Concessionary and discounted rail fares

Free rail schemes to continue

The Minister for Local Government and Communities announced a further two year funding package, in September 2011, for the continuation of the popular concessionary fares rail scheme on selected railway lines in Wales. The scheme operates on the following rural railway lines for eligible pass holders:

• The Borderlands Line: all year round
• The Conwy Valley Line: all year round

The scheme operates on the following lines during the winter months only, and has now ended for 2011/12.

• The Cambrian Coast Line operated from 3 October 2011 until 31 March 2012 and restarts on 1 October 2012 until 31 March 2013
• The Heart of Wales Line operated from 3 October 2011 until 31 March 2012 and restarts on 1 October 2012 until 31 March 2013

Eligible Cerdyn Cymru pass holders benefit from free rail travel on the Conwy Valley Line between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno, and on the Welsh section of the Wrexham – Bidston Line. The first scheme is open to cardholders from the counties of Conwy and Gwynedd, the second those from Flintshire and Wrexham. The scheme will continue until the end of September 2013 for these railway lines.

The Cambrian Coast scheme operates during the winter months for eligible Gwynedd pass holders, and the Heart of Wales Line scheme operates for eligible Carmarthenshire and Powys passholders.

Restrictions on the following services apply:

Borderlands Line

Monday - Friday

• 07:31 Bidston to Wrexham

Cambrian Coast Line

The scheme is not available on certain services as detailed here (or equivalent services in the event of re-timing):

• 06:10 Pwllheli to Machynlleth (between Barmouth and Tywyn);
• 07:34 Pwllheli to Machynlleth (between Penrhyndeudreath and Harlech):
• 12:56 Machynlleth to Pwllheli (between Harlech and Penrhyndeudreath)
• 14:56 Machynlleth to Pwllheli (between Tywyn and Barmouth)

There are a number of alternative concessions and discounted rail travel options that are available throughout Great Britain.

Railcards

Senior Railcard

The Senior Railcard is available for anyone 60 years old or over.  The Senior Railcard entitles rail passengers to a saving of 1/3 on most Standard and First Class rail fares throughout Great Britain for 12 months. The card costs £28 for an annual card or £65 for a 3 year card. The only restriction is morning peak period services, Monday to Friday (not including Public Holidays) when journeys are made wholly within the London and South East area.

For full details and terms and conditions visit the senior railcard website.

Disabled Persons Railcard

Passengers who have a disability that makes travelling by train difficult may qualify for the Disabled Persons Railcard. The Railcard allows disabled passengers - and an adult companion - to get a 1/3 off most Standard and First Class throughout Great Britain.

A one-year card costs £20 and three-year card costs £54. Proof is required to qualify for a Railcard.

Travel without a Disabled Persons Railcard (DPRC)

Wheelchair users who travel without a DPRC and remain in their chairs will be offered a discount for themselves and for one travelling companion of:

• 34% off First Class or Standard Anytime single tickets
• 50% off First Class or Standard Anytime day return tickets; or
• 34% off First Class or Standard Anytime return tickets
• A child wheelchair user is entitled to 75% reduction on these fares.

Passengers who are registered as visually impaired and are travelling without a DPRC will be entitled to a discount for themselves and for one travelling companion of:

• 34% off First Class or Standard Anytime single tickets
• 50% off First Class or Standard Anytime day return tickets; or
• 34% off First Class or Standard Anytime return tickets

However, no discount will apply if a registered visually impaired passenger without a DPRC travels without a companion.

For full details and terms and conditions visit the disabled persons railcard website.

16-25 Railcard

The 16-25 Railcard (formerly Young Persons Railcard) costs £28 for an annual card and £65 for a 3 year card and entitles rail passengers to a 1/3 discount on rail fares throughout Great Britain for a year. To obtain a 16-25 Railcard you must be aged between 16-25, or over the age of 26 and in full-time education.

The card can be used at anytime on weekends, Public Holidays and during the week. The only restriction is that if you travel at or before 10am Monday to Friday (except during July and August) a minimum fare will apply.

For full details and terms and conditions visit the 16-25 railcard website.

Family & Friends Railcard

A Family & Friends Railcard (formerly Family Railcard) costs £28 for an annual card and £65 for a 3 year card and entitles rail passengers to a 1/3 discount on adult fares, and 60% off children's fares on travel throughout Great Britain.

Up to four adults and four children can travel on one card, and they don't need to be related.

The Family & Friends Railcard can be used at almost anytime during the week, weekends and Public Holidays. The only restriction is for travel during the morning peak time Monday to Friday (not including Public Holidays) when journeys are made wholly within the London and South East area.

For full details and terms and conditions visit the Family and friends railcard website.

Heart of Wales Railcard

Residents who are not Cerdyn Cymru pass holders in Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Powys can get reduced rail fares on the Heart of Wales line by joining the Heart of Wales Line Travellers Association for an annual fee of £5 and then subsequently purchasing a Heart of Wales railcard for £5. This would provide a one-third discount.

For full details and terms and conditions visit the Heart of Wales railcard website.

The Pembrokeshire Railcard

The Pembrokeshire Railcard is available on all journeys within Pembrokeshire and extending to Swansea via Carmarthen. The railcard is available to residents aged 16 or over, of selected postcodes in Pembrokeshire. The railcard costs £5.00 and is valid for one year. The card holder is entitled to 34% discount on local rail travel. There is no minimum fare.

To buy your Pembrokeshire Railcard, please visit the Carmarthen or Haverfodwest station booking office. The railcard is only available to residents, aged 16 or over, of the following postcode areas: SA34 0; SA61 1; SA61 2; SA62 3; SA62 4; SA62 5; SA62 6; SA63 4; SA64 0; SA65 9; SA66 7; SA67 7; SA67 8; SA68 0; SA69 9; SA70 7; SA70 8; SA71 4; SA71 5; SA72 4; SA72 6; SA73 1; SA73 2; SA73 3.

Full details can be found by visiting the Arriva Trains Wales website.

Cambrian Railcard

The Cambrian Railcard enables holders to purchase most standard class rail tickets for journeys between Pwllheli, Aberystwyth, Machynlleth, Newtown and Shrewsbury (including from / to all intermediate stations) at a one third discount.

Full details can be found by visiting the Arriva Trains Wales website.  

Explore Wales Pass

Rail Passengers can travel across Wales on the bus and train network with the Explore Wales Pass.

The pass also entitles rail passengers to reduced entry fees at a number of visitor attractions and to accommodation discounts across Wales, such as:

• Discounts on nine narrow gauge railways across Wales
• 'Two for one' admission to many of  Wales' most spectacular castles in the care of Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments
• 20% discount on admission to properties in the care of the National Trust
• 20% discount on admission to selected independent visitor attractions
• 10% discount on Youth Hostels Association rates throughout Wales
• 20% discount on City Sightseeing tours at Cardiff, Chester, Newport and Llandudno

Plus many more discounts please see the full list at the address below.

There are three types of pass, which all offer unlimited travel on all mainline rail services in Wales plus most scheduled bus services.

• The 8-Day Pass gives you four days' rail and eight days' bus travel for just £89.
• The Explore South Wales Pass allows four days rail and eight days bus travel for £60
• The Explore North and Mid Wales Pass also gives you four days bus and rail travel in an eight day period for only £60.

For full details of all offers and discounts visit the Explore Wales website.