Great Western Coffee Shop

Quote From an Email recived today from The Railcard Team.

So, if you currently own a Railcard that expires between 2nd March 2025 and 1st April 2025; you still qualify for said railcard after that date; and you intend to renew....... make sure you apply to renew anytime between 2nd February and 1st March as you can renew up to one month before expiry without loss of any period of validity.

Whilst I am a staunch advocate of 'buy at station', if you will still qualify for said railcard in 2 years, 11 months and 30 days time, and you can afford it, purchase a 3-year card from railcard.co.uk (please avoid third party travel agents for your purchase  ;) )

Personally I think £35 still represents a very good deal for one year's travel. You only need to make one very long journey or about 3 journeys of say  70+ miles and return to make that pay.  I suspect most of us (especially those of us elderly senior railcard holders) will easily manage that. If not, then a reasonable number of local journeys (one or two each month) will.

Undoubtedly it remains good value and indeed one would expect it to rise in line with rail fare inflation.   Where these things need a degree of care is that other changes don't quietly get sneaked in at the same time.  Ticket types where they don't apply, new tighter time restrictions, minimum fare conditions, reduced discount levels, only apply to online ticket purchases, must not be a UK resident, must live near to a station that is within the area of validity, must buy a reservation, not valid when travelling with a bicycle, delay/repay not available, no "get you there" guarantee, etc.

That's the annual national fare rise date too, right?