Railcard discount codes for December 2025

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Railcard discount codes for December 2025 – how to save £25 on travel

Train travel is notoriously expensive – but a railcard promo code can help reduce the costs

Fran WattsMonday 01 December 2025 07:23 GMT

More than seven million people are currently using a railcard to save on train travel across the UK, with The Independent’s travel correspondent, Simon Calder, recommending it as a key way to save on your train travel. With nine railcards to choose from – including 16-25, family and friends and seniors – there’s a good chance that you will be eligible to save too. Keep reading for the best tips and tricks on how to reduce the cost of your train fare with a railcard.

Choose the best railcard for you

For frequent travellers, investing in a railcard is a no-brainer with an average annual saving of £172 on train fares. There are nine different types of cards to choose from and with prices starting from just £20 annually, it soon pays for itself. There is a handy card-matching tool on the railcard homepage, but here’s a rundown of the different options available:

16‑17 saver – up to 50 per cent off rail fares
16‑25 railcard – a third off most rail fares for travellers aged 16-25 years (or mature students)
26‑30 railcard – a third off most fares for 26-30-year-olds
Disabled persons – a third off fares for holders and one companion, valid on both peak and off‑peak tickets
Family and friends – a third off adult fares, plus 60 per cent off children’s fares (aged 5-15 years)
Two Together – a third off fares for two named adults travelling together (off-peak)
Senior railcard – a third off most travel for over-60s
Veterans railcard – a third off fares for UK veterans and a named companion
Network railcard – a third off travel in London and South East areas

Three-year railcards

Selected railcards offer a three-year card option, saving you even more in the long run. For example, the senior railcard costs £35 for one year or £80 for three – that’s an overall saving of £25. A three-year card is ideal for students, commuters and those who take frequent trips, and you won’t have to fork out for a replacement card each year.

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Student discount

Students can also get 15 per cent off either a 16-17, 16-25 or 26-30 railcard when using a Unidays account to purchase through Trainline (was £35, now £29.75, Thetrainline.com), which is a discount not to be overlooked.

Gold card discounts

If you’re an annual season ticket or travelcard holder in the south east or London area, you may be eligible for an annual gold card. This entitles you to extra discounts on leisure travel if your travel area is also within the annual gold card area. Gold cards are free of charge and come with lots of perks and discounts, including:

A third off standard, first class anytime and off-peak fares for yourself and up to three other adults.
Discounts on off-peak day travelcards (Zones 1–6).
Discounted Oyster off-peak pay-as-you-go fares and daily caps (once the discount is set on your Oyster card at a TfL station).
Discounted anytime travelcards from outside London Zones 1–9 (subject to a £17 minimum fare).
Savings on PlusBus day tickets.
Up to 60 per cent off fares for up to four children aged 5–15 years (under-fives travel free).
Buy one railcard (such as a 16–25, disabled persons, family & friends, network, senior, or two together railcard) for just £10.

Use Tesco points

If you’re a Tesco Clubcard member, you can save up to 50 per cent on your railcard purchase when buying using your points. For every £2.50 of Tesco Clubcard vouchers you use, you’ll get £5 to spend on your new railcard. So, if you’ve been hanging onto around £17.50 of vouchers for some time, this is a great way to spend them. There are a range of different options to choose from, including the two together railcard (was £35, now £17.50, Tesco.com).

Railcard rewards

As well as discounted travel, railcards also come with extra benefits and offers from partner brands. You can access a range of exclusive promotions, including money off dining, theatre tickets, attractions, holidays and more.

For example, the network railcard gets you five per cent off Hoseasons holiday park bookings, a three-month Tastecard membership for free and up to 50 per cent off theatre tickets, to name just a few. You will be able to see the full list of rewards when you click on your chosen railcard’s page.

Train operators are preparing to trim railcard discounts (Alamy/PA)

You can often get the cheapest train fares by booking 12 weeks ahead, when rail operators first release tickets.

If you regularly travel around London, linking your Railcard to your Oyster card is a no-brainer. You can save a third on off-peak pay-as-you-go fares and get daily caps on tube, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services within the capital. Just take your Oyster card and railcard to any London Underground or TfL station, and staff will apply the discount for you.

Students can save 15 per cent on a railcard (PA Archive)

We’re proud to say that here at The Independent, we have the best team of deal hunters, who dedicate themselves to curating the best offers on products that we know our readers will love. As well as putting best-selling products through rigorous tests, we work with in-house teams to secure the best deals and exclusive voucher codes to help you save.

We work closely with travel providors (easyJet, Expedia, TUI and more) – to make sure that you’re saving money whenever you take a trip. To find the best railcard voucher codes, you’re in the right place.

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