RDG trial/Budget announcement: 26-30 Railcard from Spring 2018

[Starmill]

The railcard is to be made a permanent offer by the end of the year.

We promised that as soon as we knew anything, you would too. So here we are! We can confirm, as of yesterday evening, (hence super early email!) it was decided the National Rail 26-30 Railcard will be rolled out nationwide before the end of the year.

However, we still have to share the good news with staff and update our back-end systems which takes time, so we can’t give you an exact date yet. But when we know, you will too.

Keep your eyes peeled for any emails from us and on our Facebook and Twitter pages for more information.

 

[bussnapperwm]

This was my reaction

(Image of Daniel Bryan (WWE star) chanting Yes!)

 

[johntea]

Since it will no longer be a 'trial' does that mean I'll be able to nab a 3 year one just before I turn 31 in June?

 

[John @ home]

does that mean I'll be able to nab a 3 year one just before I turn 31 in June?

It seems more likely that the same approach currently used for 16-25 Railcards will be adopted.

As long as you are aged 25 at the time you purchased the 1-year 16-25 Railcard, you may still travel at the discounted fare throughout the validity period of the Railcard. Likewise, 3-year 16-25 Railcards purchased by the day before your 24th birthday will be valid for a full 3 years.

https://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/help/railcard-terms-conditions/

I expect the 3-year 26-30 Railcard to be available until the day before one's 29th birthday.

 

[Iskra]

Excellent news

 

[BigCj34]

I never got to do the surveys after the first one, wouldn't have minded the Amazon voucher.

Anyway very good news, might be able to get the train home for Xmas now!

 

[Bletchleyite]

How long before we can have a National Railcard, then? Many of us would pay much more than £30 for one, and would increase our rail travel significantly. I'm certain the railway would make more money out of me per year was there one than without.

 

[yorksrob]

How long before we can have a National Railcard, then? Many of us would pay much more than £30 for one, and would increase our rail travel significantly. I'm certain the railway would make more money out of me per year was there one than without.

You won't get that. Far too innovative for the private sector.

 

[BigCj34]

How long before we can have a National Railcard, then? Many of us would pay much more than £30 for one, and would increase our rail travel significantly. I'm certain the railway would make more money out of me per year was there one than without.

Add to that a Bahncard 100. Paying 10,000 for a season ticket and having 1/3 off off-peak travel in the South is not good enough in comparison.

 

[jon0844]

Will it now be combined into a single 16-30 railcard?

 

[Hadders]

Add to that a Bahncard 100. Paying 10,000 for a season ticket and having 1/3 off off-peak travel in the South is not good enough in comparison.

You only need to pay £160 for an annual season with Gold Card benefits, not £10,000

Totally agree about a National Railcard though. About time we had one.

 

[Max]

Have to say the lack of news was making me wonder if an excuse would be made to quietly drop this. Great news to start the weekend!

 

[John @ home]

Will it now be combined into a single 16-30 railcard?

No. The Conditions are different.

The 16-25 Railcard has no minimum fare in July and August. The minimum fare applies to the 26-30 Railcard in every month.

The 26-30 Railcard is available in digital form only. The 16-25 Railcard is available on paper card, plastic or digital.

 

[jon0844]

Fair enough, but I expect at some point in the future the terms will be modified so this can be done and save RDG money. I know the marketing for railcards is already being simplified but fewer cards must be easier for all concerned.

 

[infobleep]

Fair enough, but I expect at some point in the future the terms will be modified so this can be done and save RDG money. I know the marketing for railcards is already being simplified but fewer cards must be easier for all concerned.

They could combine the two and call it simplification. Then they could quietly remove the minimum fare being relaxed in July and August for the 16 to 25 card at the same time.

To be serious for a moment, does the relaxation of the minimum fare increase the number of journeys made and thus capture future rail passengers?

Encouraging more people to use the railways is a good thing but of course it needs capacity to match or people might be put off travelling again.

 

[Haywain]

I wonder if this is a case of RDG making the announcement to prevent the Chancellor grabbing the glory in the forthcoming budget? I can't think of a better reason for the timing.

 

[jon0844]

I wonder if this is a case of RDG making the announcement to prevent the Chancellor grabbing the glory in the forthcoming budget? I can't think of a better reason for the timing.

Sure it will still get a mention, especially if rail is brought up and the Government decides to 'freeze' the fare rises they set in the first place.

I am sure they'll even make it sound like they're stopping private companies profiting when so many people were impacted by the timetable issues and industrial action.

 

[BigCj34]

You only need to pay £160 for an annual season with Gold Card benefits, not £10,000

Totally agree about a National Railcard though. About time we had one.

True, but you get no added benefit regardless of how much your season ticket is worth. For significantly less than what many people spend on a season ticket in Britain (4270€) the Germans can receive unlimited rail travel in Germany, and many metro services as well.

 

[gsnedders]

True, but you get no added benefit regardless of how much your season ticket is worth. For significantly less than what many people spend on a season ticket in Britain (4270€) the Germans can receive unlimited rail travel in Germany, and many metro services as well.

Until we decide to increase subsidy of the British rail system, that won't change.

 

[Iskra]

Available to all 26-30 year olds from 2nd of January

 

[KingJ]

Available to all 26-30 year olds from 2nd of January

Ah, so when they said it would be rolled out by the end of the year, clearly they meant the lunar year rather than the solar year!

Still, glad there's a defined date for it now. Makes it a bit easier to plan future travel out!

 

[Ianno87]

As a thank you, just got an e-mail to say those people who got on the Anglia trial this time last year get a free one month validity extension.

 

[BigCj34]

Had to pay full price for some of my travel plans over Christmas as I wasn't sure when the card would be released. Thankfully I did have a 50% off voucher for VTWC.

 

[BluePenguin]

Had to pay full price for some of my travel plans over Christmas as I wasn't sure when the card would be released. Thankfully I did have a 50% off voucher for VTWC.

Where did you get one if those?

 

[BigCj34]

Where did you get one if those?

They gave it to me when I told them they overpaid a Delay Repay claim, and was using split tickets. The delay was caused by a fatality, so didn't think it would be right to fleece them! They gave me the discount code for a return trip with with Virgin advance tickets instead. An appropriate time to use it considering we had no idea early if 26-30 railcard adopters could use them over Xmas or not.

 

[Mag_seven]

Available to all 26-30 year olds from 2nd of January

Tough luck if you turn 31 on 2nd January.

 

[mrmartin]

As a thank you, just got an e-mail to say those people who got on the Anglia trial this time last year get a free one month validity extension.

Did you? I got mine on the Anglia trial but haven't had an email.

 

[Ianno87]

Did you? I got mine on the Anglia trial but haven't had an email.

Yes, got the following on the day of the 2nd January announcement:

Big news.
Available 2nd Jan.
Hey XXXXX,

We’re delighted to announce that the 26-30 Railcard will be available to buy from midday 2nd January 2019.

We want to say a huge thank you for taking part in the trial! As a token of our appreciation we’re extending the benefits of your current Railcard for one extra month, so you can continue making great savings on your journey home for Christmas and into the New Year.

You won’t have to do anything; your app will update itself to show the new expiry date soon.

We intended to launch the 26-30 Railcard by the end of the year, given how timings have worked out this would mean launching it over a bank holiday. When the 26-30 Railcard goes on sale we want to be able to provide you with the best possible experience.

The Railcard Team

Am still awaiting the App to update though.

 

[gsnedders]

How is the app nowadays? Is it reasonably reliable, now? I was led to believe previously it wasn't!

 

[Ianno87]

How is the app nowadays? Is it reasonably reliable, now? I was led to believe previously it wasn't!

I've never had a problem with it.