Are Railcards worth it? I put it to the test to find out

That’s why Railcards are available to buy, offering discounts on travel costs throughout the UK.

Whether you need to pop to the city an hour from you or you’re planning a cross-country trip by rail, a railcard promises to save you big bucks.

According to Railcard, more than 20 million people in the UK already own and use a card, saving them 1/3 off rail travel.

I have had one for three years as my main use of transport is rail, and I have often been asked endless questions by friends asking if a railcard is actually worth it.

Railcards offer discounts on train travel. (Image: Getty Images)

Many are put off by the initial costs of a railcard, but the company behind the discount card promises you’ll end up saving more than the costs of the card.

With that in mind, I thought it would be worth sharing my own experiences with a railcard and comparing travel costs to find out if railcards are worth it.

Are Railcards worth it?

There are nine types of railcards, dependent on age, the number of people using the card, if you have a disability or if you’re a veteran.

I use a 16-25 railcard, which costs £35 for one year, or you can pay for three years upfront for £80 and entitles you to a discount of 1/3.

Railcard shares that over the year, I’ll save £192 by using the card, making it seem like a good deal.

I use my railcard for all train travel; whether it’s ten minutes onboard or upwards of two hours, it has come in very handy for me.

One of the most typical journeys for me is a Southeastern High-Speed service to London’s St Pancras, which can be costly as the trains are faster than some of the older trains in service.

If I were to book my tickets on the day of travel on the high-speed service, a return would cost me £84.80 without a railcard.

However, with my 16-25 railcard, the same ticket on the same service would cost £28.40, making a saving of £56.40, which is not bad if you ask me.

I also use my railcard for longer journeys, most often the Leeds to London Kings Cross, which I can find can be very expensive even with a railcard.

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My most recent journey cost me £90 for a return; in previous trips, the same travel has cost around £50 to £60.

For example, if I booked an advance ticket (which is recommended for longer travel), the 13.45 service from Leeds to London would cost me £25.55.

For a two-and-a-half-hour, no change journey, that doesn’t seem that bad, but it’s the journey back that made my eyes water.

Buying a single ticket for the 16.33 from London King’s Cross costs £89, see the total expense of Leeds to London at £164.20 without a railcard.

There is still some savings available with my railcard, as the discounted ticket would be £109.30, saving me £54.90.

Despite there being a big saving, it does still sting to pay that much for a train journey, but I still stand by that a railcard is worth having.

The card means I can travel around the UK using train transport while saving and being able to use that saved money elsewhere.

What are the rules of a railcard?

Like everything, there are some rules around owning a railcard that can be a bit of a pain.

The rules depend on the card you own, and you can see the full terms and conditions via the Railcard.

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One of the rules which can be an issue for some users is the minimum fare that applies from 04.30 to 10.00 Monday to Friday

The rule means there is a minimum fare of £12 on tickets used during the above time.

If you are on a journey that costs less than that during those times, you could face a fine.