16-25
Railcard
For ages 16-25
Great for:
Teenagers, students, graduates, and young professionals
1- or 3-year validity available
Save £25 with a 3-year Railcard
Digital only
Railcards live in your account in the Trainline app so you can use them on any of your compatible devices. No download codes are needed!
Save £15 on a 16-25 Railcard
No biggie, but it’s our biggest Railcard deal this year!
New Trainliners can save £15 on a 16-25 Railcard with promo code GET15OFF, then enjoy 1/3 off eligible rail travel for a whole year.
There are limited codes available – get in before they’re snapped up, or when the offer ends on 30th September.
All aboard the T&Cs train
*This Promo Code entitles the recipient to £15 off the purchase of a 16-25 Railcard (excluding booking fees) purchased between 31 August 2026 and 23:59 30 September 2026. The Promo Code is valid for use on www.thetrainline.com and the Trainline app and must be applied at checkout. The offer is limited to new customers only and is valid for one use per customer. A maximum of 10,000 Promo Codes are available. Promo Codes are non-transferable, subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. No cash alternative is available. We reserve the right to refuse the issue of any Promo Code at any time and to vary any and all elements of this offer at any time without notice. For full details, see Trainline Terms and Conditions
How to buy a digital 16-25 Railcard online with us
We're here to help make your next digital 16-25 Railcard purchase as easy as possible.
*From March 2025, the 1-year Railcard costs £35 and the 3-year Railcard costs £80
Save 1/3 with your digital 16-25 Railcard
Official retailer of Railcards by National Rail. Buy a digital 16-25 Railcard online with us – it's stored directly in the Trainline app, so you can use it right away to get 1/3 off eligible journeys for a whole year.
What our customers say about digital 16-25 Railcards
Read what our customers have been saying on Trustpilot about digital 16-25 Railcards. Got something to say? Leave your feedback on Trustpilot. To find out more about how we collect reviews please visit our customer support page.
What are the benefits of a 16-25 Railcard?
Save 1/3 off train travel all year round
Use at Peak travel times
(£12 minimum applies)
Travel First Class for less
What is a 16-25 Railcard?
- The 16-25 Railcard (also known as the Student Railcard or Young Persons Railcard) is a discount card that allows you to get 1/3 off eligible train tickets in Great Britain.
- Students and young adults can use the 16-25 Railcard on Standard Anytime, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak Single and Return tickets, as well as Standard Class and First Class Advance tickets.
- You can also link your 16-25 Railcard with an Oyster Card to get 1/3 off Off-Peak travel around London.
When can I use a 16-25 Railcard?
- A 16-25 Railcard can be used at any time for Peak and Off-Peak travel. For journeys made between 04:30 and 10:00 Monday to Friday, a minimum fare of £12 is payable.
- There is no minimum fare when you travel at weekends, on Public Holidays, or during July and August.
- You can't use the 16-25 Railcard on Season Tickets. To see the full list of tickets a 16-25 Railcard discount is valid for, visit our Railcards terms of use guide.
How much is a 16-25 Railcard?
A 16-25 Railcard costs £35 for one year or £80 for three years. It's one of the only Railcards that can be used at Peak times, meaning you have endless rail travel savings ahead of you.
Can I use my digital Railcard without internet?
Yes. Your digital Railcard works offline. It's stored in the app, so you can show it to staff or validators even without a data connection or signal.
What happens if my phone runs out of battery and I can't show my digital Railcard?
You won’t be able to show your digital Railcard. Please make sure your phone is sufficiently charged before travelling so you can show your Railcard when needed. If you’re unable to show a valid Railcard, you may be asked to buy a single ticket or could be issued a Penalty Fare.
Who can use a 16-25 Railcard?
Eligibility for this one is simple. Anyone aged 16-25 can use a 16-25 Railcard. It's a particularly popular Railcard to buy cheap student train tickets with.
How to buy and use your digital 16-25 Railcard
You'll need to have iOS 15.0 and above or Lollipop on Android to get your digital 16-25 Railcard on your phone. Don’t have our app yet? Download it now and follow these easy steps to buy your 16-25 Railcard today with us.
1
Tap 'Buy 1-year for £35' or 'Buy 3-year for £80' (if applicable) to get the Railcard you want on your phone
2
Enter your first and last name (and date of birth if you need to prove your age)
3
Upload a digital passport-style photo for your Railcard from your phone
4
Sign in to your Trainline account on the app and buy your digital Railcard
5
You’ll find your new Railcard under 'Railcards' in the Account tab of the app. Please make sure you're signed into the app with the same account you used to buy your Railcard
6
Enter your departure and arrival station, select the start date of your ticket and the number of people travelling, then select your new Railcard from the drop-down menu – the 1/3 savings will be applied automatically to your booking.
Popular journeys booked with a 16-25 Railcard
Check out some of the most popular rail journeys our customers are booking with a 16-25 Railcard at the moment.
Digital Railcards live on our app
Digital Railcards are added to your Trainline account, so you can access them on any compatible device you travel with. Please be aware that the minimum Operating System (OS) your Railcard would be available on is iOS 15.0 and above or Lollipop on Android. There are no device limits or download codes needed.
3-year 16-25 Railcards
You can enjoy even better savings if you opt for a 16-25 Railcard for 3 years (the perfect option if you're just starting Uni and you know you'll need a definite 3 years' worth of travel discounts). The 3-year option costs just £80, meaning you save £25 on the cost of three individual Railcards.
One great thing about the 3-year Railcard is that you can buy it right up until the day before your 24th birthday, meaning you won't have to worry about renewing to a 26-30 Railcard. You can also do the same thing and buy a 1-year Railcard just before your 26th birthday.
16-25 Railcard and mature students
Did you know if you're over 25 and you're in full-time study, you can still qualify for a 16-25 Railcard? If you're studying at university or college for 15 hours or more a week for at least 20 weeks a year, you're eligible to apply.
You'll need to fill out a Mature Student application form, and get it signed by either a tutor, head of department or administration staff at your place of full-time education. You'll also need either an NUS card or a university/college photo ID card to prove you're in the current academic year of study.
Unfortunately, mature students can't apply for the 16-25 Railcard with Trainline at this time.
Can I have more than one Railcard?
Absolutely. In fact, having more than one Railcard can help you save even more. You can store and manage multiple Railcards easily in our app.
The 16-25 Railcard goes well with a Two Together Railcard
16-25
Railcard
For ages 16-25
Get 1/3 off train travel across Great Britain. Minimum fare applies
Great for:
Teenagers, students, graduates, and young professionals
1- or 3-year validity available
Save £25 with a 3-year Railcard
Digital only
Railcards live in your account in the Trainline app so you can use on any of your compatible devices. No download codes needed!
Two Together
Railcard
Must travel together
1/3 off train travel for you and a friend/companion when travelling together. Conditions apply
For ages 16+
Great for:
Friends, couples, flatmates, or colleagues who regularly travel together
Digital only
Railcards live in your account in the Trainline app so you can use them on any of your compatible devices. No download codes are needed!
Other Railcards available in the UK
Frequently asked questions
Buying a 16-25 Railcard
How much does a 16-25 Railcard cost?
Where can I buy a 16-25 Railcard?
Do you need a photo for a 16-25 Railcard?
Do 16-25 Railcards work on older iPhone models?
Can I get a refund for my Digital Railcard?
Using a 16-25 Railcard
If I buy a 16-25 Railcard with Trainline, can I use it with tickets bought elsewhere?
What date will my 16-25 Railcard be valid until?
Can I use a 16-25 Railcard at Peak times?
Can you use your 16-25 Railcard before 10:00?
How do I add the 16-25 Railcard to my Oyster card?
How do I use my 16-25 Railcard?
Save money on your train fare with a 16-25 Railcard
As a young professional living outside of London, I commute into the city centre every day. I was looking into how I could save some money and stumbled across the 16-25 Railcard. I can’t believe I didn’t know about it before!
I used to pay up to £50 to get to the office each day. But with my new 16-25 Railcard, I now save over £16 on each fare. Also, I don’t just use my railcard for commuting – I use it at the weekend to visit friends and family in Birmingham, Brighton and Edinburgh too.
It’s really simple to buy a railcard with Trainline – I did it all on my phone. All you have to do is input some details, upload a photo, download the pass and start saving money!
If you’re commuting to work, school or university – the 16-25 Railcard is essential!
About Charlie
Charlie is one of our trusted, hand-picked travel writers. The information for this article was recorded first-hand, based on his own genuine experience of the journey.
Where will your 16-25 Railcard discount take you?
A Student Railcard isn’t just handy for travelling to and from uni, school or work. Take full advantage of getting 1/3 off train travel and use it for exploring the UK as well! Our travel hub is full of inspirational days out you can take by train using your 16-25 Railcard.
‡Applies to selected train fares. See Trainline's Railcard terms for full details of each railcard, eligible tickets and travel times.