Railcards - save 1/3 on train tickets

A Railcard is simply a card that can help you to make big savings on train travel all year round. If you’re someone who frequently travels by train, a Railcard could be the best way for you to get the most value for money on every trip you take.

At Avanti West Coast, we offer several different types of Railcard depending on your circumstances, with a Railcard to suit every type of rail traveller. Most of our Railcards can save you around ⅓ off your rail fares, with some offering even more train discounts depending on your journeys and card type.

A digital Railcard is an instant version of your Railcard that is usually stored on your phone. It is a digital alternative to traditional physical Railcards which would need to be carried around with you or stored in your wallet.

If you’re wondering how to get a digital Railcard, you can simply purchase one online. Once you’ve bought your Railcard, you can start using it right away to book train travel and make savings. Digital Railcards are a much more convenient alternative to physical cards which can take some time to be delivered and cannot be used instantly.

Our Railcards are easy to use for everyone, ensuring you can always make use of your Railcard discounts. When booking train tickets online, you simply need to click the ‘add Railcard’ option to make sure you see prices that include your Railcard discount. You can then enter your Railcard details to ensure your discount is applied at the checkout.

When travelling, it’s important to keep your Railcard to hand so it can be shown alongside your ticket when requested. If you have selected ‘apply Railcard’ when booking your tickets, travelling without your Railcard could make your tickets invalid.

Digital Railcards are handy because they sit on your phone, so you’re unlikely to forget it or lose it. If you do happen to lose or break your phone, the card account will remain active, so you just have to re-install it once you get your new device. Also, you can get your card instantly rather than having to wait for it to be posted, as is the case with a physical Railcard. All types of Railcard are available digitally, and even if you buy it through the Avanti app, you can still use it with any rail service provider.

Each Railcard discount differs depending on the option you choose. Our 16-17 Saver Railcard can save you 50% off most rail fares, while our 16-25 Railcard delivers an average annual saving of £199 plus special partner discounts. For those with a 26-30 Railcard, you can expect to save a third on most rail fares.

If you’ve opted for our Family & Friends Railcard, children aged 5-15 will receive 60% discount on kids fares, while overall there is an average annual saving of around £141. For those travelling in the South East on our Network Railcard, you can expect average annual savings of around £191. Finally, our Senior Railcard and Two Together Railcard offer average annual savings of £125 and £129 respectively.

If you’re wondering how to buy a Railcard, there are a couple of options available, making it more convenient than ever to get your hands on a Railcard and start making savings on your journeys.

The first and easiest way to get yours is to buy a Railcard online and have it delivered as a digital download that’s ready for immediate use. All you need to do is choose the most appropriate Railcard and pay securely online via debit or credit card. You can also buy a Railcard at the station, with any staffed station able to process this for you.

With huge savings to be made on train travel, finding the right Railcard to suit your requirements is the best way to ensure you make the most of the discounts to be had. With many different Railcards designed for every type of passenger, there’s something for everyone.

To find the perfect Railcard for you, we’ve put together a guide to help you understand the types of Railcard we offer and which types of traveller they are most appropriate for. Whether you’re a solo traveller or someone who frequently travels with a group, our guide will help you make the right choice.

At Avanti West Coast, we have a number of different Railcard options available to suit travellers of all ages and travel requirements. However, we understand that sometimes frequent travellers like to have more than one Railcard depending on their circumstances. 
For example, you might already have a personal Railcard that you use for solo journeys but when travelling as a group with friends or family, you might like to take advantage of a group Railcard and make savings here. Using a group Railcard will not have an impact on your personal Railcard and it is possible to purchase both. 

With a couple of different ways to purchase a railcard, it can also take a different length of time to receive your Railcard. If you purchase a digital Railcard online, this is instant and means you can start using your Railcard immediately to book travel and make great savings via a digital download.

If you purchase your Railcard at the station or choose to receive a physical Railcard, this will be sent out to you in the post and can take a little while to arrive. To get an instant Railcard, the best option is to purchase a digital Railcard online.

If you have purchased a digital Railcard, this will be stored in your Avanti account and can be accessed via a web browser. This means you can access your Railcard on whichever device you’re travelling with, whether that’s your phone, tablet or laptop. It’s therefore possible to keep and access your Railcard on multiple devices. From your Avanti account, you can also access your train tickets and move them to a digital railcard app on your device if you have one. This can help you access them much quicker when you need them.

If you purchase an Avanti West Coast Railcard through our website, you are not just limited to using your card on Avanti trains. You can use your Avanti Railcard with all other train providers on journeys around the country to ensure you reap the benefits of your Railcard.

Of course, an Avanti West Coast Railcard is most often used on journeys delivered by Avanti trains, but you are free to use your Railcard on any other train service. Whether you’re travelling from London to Glasgow or Cardiff to Newcastle, it’s definitely worth purchasing an Avanti Railcard to make the most of your discounts.

The digital Railcard is available instantly once you’ve paid for it. You will get an activation code in your email inbox. Just sign into your Avanti app and you’ll see it has been activated.

Digital Railcards sit on the Railcard app on your phone, so as long as you have your phone with you, it’s secure. You can have your app on a maximum of two devices, so nobody else should be able to put it on their phone, even if they get your download code, without you knowing. Digital Railcards are therefore arguably more secure than a traditional card, which can easily be lost or stolen.