16-25 Railcard

The 16–25 Railcard is an annual card giving discounts on certain types of railway ticket in Britain. It is available to anybody aged between 16 and 25 (inclusive), and certain mature students aged 26 and above, and is currently priced at £24.00. There is no restriction on the number of times the Railcard can be used to purchase discounted tickets during the period of its validity, and there are no geographical restrictions on its use.

Introduced in 1974 on an experimental basis, under the name Student Card, and expanded into the Student Railcard later that year, it was the first of the many Railcards which formed part of British Rail's array of concessionary fare schemes, and which still exist on the post-privatisation railway network. Later, it was rebranded as the Young Persons Railcard and, from 18 May 2008, the 16–25 Railcard.cite web|title=Say hello to 16–25 Railcard!|url=http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/advancenews|accessdate=2008-05-17|publisher=ATOC Ltd|year=2008|work=16–25 Railcard website]

History

In the 1960s and 1970s, many new universities were opened in Britain, while car ownership was relatively low, especially among young people. Furthermore, internal flights were not as cheap or prevalent as they are now. This made rail travel a popular choice for students and other young people, especially for long-distance travel. Occasional short-term promotional schemes were launched, usually on a basis, but until January 1974 there was no coordinated, network-wide scheme for discounted travel for this large target market. [Boddy, Brian (2001): "It's on the cards: that some things have got worse" (The Transport Ticket Society 2000 Presidential Address), page 4. The Transport Ticket Society, Kemsing. ISBN 0-903209-46-2]

The first Student Card, as it was known, was launched at this time. It exhibited some features which have remained consistent throughout the Railcard scheme's history, but also several which were later changed. It could only be purchased from National Union of Students (NUS) offices. Costing £1.65, which included a VAT charge of 8%, [Boddy, page 5.] it was valid until a specific date—30 June 1974—rather than for a specific length of time. Only second class tickets could be bought, and all types of ticket were subject to a minimum fare below which no further discount would be given. The maximum discount was 50%. A booklet containing ten "Student Travel Request Forms" was supplied with the card; one had to be filled in and presented at the ticket office when booking a ticket.

This original scheme, which was intended as a trial, was changed and relaunched in October 1974 under the new name Student Railcard. Two of the inconvenient conditions of the trial version removed: Railcards could be bought at railway station ticket offices, and Travel Request Forms were no longer required: the passenger just had to show the Railcard when buying their ticket. [Boddy, pages 4-5.]

During the 1970s, the range of people who could buy the Railcard was expanded in stages; having at first been restricted to students in full-time education, it was made available to nurses, part-time students and, ultimately (in 1980) anybody between 14 and 24 years old inclusive. [Boddy, page 5.] Since then, the age range boundaries have been altered twice. In September 1987, the lower boundary became 16 years old, as British Rail changed their age limit for child tickets from 14 to 16, while the upper age limit became 23. However, registered mature students older than this could now buy a Railcard. Then, on 29 May 1994, the upper age limit was increased to 25. [Boddy, page 7.]

The use of the same expiry date for all cards issued in a given year persisted until 1982, although the fixed date was changed from 30 June to 30 September when the first version of the Student Railcard was launched in October 1974 (the original "Student Card" was the only version ever to use a 30 June expiry date). After 30 September 1982, Railcards were issued for a fixed period of 12 months from the date of issue. At the same time, the name Young Persons Railcard was adopted. [Boddy, page 5.]

The next major changes came in 1987, with the discount structure, types of discounted tickets available and appearance of the Railcard all changing. With the introduction of the APTIS ticket issuing system happening at this time, a new set of ticket stock (with the British Rail form number BR 4599/20)note label|form|A|A was introduced. These were smaller than the erstwhile handwritten square-cornered card tickets, and had no room for a photograph to be attached; a separate Photocard, with a unique serial number was introduced instead. This was issued together with the Railcard, and had to be shown when buying subsequent Railcards and when travelling on discounted tickets. [Boddy, page 5.]

Changes after this mostly involved the design of the APTIS ticket stock, the price of the Railcard and the minimum fare boundaries. However, two changes were also made to the method of buying the Railcard. From 9 January 2000, Telesales offices operated by the Train Operating Companies were able to sell Railcards, although if a Photocard was not already held, one had to be issued at a station or travel agency within one month (a temporary pass, entitled Temporary Facility - Permit to Travel without Photocard was issued in lieu by the Telesales office). [Boddy, pages 7-8.] [https://www.railcards-online.co.uk/YoungPersons.do Online booking] of Railcards has also been made available since then.

From 18 May 2008 the card was rebranded as the 16–25 Railcard in order to make it easier to understand who is eligible for the card.cite web|title=What is a 16-25 Railcard?|url=http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/what-is-a-16-25-railcard|accessdate=2008-05-17|publisher=ATOC Ltd|year=2008|work=16–25 Railcard website]

Ticket types and discounts

The first version of the Railcard, the "Student Card" of 1974, gave 50% discounts on Second Class Single and Ordinary Return fares, as they were then known. (Ordinary Returns were valid for travel at all times, and the return journey could take place on a later date. They later became "Standard Returns", and are now known as "Open Returns".) The higher-rate minimum fare (see Price and minimum fare below) applied to Ordinary Returns, while the lower-rate fare was used as the baseline for other fares. [Boddy, page 5.]

A 50% discount on Day Returns (valid at all times, for return on the same day) and Off Peak Returns (valid outside peak hours, again for return on the same day - now called "Cheap Day Returns") was available from 30 September 1978. Other fares added later included the London Saver (1981; this type of ticket is no longer available) and Saver (12 May 1985; the discount on these was 34%). The main change, however, came on 1 March 1987, when the set of discounts was changed as follows:
* 34% off Saver, Standard Single, Standard Return, Standard Day Return and Cheap Day Return tickets
* 34% off Rail Rovers of all types
* 34% off One Day Capitalcards from stations outside the Capitalcard zonal area, subject to a £2.00 minimum fare
* £2.00 flat charge for One Day Capitalcards from stations within the zonal area [Boddy, pages 5-7.]

The One Day Capitalcard became the One Day Travelcard in 1989, and as from April 1993 only all-zone tickets (Zones 1-6) could be purchased at a discount, again subject to a minimum fare restriction. [Boddy, page 7.] As of 2007, this is £4.80. [cite web|title=Young Persons Railcard: Terms and Conditions|url=http://www.youngpersons-railcard.co.uk/terms_conditions.htm#minimumFare]

Although other minor changes have been made since, mainly to the names of ticket types, this range of discounts is very similar to that which applies as of 2007: [cite web|title=Young Persons Railcard: Using your Card|url=http://www.youngpersons-railcard.co.uk/using_card.htm#]
* 34% off Cheap Day Singles and Cheap Day Returns
* 34% off Standard Day Singles and Standard Day Returns "(subject to minimum fare)"
* 34% off Standard Open Singles and Standard Open Returns" (subject to minimum fare)"
* 34% off Saver and Supersaver Singles and Returns
* 34% off many types of Advance Purchase ticket, both generic (SuperAdvance) and Train Operating Company-specific
* 34% off Network AwayBreaks

As of 2 January 2008, for people using public transport in London, the discount can be loaded on to an Oyster Card at any London Underground ticket office, providing the 34% discount off the cost of a One Day Travelcard and the Oyster automatic daily cap.

Price and minimum fare

The Railcard has undergone regular price increases since its introduction, and has cost £24.00 since 1 January 2008. A VAT charge was included until 1976. Railcards for mature students have always cost the same as those for people within the standard age range.

From the beginning, discounted tickets bought with the Railcard were subject to a "minimum fare", although its level and the circumstances in which it was applied have varied considerably over time. For the first 4½ years, until 15 September 1978, [Boddy, page 5.] minimum fares applied at all times; if the price of the ticket including the full discount was lower than the relevant minimum fare level, the latter would be charged and the full discount would not be given. For example, if the date was June 1974, the journey in question was a "Higher rate" Ordinary Return and its published full fare was £1.30, the passenger would be charged the £1.00 minimum fare, because the discounted fare would be lower than this (50% discount = £1.30 ÷ 2 = £0.65). If the £1.30 fare was on a "Lower Rate" ticket, however, the full discount would be applied, as the minimum fare for lower-rate tickets (£0.50) was less than the discounted fare (£0.65).

From 15 September 1978, minimum fares no longer applied at weekends, on bank holidays or at any time during July and August; at these times, the full 50% discount was applied to all available ticket types, no matter how low the resulting discounted fare became. On 1 September 1980, minimum fares no longer applied after 6.00pm on weekdays; and in 1986, this was changed to 10.00am. The latter condition remains in force today, meaning that the full discount is available at all times except in the morning peak (before 10.00am). Weekends, bank holidays, July and August are still unrestricted. [Boddy, page 5.]

[http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/terms-and-conditions#2 This section of the 16–25 Railcard website] explains the current (as of 2008) minimum fare regulations.

Tickets issued with a Railcard

On the APTIS, PORTIS/SPORTIS and other computerised ticket issuing systems, a "status code" field is provided on each ticket issued. This is left blank if an adult is travelling at full (undiscounted) fare; but if any discount or other special condition applies, a code of up to five letters appears.

The change of name from "Student Railcard" to "Young Persons Railcard" preceded the introduction of these systems by four years, so the status code used has always taken the form Y-P. However, in the earliest days of APTIS and PORTIS, this code was rendered Y - P, with spaces between the letters and the dash. Since 1988, Y-P has always been used - both on the now defunct APTIS and SPORTIS (the successor to PORTIS) and on the various New Generation systems introduced since privatisation.

Railcards as an incentive to open a bank account

In recent years, as a marketing initiative, British banks, HSBC and NatWest, have offered free multi-year Railcards to students opening new bank accounts. HSBC originally held the exclusive contract, but in 2004 it was won by NatWest. [cite web|title=NatWest Students to Get Free 5 Year Young Persons Railcard|url=http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=124329]

Midland Bank, now a part of HSBC, introduced a free four-year Railcard on 7 July 1997. [Boddy, page 34.] It was available to any first-year undergraduate who opened a new account with the bank. The card had a red colour scheme, bore the holder's photograph and a handwritten expiry date, and was made of thin plastic rather than card. Minor layout changes were made when Midland Bank joined HSBC. A generic seven-digit serial number was shown on the front. [Journal of the Transport Ticket Society, number 492 (January 2005): pages 27-28. ISSN 0144-347X]

NatWest signed a deal on 7 June 2004 for the exclusive right to offer Railcards as parts of its own incentive package. A five-year version was offered (which was effectively worth £100, given that a one-year Railcard bought in the normal way cost £20.00) [cite web|title=EducationGuardian.co.uk: How student freebies improved by degree|url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/finance/story/0,12728,1513969,00.html] as from 21 June 2004; this is still available as of 2007. For a short period, until 1 September 2004, both NatWest five-year and HSBC four-year Railcards were available; but from that date, NatWest gained the exclusive rights and the HSBC version ceased to be available. [cite web|title=NatWest Students to Get Free 5 Year Young Persons Railcard|url=http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=124329]

The overall appearance and layout of the NatWest Railcard is similar to that of the HSBC version. [Journal of the Transport Ticket Society, number 492 (January 2005): pages 27-28. ISSN 0144-347X] A six-digit serial number prefixed by NWB is used, however; and the card has a standard form number in the "4599" series (RSP 4599/294), whereas the Midland Bank (RSP 24881/5) [Boddy, page 58.] and HSBC (RSP 24881/7) [Journal of the Transport Ticket Society, number 492 (January 2005): page 28. ISSN 0144-347X] versions were allocated non-standard codes.

The bank Railcards are used in the same way as standard, paid-for Railcards: the same range of tickets is available at the same discounts, and subject to the same terms and conditions.

ee also

*BahnCard - the German equivalent

Notes

:note label|form|A|A Form numbers are codes introduced by British Rail to classify and catalogue all printed material: documents, tickets, wage slips, notepaper, parcels labels and hundreds of other items. Form numbers consist of a primary code and, often, a sub-code, separated by /. APTIS tickets used primary code 4599 in British Rail days; this changed to 7599 on post-privatisation "RSP" tickets. Other primary codes have since been introduced on Rail Settlement Plan ticket stock for New Generation (post-APTIS) ticket issuing systems.

References

External links

* [http://www.railcard.co.uk Railcards website]
* [http://www.youngpersons-railcard.co.uk/ Young Persons Railcard website]