FAQs

• How do I buy or renew my Railcard online?
• What cards are accepted when buying online?
• How long do I have to wait for my Railcard to arrive?
• Can I buy tickets at a discounted rate before my Family & Friends Railcard arrives?
• My Family & Friends Railcard has not arrived in the post. What can I do?
• Can visitors to Britain buy online?
• How do I redeem my free YHA membership (worth £22.95) when I buy online?

1. How do I buy or renew my Railcard online?

Simply select "Buy Family & Friends Railcard Now" and follow the onscreen instructions.

You will be asked to provide delivery address details, a valid email address and password.

Once payment has been made online you will receive an email confirmation and acknowledgement of your application number.

Your new Railcard will be despatched within one working day and sent free of charge by First Class post. We’re sorry, but it can’t be collected from a rail station.

Please allow sufficient time for your Railcard to arrive with you. It will be processed within one working day .

You will need to have your Railcard for travel with discounted tickets.

No online refunds are available.

2. What cards are accepted?

We accept MasterCard, Visa Electron and Visa for buying a Railcard online.

3. How long do I have to wait for my Railcard to arrive?

If you are buying your Railcard online we will despatch it within one working day, and send it free by First Class post. We are dependent on the postal service so please allow FIVE working days for your Railcard to arrive. You won’t be able to collect your Railcard from a rail station.

You can only start travelling on discounted tickets once you have received your Railcard. You cannot use your printed out confirmation of sale to get discount. The Railcard is the only proof of entitlement to discount that rail staff are able to accept. 

4. Can I buy tickets at a discounted rate before my Family & Friends Railcard arrives?

You must carry your Family & Friends Railcard with you on any journey where you have bought discounted tickets with the Railcard. Therefore, if you buy discounted Railcard tickets before you receive your Railcard, you do this at your own risk. We’re sorry but we can’t be held responsible for Railcards lost in the post.

5. My Family & Friends Railcard has not arrived in the post. What can I do?

You will need to wait FIVE working days and then log back in to your Railcards online account. From there, you can apply for a replacement Family & Friends Railcard.

You’ll need to have your Family & Friends Railcard with you to travel on discounted Railcard tickets.

6. Can visitors to Britain buy online?

You can only buy online using an address in Britain, not with an international address. Alternatively, if you are visiting Britain you can buy a Family & Friends Railcard at a staffed station ticket office in England, Scotland, or Wales or a National Rail-licensed Travel Agent on arrival.

You can also buy a Railcard at Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport rail stations, Luton Airport Parkway and Manchester Airport – but NOT at London Heathrow Airport.

You will have to complete an application form and provide payment. The Railcard will be issued for use straightaway and is normally valid for 12 months.

Your Railcard will be accepted by all of the Train Companies who operate Passenger Railway Services in Britain except Eurostar. Special excursions and charters are also excluded. However you should also consider the BritRail Pass if visiting this country. For details about BritRail, please see www.raileurope.com.

7. How do I redeem my free YHA membership (worth £22.95) when I buy online?

When you've bought your Railcard online, you will be given details on the “Payment Successful” page about redeeming your free one-year Youth Hostel Association (YHA) membership worth £22.95. This Joint/Family membership is for two adults living at the same address and includes two kids or young people under 18 travelling with you.