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Simon Meechan

New 16-17 Saver railcard offers half price travel for teens too old for child fares

A new railcard offers passengers aged 16 and 17 a 50% discount on train tickets.

Holders of the new 16-17 Saver railcard will pay child fares for train travel in England and Wales, even though they are older than 15.

Currently, teen passengers aged over 15 have to pay adult fares, or buy a 16-25 railcard, which only offers a 1/3 discount which does not apply to some peak tickets.

But with the 16-17 Saver card, teens aged 16 and 17 will get 50% off travel, meaning they pay the same for tickets as children aged 15 and under.

The £30 railcard goes on sale at 9am today and can be used to save money on travel from September 2.

Train operators believe passengers will save an average of £186 per year on journeys to school, college, work and leisure trips by using the 16-17 Saver. The discount will apply to most fares, including peak and season tickets.

The railcard will be valid for one year, or until the passenger's 18th birthday if that comes earlier. But discounted season tickets can continue to be used for up to four months after a customer turns 18.

Office of Rail and Road figures show that, between January 1995 - around the time the network was privatised - and January 2019, average fares increased in real terms by 21%.

Regulated fares including season tickets will increase by up to 2.8% next year.

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Robert Nisbet, director of nations and regions at industry body the Rail Delivery Group, said: "Switching to a new college is a time of great change and brings new independence for young people.

"This new 16-17 Saver will offer real money saving benefits to 1.2 million 16 to 17-year-olds and their families.

"Working together, the rail industry is committed to enabling more people to benefit from train travel."

Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: "The brand-new Saver means that a generation of rail passengers can now benefit from cheaper fares, keeping money in their pocket and helping them get to school, college and work.

"We want to create a railway system that's fit for the 21st century and provides a reliable, punctual journey."

Transport Focus welcomed the launch of the railcard but claimed its validity could have been extended.

The watchdog's director, David Sidebottom, said: "It's good that the 50% discount that this offers will apply to peak period and season tickets, but it would be better if this card also covered the entire sixth-form period.

"As it stands, students turning 18 early in their second year of studies will lose this valuable discount."

The 16-17 Saver railcard goes on sale here from 9am on Tuesday August 20.

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