Scots aged 26-30 will be able to save a third on most rail journeys with ‘millennial’ railcard launching this year

FOUR million people will be able to cut the costs of rail journeys as a new National Rail 26-30 Railcard rolls out nationwide.

The scheme, piloted in East Anglia last year and to a select group of 20,000 across the country in March, will be fully launched to all eligible people before the end of this year.

ScotRail have confirmed that they will be selling the product, which was originally announced in the chancellor’s autumn 2017 budget.

The £30-a-year card gives rail passengers a third off rail fares when used outwith peak times and will be the first digital-only railcard, available to be downloaded to a smartphone app.

It can be swapped to another mobile device should the passenger lose theirs or run out of battery.

Those taking part in trial took approximately 6 leisure journeys a month, covering an average of 400 miles.

This would result in a saving of an average of £95 a year when they travel by train, taking into account the cost of the card.

Exciting news! The 26-30 Railcard is being launched this year, which means over 4 million people can save a third on their journeys. Follow @_Railcards for updates – this is rail companies delivering on their commitment to unlock trains journeys for even more people. pic.twitter.com/bt8B559pgJ

— Rail Delivery Group (@RailDeliveryGrp) October 26, 2018

It will operate in a similar way to the existing 16-25 railcard, with anyone travelling before 10am on a weekday having to pay a minimum fare of £12.

But the 26-30 card will also apply this restriction to the months of July and August, unlike the version for younger travellers.

There will be no fare reductions available on sleeper trains, first-class and season tickets or on Eurostar services.

No date has been announced as yet for the release of the railcard, but the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has said it will be out by the end of 2018.

The RDG’s Jacqueline Starr said: “More young people can explore Britain for less using our trains and benefit from saving a third on rail travel, making it cheaper to get out and enjoy the seaside or visit family and friends.”

The new railcard will be welcome news for many travellers, with the price of regulated rail fares across the country set to rise by as much as 3.2% in January.