There’s going to be a railcard that gives 26-30 year olds a THIRD off train tickets
A leaked Railway Delivery Group memo to staff says that they are going to start trialling a new discount railcard in December
TRAIN passengers aged between 26 and 30 are soon going to be able to get a third off their tickets with a new railcard.
The new discount scheme is going to be trialled as soon as December and is expected to be rolled nationally "in early 2018".
A document from the Railway Delivery Group - who represents train companies in the UK - has been circulating on a UK rail forum and was spotted by.
The memo appears to be an internal briefing sent to staff last month giving details of the new scheme which will be trialled in areas served by Greater Anglia.
Initially there will be 10,000 railcards being rolled out, with a further 10,000 becoming available when the scheme goes national in early January.
The discount scheme will be based on the existing 16-25 railcard, which offers those eligible a third off rail fares.
The same restrictions will apply, like discounts on tickets in peak times are subject to a minimum fare of £12.
Unlike the existing youth card, the new one will be via the Railcard app on your phone rather than a physical card.
The Sun Online has contacted the Rail Delivery Group who will not confirm or deny that the scheme is going ahead.
A spokesperson said: ‘‘We can’t comment on this at the moment, but we are always carrying out research and working with the train companies to develop new offers that make leisure travel easier, and better value for money.”
So here's what we know so far:
Where will it be trialled and where can I use it?
The briefing says that that the trial scheme will affect passengers who travel on the Greater Anglia service and will begin in early December and run until for early January.
Great Anglia would not confirm this to the Sun Online, but according to MoneySavingExpert the train company told them that the trial is going ahead.
There will be 10,000 railcards available in the trial period with another 10,000 available when it's rolled out nationally.
It's not clear whether it will give passengers reduced fares on all routes or just Greater Anglia trains during the trial period.
Who can get a 26-30 railcard?
If the document is confirmed to be true, then passengers aged between 26 and 30, inclusive, will be able to benefit from the scheme.
That means you'll be able to purchase one right up until the day before your 31st birthday.
How much is my discount and how much will it cost?
The briefing says that the new railcard is based on the existing 16-25 Railcard which offers holders a third off the price of their ticket.
There is no indication of how much the new card costs but the current youth card will set you back £30 a year or £70 for three years - saving you £20 over the three-year period.
It's worth bearing in mind that a minimum £13 fare applies for all journeys between 4.30am and 10am Monday to Friday.
If you travel regularly before 10am then a weekly or monthly season ticket might work out cheaper, but your railcard discount won't be applied.
How to save on your rail fare
HERE'S how you can make sure you're getting the best deal on your train ticket.
Book early - Train companies release advance tickets up to 12 weeks before you travel at discounted prices. If you're organised take advantage of the cheaper travel.
Get a third off with a railcard - National Rail offer a range of railcards that give you a disount on you travel. Not everyone is entitled to one though so it's best to check if you're covered.
Split your tickets - Book tickets for individual legs of the journey rather then one overall ticket. MoneySavingExpert found that spliting the fare could save you hundreds of pounds. Don’t worry if you’re bad at math because apps and websites like and will do the number crunching for you.
Check first class - The Sun Online found that on some journeys it's actually cheaper travelling in first class rather than standard. Take a look at the prices of both fares before handing over your money.
Hannah Maundrell, from says that the move will be a massive relief for some commuters.
She said: “Travelling by train can be so expensive and for younger people whose pay packets are already stretched it can be a massive financial burden.
"After the announcement in August about the up and coming price hike to rail fares in January, a 26-30 rail card could ease some financial pressure from millennials, especially those who rely on trains on a daily basis."
This new card will be the sixth discount card offered by the Rail Delivery Group.
The Two Together Railcard offers travellers a third off the price of their train tickets when two names people are travelling together.
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You can also save money with the Family & Friends Railcard where up to four children and four adults can be registered on the card and can get discounts of a third off for adults and up to 60 per cent off children's tickets.
The Senior Railcard gives a third off for those aged 60 and over.
If you're approaching 26 and preparing to wave goodbye to your 16-25 rail discount, then you'll be pleased know about a loophole that can so your discount continue for at least another year.
Passengers should also look about for first class tickets that are cheaper than buying a standard fare.
The Sun Online found that a standard train ticket from Leeds to Edinburgh via Lancaster on October 21 will set you back £101 but if you opted to sit in the posher carriages it would cost you just £61.50.
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