Train firms to cut discounts offered on railcards without telling passengers

Discounts offered to Railcard holders is being cut by train operators this month, in a move described as ‘a step in the wrong direction’ by a pro-rail group.

Savings currently stand at 34 per cent for those who have a Railcard, this includes customers aged between 16 and 30 as well as those over 60. 

However the discount offered by Railcard is expected to plummet to 33.4 per cent by mid-September as rail operators seek to increase income from fares.

The discount reduction will take place from September 15, the PA news agency understands.

An off-peak return ticket from London to Manchester is priced at £109, but as of September 14, costs £71.90 for railcard holders. 

Currently Railcard holders receive a discount of 34 per cent but by September 15 this is expected to drop to 33.4 per cent (stock image)

The same ticket will cost £72.55 for Railcard users on September 15.

Other types of Railcard holders will also be impacted including military veterans, people with a disability, and families travelling with children.  

An example of Anytime Return fare increases for Railcard holders include from £194.15 to £195.90 from Cardiff to London.

The price of a Anytime Return journey from Birmingham to Manchester  will also increase from £72.60 to £73.25 for Railcard holders.

A section on Railcard discounts on the National Rail Enquiries website was updated in June to remove references to 34 per cent.

This reduction will impact railcard holders between the ages of 16 and 30, over 60s, military veterans , people with a disability, and families travelling with children (stock image)

A section on Railcard discounts on the National Rail Enquiries website was updated in June to remove references to 34 per cent (stock image)

Bruce Williamson, of lobby group Railfuture, said: ‘Whilst this represents a very tiny increase in fares for some passengers, it’s a step in the wrong direction.

‘As the slogan goes, every little helps, so why risk irritating passengers for a few pence?’

Michael Solomon Williams, of pressure group Campaign for Better Transport, called for the introduction of a northern network railcard to make the system ‘fairer’ by giving passengers in the north of England ‘the same discount offered to many of their southern counterparts by regional railcards’.

MailOnline has approached Railcard for comment.