Student 16-25 railcard advise

poorgirl-54

please advise

im turning 26 in july

my 16-25 railcard finishes in december 2012, which i bought last year

is there a way i can buy a new railcard starting from july 2012 and it to finish in july 2013 next year?

Alikay

If you're in full-time education you can still get the railcard when you're over 26
http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/are-you-eligible/eligibility

melancholly

i think if you just take the form into a station, it should be fine.

MsHoarder

Yes, you can buy a railcard until your 26 birthday and it remains valid for a year.

David333

I know that mature students can't get a railcard online - they have to go into the station - but does anybody know when they can buy a a railcard? So if they were doing a one year course, could they essentially buy one railcard in September and another in August to get two years of cheaper travel?

melancholly

David333 wrote: »

I know that mature students can't get a railcard online - they have to go into the station - but does anybody know when they can buy a a railcard? So if they were doing a one year course, could they essentially buy one railcard in September and another in August to get two years of cheaper travel?

yes! it may be seen by some as ethically suspect, but in practice, it happens a lot! all you need to show, as i remember, is a current student ID.

amiehall

melancholly wrote: »

yes! it may be seen by some as ethically suspect, but in practice, it happens a lot! all you need to show, as i remember, is a current student ID.

I wouldn't say it was morally suspect! Buying one just before your 26th birthday is suggested on their own website and I'd see this as an equivalent action.

melancholly

amiehall wrote: »

I wouldn't say it was morally suspect! Buying one just before your 26th birthday is suggested on their own website and I'd see this as an equivalent action.

i wouldn't either, but i can see the view that it's based on someone being a student and strategically buying one so that for 11 months of its validity you won't be a student is a bit dodgy. i certainly timed my buying to get as much use as possible, but i got a fair few disapproving comments about it too! appreciating the viewpoint isn't the same as endorsing it!

David333

Thanks for your comments. Judging by the remarks on their website about buying one before you turn 26, it seems that they are more interested in your status when you buy one rather than when you use it. That's the assumption I'm going with anyway :-p

cherries23

Buy it and get as much time as u can and best value for money we are students after all every penny counts :-)

jonrockb

As an ex railway ticket office supervisor - it's 100% fine to do. Just do it on the day before your birthday and everything will be fine