Pre-APTIS version of the Railcard, issued in 1985; the design had been largely unchanged since the Railcard was introduced. (Photograph obscured)

The second APTIS version, with abstract "1623" background reflecting the 16-23 age range; this Railcard has been issued at half price (£7.50 instead of £15.00) for an unknown reason.

The third APTIS version

The fourth APTIS version, with updated version of the logo

The fifth APTIS version

Handwritten Railcard issued at a Rail Appointed Travel Agent

Another handwritten Agency example, this time in "APTIS" style

The Young Persons Railcard is an annual pass 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 £20.00. 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. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... An APTIS travel ticket. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Class 180 multiple unit of First Great Western at speed near Yate, Bristol. ... A mature student in tertiary education (at a university or a college) is normally classified as an (undergraduate) student who is over 21 at the start of their course. ... ISO 4217 Code GBP User(s) United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies Inflation 2. ...

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. Logo of British Rail British Railways (BR), later rebranded as British Rail, ran the British railway system from the nationalisation of the Big Four British railway companies in 1948 until its privatisation in stages between 1994 and 1997. ... In addition to the large number and variety of short-term or localised promotional fares that have been available on the British railway network in recent decades (especially since privatisation), there are many permanent concessionary fare schemes available to passengers. ... The privatisation of British Rail was the result of the Railways Act 1993 introduced by John Majors Conservative government. ...

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 regional basis, but until January 1974 there was no coordinated, network-wide scheme for discounted travel for this large target market.^[1] Logo of British Rail British Railways (BR), later rebranded as British Rail, ran the British railway system from the nationalisation of the Big Four British railway companies in 1948 until its privatisation in stages between 1994 and 1997. ...

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%,^[2] 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. The National Union of Students (NUS) is the main federation of students unions that exist inside the United Kingdom. ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

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.^[3]

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.^[4] Since then, the age range boundaries have been altered twice. In September 1987, the lower boundary became 16 years old, as passengers under that age were regarded as "children" by British Rail and so received automatic 50% discounts anyway, 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.^[5] A mature student (aka adult student) in tertiary education (at a university or a college) is normally classified as an (undergraduate) student who is at least 21 years old (23 years old in Ireland) at the start of their course and usually having been away from school for at least... May 29 is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ...

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.^[6] June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ...

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) 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.^[7] An APTIS travel ticket. ...

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).^[8] Online booking of Railcards has also been made available since then. January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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.^[9] Pre-APTIS version of the Railcard, issued in 1985; the design had been largely unchanged since the Railcard was introduced. ...

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: September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 1 is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• 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^[10]

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.^[11] As of 2007, this is £4.80.^[12] One Day Travelcard issued at a National Rail outlet A Travelcard is an inter-modal ticket, valid for a period of time varying from one day to a year, for use on most public transport in London. ...

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:^[13]

• 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

National Rail uses the BR double arrow logo National Rail is a brand name describing the passenger rail service previously provided by British Rail, the now defunct UK state-owned rail operator. ...

Price and minimum fare

The Railcard has undergone regular price increases since its introduction, and has cost £20.00 since 2004. 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. Value added tax (VAT) is tax on exchanges. ...

From the beginning, discounted tickets bought with a Young Persons 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,^[14] 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). September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ...

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.^[15] September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Public holidays in the United Kingdom. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...

This section of the Young Persons Railcard website explains the current (as of 2007) minimum fare regulations.

Value added tax (VAT) is tax on exchanges. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Value added tax (VAT) is tax on exchanges. ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the 1976 Gregorian calendar. ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... June 19 is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 7 is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 359 days (360 in leap years) remaining. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... January 11 is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... August 17 is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ...

Tickets issued with a Railcard

The Y - P variation, seen from the introduction of APTIS and PORTIS in 1986 until early 1988.

Early version of the Y-P rendering of the status code. This version is still seen on all ticket issuing systems today.

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. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... An APTIS travel ticket. ... PORTIS and latterly SPORTIS were portable ticket issuing systems used on Rail transport in Great Britain until 2006. ...

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

A four-year HSBC Railcard, valid between September 1999 and September 2003. (Photograph obscured)

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.^[16] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... “Banker” redirects here. ... HSBC Holdings plc (LSE: HSBA, SEHK: 005, NYSE: HBC, Euronext: HSBC, BSX: 1077223879) is one of the largest banking groups in the world, ranked the fifth-largest company and third-largest banking company in the world in Forbes Global 2000. ... The Classic NatWest logo National Westminster Bank Plc, trading as NatWest, is a commercial bank in the United Kingdom, part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. ...

Midland Bank, the former name of HSBC, introduced a free four-year Railcard on 7 July 1997.^[17] 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 became HSBC. A generic seven-digit serial number was shown on the front.^[18] The Midland Bank (now part of HSBC) opened as the Birmingham and Midland Bank in Union Street, Birmingham, England in August 1836. ... July 7 is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 177 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In some educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a Bachelors degree. ...

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)^[19] 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.^[20] June 7 is the 158th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (159th in leap years), with 207 days remaining. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The overall appearance and layout of the NatWest Railcard is similar to that of the HSBC version.^[21] 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)^[22] and HSBC (RSP 24881/7)^[23] 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.

References

External link

• Railcards website
• Young Persons Railcard website