FAQs

• How do I buy or renew my Railcard online?
• What do I need to buy online?
• What cards are accepted?
• Why is the system not accepting my passport or driving licence?
• Why am I having trouble uploading my photo?
• How long do I have to wait for my Railcard to arrive?
• Can I buy tickets at a discounted rate before my 16-25 Railcard arrives?
• My 16-25 Railcard has not arrived in the post. What can I do?
• Can I buy online as a mature student over 26?
• Can visitors to Britain buy online?
• How can I change my address details if I am an online Railcard customer?
• How do I redeem my free YHA membership when I buy online?

1. How do I buy or renew my Railcard online?

Simply select "Buy 16-25 Railcard now" and follow the onscreen instructions.

You will need a valid passport or driving licence number to verify your eligibility online. Once your  online payment has been successful you will recieve an email confirmation and acknowledgement of your application number.

Your new Railcard will be despatched within one working day and sent free by First Class post.

We’re sorry, but it can’t be collected from a rail station.

You will need to have your Railcard for travel with discounted tickets.

No online refunds are available.

2. What do I need to buy online?

Before you start, you will need:

• a valid passport or driving licence to verify your eligibility online
• a digital passport-style photo, saved on your computer, to upload during the application process
• a valid credit or debit card

You'll only need your passport or driving licence details for your first online purchase.

3. What cards are accepted?

We accept MasterCard, Visa Electron and Visa for buying a Railcard online.

4. Why is the system not accepting my passport or driving licence?

You need to enter your valid passport or UK driving licence number as proof of age. If you have done this and received an error message, this may be because you are not eligible for a 16-25 Railcard (you are not between 16-25 years old).

If you are eligible, try checking that you are entering the correct number and date of birth.

Continued error messages mean that you won’t be able to buy your Railcard online.

To buy your Railcard in person, please visit your nearest staffed rail station or National Rail- licensed Travel Agent. To buy over the phone, call 08457 48 49 50 for a train company telesales number.

5. Why am I having trouble uploading my photo?

The file of your photo must be either a .jpg, .bmp, or a .gif and must not exceed 1MB. The image needs to be cropped the same as a passport style photo, with a resolution of at least 300dpi.

Please also make sure that:

Your head and shoulders are in close-up, with your face covering approximately 70% of the photo

The background must be neutral or plain, and the photo needs to be sharp/in focus

Please, no hats or cartoon faces. We reserve the right to reject photos submitted if they are not suitable

6. How long do I have to wait for my Railcard to arrive?

If you are buying your Railcard online we will despatch it within one working day, and send it free by First Class post. We are dependent on the postal service so please allow FIVE working days for your Railcard to arrive. You won’t be able to collect your Railcard from a rail station.

You can only start travelling on discounted tickets once you have received your Railcard. You cannot use your printed out confirmation of sale to get discount. The Railcard is the only proof of entitlement to discount that rail staff are able to accept.

7. Can I buy tickets at a discounted rate before my 16-25 Railcard arrives?

You must carry your 16-25 Railcard with you on any journey where you have bought discounted tickets with the Railcard. Therefore, if you buy discounted Railcard tickets before you receive your Railcard, you do this at your own risk. We’re sorry but we can’t be held responsible for Railcards lost in the post.

8. My 16-25 Railcard has not arrived in the post. What can I do?

You will need to wait FIVE working days and then log back in to your Railcards online account, select ‘Replace your railcard’ and then click on the ‘Not received’ button on the left. If you then press ‘continue’ this completes the replacement application process.

If you have not recieved  your Railcard you can apply for a free replacement Railcard online provided you do this within 30 days of yoru purchase date. We believe this is long enough for a customer to notify us they have not received their Railcard.

If 30 days has passed from your date of purchase you can still request a replacement card, but you will have to pay a £5 replacement fee.

You’ll need to have your 16-25 Railcard with you to travel on discounted Railcard tickets.

9. Can I buy online as a mature student over 26?

If you are 26 or over, we’re sorry but you can’t buy online. This is because we need to see proof that you are a full-time student at a recognised educational establishment.

You have to attend for over 15 hours, at least 20 weeks a year or alternatively have an ISIC (International Student Identity Card). For details of ISIC, please visit www.isic.org.

You will need to have your application form certified by the relevant University/College. You will need to complete the 16-25 Railcard application form, and apply at a staffed rail station ticket office or National Rail-licensed Travel Agent.

We’re afraid that NUS cards aren’t accepted as proof of age or educational status. (Also, Open University, distance learning and part-time courses don’t qualify).

You can download the application form here.

10. Can visitors to Britain buy online?

You can only buy online using an address in Britain, not with an international address. Alternatively, providing you are 16-25, if you are visiting Britain you can buy a 16-25 Railcard at a staffed rail station ticket office in England, Scotland, or Wales or a National Rail-licensed Travel Agent on arrival.

You can also buy a Railcard at Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport rail stations, Luton Airport Parkway and Manchester Airport – but NOT at London Heathrow Airport.

You will have to complete an application form, provide proof of age, one passport-size photo, and payment. The Railcard will be issued for use straightaway and is normally valid for 12 months.

Your Railcard will be accepted by all of the Train Companies who operate Passenger Railway Services in Britain except Eurostar. Special excursions and charters are also excluded. However you might also like to consider the BritRail Pass if visiting this country. For details about BritRail, please see www.raileurope.com.

11. How can I change my address details if I am an online Railcard customer?

Log in and enter your email address and password. Choose “Edit your details” to edit your address.

12. How do I redeem my free YHA membership when I buy online?

When you've bought your Railcard online, you will be given details on the “Payment Successful” page about redeeming your free one-year Youth Hostel Association (YHA) membership worth £9.95.

Offer only available to those who have not held a YHA membership previously. Only available for online card purchases.