02.01.19
Grayling unveils half-price 16-17-year-old rail discount as millennial railcard goes live
A brand-new rail card offering half price travel for 16- and 17-year olds has been announced on the same day the 26-30 railcard officially goes live across the country.
Grayling has unveiled the new railcard, which will benefit over a million young people with a 50% discount on rail travel – the same available to those younger than 16 – up until the cardholder’s 18th birthday.
The government says it is committing to a fairer deal for young people travelling on the rail network to school, training or work, and that the introduction will coincide with the new academic year with the launch planned for September.
The 26-30 railcard has also today gone on sale nationally, offering up to a third off rail travel for up to 4.5 million people after the launch was delayed to coincide with the annual fare rise.
The government first announced it was going to extend the 16-25 railcard to cover people up to 30-years old in November 2017, and in March 2018 a trial for the so-called ‘millennial railcard’ proved so popular, the website selling the railcard crashed.
Transport secretary Chris Grayling said: “The new 16-17 and 26-30 railcard will cut fares for a generation of travellers, ensuring more young people than ever will be able to travel on our railways for less.
“Today’s announcement of a new 16-17 railcard could cut the cost of travel by hundreds of pounds a year for young people and their parents, making it cheaper to get to school, college and work.
“This builds on the roll-out of the new 26-30 Railcard and our record investment into our railways, ensuring people get the frequent, affordable and reliable journeys they deserve.”
Today, rail fares have risen by 3.1%, which was described as “another kick in the teeth” after metro mayors called for a price freeze in the north.
Image credit - funky-data