Over 25? Student? You can still get a railcard!

Young Persons Railcard
Not just for young persons

Can’t believe I only just found this out – after booking some rail tickets. Although they may be canned with the upcoming strikes. CHecking for rail passes in England gives the option of 16-25, Family & Friends, Senior, Disabled and Network (SE/London). Checking in Scotland gave me the same options with Network replaced with Highland.

No obvious option for the mature student, which I thought a little unfair. After all, a 23 year old could be a graduate on £40k. I’m 36 and on £4k, all of which I have to pay back.

But, lo! Dig into the “Are you eligible?” section at the 16-25 Railcard web page and it includes mature students! As long as you’re attending 15+ hours a week for 20+ weeks per year, you qualify for the card. You require an ISIC (international student ID) card or a signature/stamp from the college and one passport-style photo. The pass can then be obtained from any manned railway station. You cannot apply online if you’re a mature student.

As it happens, this would only have saved me a smidgen over £6 on my London trip which doesn’t offset the £26 fee a great deal but these things mount up quickly over a year. It would definitely encourage me to use the train more.

Another point to note is that if you get the card on the last day of uni, it is still valid for the following 12 months – the same as if you get one on the day before you turn 26. So if you get a card partway through your final year and get your £26-worth, then just fork out for another one the day you leave!

So, bad advertising? Or a deliberate attempt to hide the fact that some people could be saving money? Either way, spread the word!

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ritadevi

Thanks- wish I’d found this 3 years ago !

tariq

AMAZING!!! .. YOURE A LEGEND SIR..

don

wow, thanks loads, its nice to know. i will get one asap and use the train more now.

don

great, will get one asap and use the train more now.

Weeble

I know this is an old thread but this is my two pence worth in case someone else arrives here too with a similar experience to me.

It’s a very welcome bonus to being a mature student! However, in answer to the author’s question: [“So, bad advertising? Or a deliberate attempt to hide the fact that some people could be saving money?”] I think it’s correct on both accounts. It’s impossible to buy or renew online only as their website [http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/] excludes everyone over 25.

Currently you can only achieve this by visiting a station. This also means that mature students over 25 are unable to make 3 year renewals.

Even if you visit the station, you’ll need to have filled in and have had it stamped by your school. I went to London King’s Cross with a stamped letter from my uni and offered to fill in their form there and then and give them both but it was refused. It just wastes time, adds bureaucracy and makes no sense. So over 25s, ensure you take a stamped form. It’s such a hassle and as the author mentioned, almost seems as though it’s designed to put us off proceeding!

Under 25s can simply do everything online via a driving licence or passport number. This seems like rampant ageism to me! There are loads of mature students who would benefit from this yet we have to waste a lot more time.

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