More students to save from September as changes to 16-17 Saver Railcard come in
Thousands more young people in Lincolnshire aged 16-18 are set to benefit from half price rail fares from this September, helping them on their commutes to school, college or training.
From 17 August, the 16-17 Saver Railcard will now be valid a full year from purchase rather than expiring when card holders turn 18 which prevented over 70,000 young people accessing the 50 per cent discount last year alone and leaving them, on average, £175 worse off than their peers as they lost out on the maximum discount available.
The Government has extended eligibility for those still in education or training in time for the new academic year.
The move is said to be one of the ways the Government is putting passengers first ahead of the creation of Great British Railways and follows the freezing of rail fares and expansion of ‘tap-in, tap-out’ technology.
Transport costs can be a barrier for young people entering the workplace and so expanding access to discounted rail fares, alongside the £2 bus fare cap recently announced by the Prime Minister from next year, is expected to help more young people access opportunities.
The 16-17 Saver's expiry rules will now align with other railcards.
The Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy said: "This kind of common-sense change is exactly what passengers should expect from the railway. I'm proud that this change will support young people and their families to lower the cost of travel at a critical time for teenagers, whether they’re pursuing further education, vocational pathways or getting their footing in the jobs market."
These changes come alongside a raft of fare and ticketing reforms ahead of the introduction of Great British Railways. Contactless options like Pay-As-You-Go and trials of innovative digital ticketing are being expanded outside of London to Manchester, Yorkshire and the East and West Midlands, while plans are underway to develop a GBR website and app which will act as a one-stop-shop for passengers to buy tickets, check train times and claim Delay Repay.
Kaynat Ahmad, National Union of Students’ Vice President Further Education said: “The 16-17 Saver is essential for young people reliant on trains to get to college, work or training. Allowing young people to access the savings past their 18th birthday will ease the financial pressures that commuting brings – whether that is money back into the pockets of young people and their families or preventing someone from being forced to drop out.
“Opportunity should never be defined by what is affordable but, too often, transport costs have been a barrier to education, employment and training for young people. With the extension of the 16-17 Saver, alongside the £2 capped bus fares, we welcome this Government’s commitment to addressing the challenges that young people are facing right now."