railcard.co.uk/help/railcard-terms-conditions/
26-30 Railcards cost £35 for one year of rail discounts, offering excellent value and paying for itself after just a few train trips!
Yes! You can buy a 26-30 Railcard up to the day before your 31st birthday so that you can make the most of your savings for that little bit longer!
Don’t worry if you don’t qualify for a 26-30 Railcard - our other Railcards include options for families, seniors, and pairs travelling together, so you can still benefit from affordable fares.
As the 26-30 Railcard is only available in digital format, the best way to apply is online via the official Railcard website . Once you have uploaded your age verification documents and added a photo, you will be sent a download code to connect your 26-30 Railcard to your app, ready to use for your next train trip!
While both Railcards offer 1/3 off train fares and depend on age eligibility, the 26-30 Railcard is exclusively a digital card and is only available as a one-year option.
Unlike the 16-25 Railcard, there is currently no three-year version available for the 26-30 age group.