British Rail

I've had a young persons rail card now for 5 years and i wouldn't be without it. altogether the savings it has made me on rail travel have totalled at least £300.

The young persons rail card gives you a 1/3 discount on standard train fairs any where in the UK and a discount on one day London travel cards. They are available to anyone aged 18-26 years old (and also mature students who have proof of student status from their academic institution). They are available from any British rail ticket office and cost £18 for one year at the end of which it must be renewed.

If you have never had a young persons rail card the you will need to take along proof of your age such as a passport or driving licence (or for mature students a letter from your academic institution) and a passport size photograph (I'm not sure if its one or two so its probably best to take along 2 just in case). You will also need to fill out an application form which is available from the ticket office and student travel centres). Once you have submitted the application form, photo and fee your card is made up on the spot and is ready for immediate use.

The card comes in two parts a photo card and the discount ticket, you must show both portions in order to obtain your discount, you also need to have them with you when you are making your journey as ticket inspectors will demand to see it when you show them your ticket. The discount ticket you are issued when you use the card is stamped with a big 'Y-P' which the ticket inspectors cant miss (a cunning way of preventing people from buying discounted tickets for people who don't have cards), so its best to carry your ticket in the same wallet as your rail card so you don't have to do a big search through all your pockets to find it.

Using the rail card is simple, you present your rail card when buying a ticket and ask for a young persons ticket to where ever you want to go; or simply select 'young persons rail card' when choosing the ticket type on an automated ticket machine.

Once you have a card it is easy to renew as you simply take your expired card along to the ticket office and tell them you want to renew it, you'll have to fill out another form and pay another £18 but the whole thing only takes about 5 minutes to do and it's well worth the savings.

There are absolutely no disadvantages to having a young persons rail card, the only time I have had problems were when I forgot the thing at home. If you are a regular rail user or have to make a very long expensive journey (e.g. London - Scotland) you will save loads and the card will pay for its self, I am a regular rail user so by the end of the first month that I have the card the amount that I have saved on tickets is the same a the amount I have spent on the card and it from then on It's just saving me money.