Online
Save yourself time and hassle by buying your 16-25 Railcard online. All you need are:
- A valid UK driving licence or passport number to verify your identity
- A digital passport-style photo saved to your computer
What happens next
Your Railcard will be posted to you free by First Class post within one working day. You’ll need to allow enough time before your journey for your Railcard to reach you – so you can take full advantage of some epic savings.
More savings
3-year Railcards are now available online only, for £65. So why not save yourself £13 on the cost of renewing the 1-year Railcard for three consecutive years? For more details on buying online, please see our FAQs.
Plus when you buy online, you’re eligible for a year’s free YHA membership – worth £9.95. So you’ll pay less at thousands of YHA hostels worldwide.
By phone
Simply call your nearest train company telesales number. For train company telesales numbers, please contact National Rail Enquiries on: 08457 48 49 50 (calls are charged at local rate and may be recorded) or please visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.
If you buy your Railcard from a train company telesales centre then you will have to allow at least 14 days for delivery.
Four easy steps
- When you call, you'll need to have proof of age or identity with you to hand
- You'll be sent a “Permit to Travel without Photocard” - you can travel with your 'Permit to Travel@ without your photocard but you'll need to carry proof of age with you
- Then you have one month to take a fab photo of yourself
- Take your ID and a photo to a staffed station ticket office so you can exchange your permit for a Photocard
Renewing your Railcard? Simply quote your existing Photocard number, Railcard number and expiry date.
You can pay by credit or debit card. If you buy your Railcard from a train company telesales centre then you’ll need to allow at least 14 days for delivery.
At a staffed station ticket office
You can buy your Railcard at a staffed station ticket office or National Rail-licensed Travel Agent. To save time, it’s a good idea to fill in the application form before you get there.
Verifying your identity
If you're applying for the first time you'll need to bring:
- Either your birth certificate
- Or your passport
- Or your driving licence
- Or your International Student Identity Card (ISIC) card
We’re sorry, but NUS cards aren’t accepted as proof of age.
Other essentials
You'll also need:
- A passport-size photo
- £26. Stations and agents accept cash, cheques, debit, credit and charge cards or postal orders.
If you're renewing your Railcard, you'll need to fill in the application form, and take your Exisiting Railcard and Photocard. These are automatically accepted as proof of your age.
We’re sorry but Railcards can’t usually be bought at stations operated by London Underground but which also service some National Rail routes. The exceptions are: Harrow & Wealdstone, Kenton, South Kenton, North Wembley, Wembley Central, Stonebridge Park, Harlesden, Kensal Green Queens Park, Gunnersbury and Kew Gardens.
