Young passengers will be able to keep half-price rail fares for longer as changes to the 16-17 Saver come into effect from 17 August.
From 17 August, newly issued 16-17 Saver Railcards will be valid for a full year from the date they are issued, even if the holder turns 18 during that period.
The Railcard costs £35 and gives eligible passengers 50% off most rail fares, including Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance and Season tickets.
Under the current rules, a 16-17 Saver is valid for one year or until the holder turns 18, whichever comes first.
The change means someone buying a card shortly before their 18th birthday will no longer lose the discount when they turn 18.
How do the half-price rail fares work?
The 16-17 Saver offers a larger discount than the 16-25 Railcard and has different restrictions:
- 16-17 Saver: 50% off most eligible rail fares, with no minimum fare restriction
- 16-25 Railcard: one-third off most eligible fares
- Morning travel: the 16-25 Railcard has a £12 minimum fare on many weekday morning journeys, although exceptions apply
For passengers in London, the Saver can be used on eligible National Rail journeys in and around the capital, but it does not provide a 50% discount on every form of public transport.
It cannot be used for tickets covering journeys wholly on the London Underground or Docklands Light Railway.
The change could particularly benefit young people who regularly use National Rail services to travel into London for education, work, apprenticeships or leisure.
Passengers should continue to check whether their particular journey and ticket type are eligible for the discount before travelling.
The 16-17 Saver was launched in 2019 to reduce rail travel costs for teenagers, with the government estimating at the time that up to 1.2 million young people could benefit.
The revised rules will take effect from 17 August 2026, with newly issued Railcards remaining valid for a full 12 months even if the holder turns 18 during that period.
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