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Where to buy rail cards

Posted by on

I would like to get the National Rail Card "Friends and Family" - "Families can get a third off most train tickets with a Family & Friends Railcard (also £30), which allows adults to travel a third cheaper while their kids age 5–15 get 60 percent off most train trips."

Can that be purchased through Rick Steves or another site from the US? I understand i need to purchase and then receive the card in the mail before I can make my rail reservations. I am traveling with kids and want to get first class reservations before we leave in June. This is for a leg from London to Edinburgh and it looks like we can save about $100 with the card.

Thank you -

Posted by
16386 posts

You need to buy the card in person at a UK train station. Bring pass-port size photos.

You can buy tickets using the card option before you have the card. Just choose the option for the appropriate card from the drop-down menu. Then make sure to buy the card---you will need to show it when you present your ticket.

Posted by
11294 posts

Other posts have indicated that you do NOT have to have the rail card at the time of purchase, but must have it when actually using the ticket. So, you can buy the reduced tickets now online, and buy the railcard at a station when you get to England. On the train, you show both the card and the ticket when asked for your tickets.

EDIT: cross posting with Lola - luckily we said the same thing.

Posted by
130 posts

I sent you a PM. Check your email. Please let me know if I can help further.

Posted by
2 posts

Great info, thanks!

I didn't receive your PM, Val, so please retry if your information is different from above. Thank you!

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