The HM Forces Railcard costs £21 and it'll save you 1/3 on most rail fares throughout Great Britain for a whole year. That works out to under £2 a month for huge savings.
For only £21 for one year, you can benefit from fare discounts for yourself and up to four accompanying children.
The HM Forces Railcard saves you 1/3 on most rail fares throughout Great Britain for 12 months. This discount card is for members of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and is designed to make leisure travel more affordable for service personnel and their families. We have commuter-specific discounts for those looking to save on work or school-related travel.
Benefits of a HM Forces Railcard
The HM Forces Railcard allows you:
- ⅓ discounts off rail tickets, including Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance, Weekender and some other tickets. Take a look at the ticket types you can and can’t make savings on with your HM Forces Railcard.
- Use your railcard anytime on weekends, bank holidays and weekdays. If you’re using your railcard before 10am on weekdays (except in July and August), a minimum fare of £12 will apply.
- A 60% discount off accompanying kids’ tickets.
Requirements and restrictions of the HM Forces Railcard
Your HM Forces Railcard will save you 1/3 on many tickets, however, there are some exceptions. Here are some tickets you can’t purchase using this railcard:
- Season tickets including Travelcard Season tickets
- Eurostar tickets
- Some Train Company specific promotional offers
- Tickets for special excursion or Charter trains and some coach/bus links, including Railair services
- Most London Underground and Docklands Light Railway tickets (unless using Oyster pay as you go)
Please note that the railcard can only be used for non-duty (leisure) travel.
Eligibility includes all members of the regular forces and volunteer reserves. This also extends to non-regular permanent staff and members of the regular reserve during full-time service of at least three months. More specifically, you can apply if you are:
- A member of the Regular Forces wherever you are stationed.
- A member of the Volunteer Reserve.
- A spouse or civil partner of an eligible member.
- A dependent child of an eligible member.
- A member of the Regular Reserve during periods of full-time service of at least 3 months.
For more details, see eligibility .
Spouses, civil partners and dependent children of eligible members can also get a railcard. War widows and widowers are eligible and can apply through the Royal British Legion.
How to get an HM Forces Railcard
HM Forces Railcards are not available to buy at railway stations or online. You can get an application form from the HR admin staff at your unit. If you are in the RAF, you should apply using the RAF HR portal.
You will need to complete the application form provided by your unit. You usually need to provide a passport-sized photograph to go with your application. For regular personnel, the cost is often deducted directly from your pay.
How to use your HM Forces Railcard
This railcard is perfect for visiting family or exploring many of the United Kingdom’s best locations. Whether you are heading from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street or visiting the historic streets of St Albans, we make your leisure travel budget-friendly.
There are plenty of ways you can use your Railcard for both long and short trips. Better still, you can use it anytime on weekends, Public Holidays and during the week. The only restriction is that if you travel before 10 am Monday to Friday (except during July and August), a minimum fare will apply.
Frequently asked questions
The HM Forces Railcard costs £21 for one year. This affordable price helps the armed forces community enjoy more of Great Britain for less.
No, you cannot share your railcard because it is not transferable and must not be given to anyone else. However, your spouse or civil partner and dependent children are eligible to have their own railcards, so the whole family can travel sustainably together. When you travel with your children, your railcard allows up to four children to travel for 60% less than the adult fare.
It is a special discount card for the UK armed forces community. It helps you save money on train travel so you can make the most of your leave and enjoy quality time with loved ones. Using the train is also a great way to reduce your carbon footprint while exploring the backbone of England on our routes.
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
- journeys on public holidays
- journeys during July and August
For full terms & conditions, please visit: https://www.hmforces-railcard.co.uk/terms-and-conditions