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SEASON TICKETS
How much could you save?
If you make the same journey more than three or four times a week you may find that, on the majority of routes, Season Tickets offer better value for money compared to buying daily tickets.
Why not use our Season Ticket Calculator to see how much you could save... You'll also save time - there will be no need to visit the booking office every day!
How long can a Season Ticket be valid for?
You can buy a season ticket for seven days or any period between one month and a year:
Seven Days
You can use the ticket at any time during any seven day period for travel between the points shown on the ticket - the more you travel, the more you save!
A month
Monthly Season Tickets offer great savings compared to buying four individual Seven Day season tickets.
Over one month
Season Tickets can also be purchased for any duration between one month and one year.
What sort of journey can I buy a season ticket for?
Season Tickets are available for all short and medium distance journeys on the National Rail network. Season Tickets are not generally available for long distance journeys, but maybe available where a train company chooses to offer them.
For very long journeys, an All Line Rail Rover Ticket can work out a lot cheaper than buying individual tickets, and gives the added bonus of Unlimited Travel ANYWHERE on the National Rail Network. They are available for periods of 7 or 14 days - more information can be found on our Special Offers page.
London Travelcards
You can buy tickets which can be used on London Underground, Docklands Light Railway and National Rail Services within the London Travelcard area which is shown on the London Connections map.
More information about Season Tickets to London
- I'm only travelling within the London Travel Card area...If you journey is entirely within the London Travelcard area, season ticket offer unlimited travel within the chosen Travelcard Zones on the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Croydon Tramlink and National Rail services for the period for which the ticket is valid. Travelcards are also valid on most London bus services on the London Bus network.The London Travelcard Map shows the London Travelcard Zones. Simply identify how many Zones you will be passing through on your journey - then look up the cost of Travelcard prices on the TfL website.
- I'm travelling from a station outside the London Travel Card area...If you start your journey from outside the Travelcard area, a Travelcard Season Ticket offers unlimited travel within all six London Travelcard Zones on the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Croydon Tramlink and National Rail services for the period for which the ticket is valid. It also includes travel between the starting station and the boundary with the London Travelcard Area (Zone 6).This means you can travel on any train between your starting station and the boundary of the London Travelcard area (on the route shown on your Travelcard) and then travel ANYWHERE within the London Travelcard Area, without restriction.
PLUSBUS - Combined Rail and Bus Season Tickets
You can now buy your train season ticket and your bus season ticket at the train station in just one easy transaction – saving you time and money!
With a PLUSBUS season ticket you don't have to drive in peak hour traffic, or hunt around for a parking space. Simply hop-on any bus, show your PLUSBUS season ticket to the driver and away you go!
PLUSBUS season tickets are available to 170 towns and cities across Britain. They are valid for set periods to match your train season ticket: 7-days; 1-month; 3-months and 1-year and give you unlimited bus travel on all participating bus operators’ services around your origin, or destination town.
What's more, with a PLUSBUS season ticket you can travel as much as you like during the evening and at weekends. Use PLUSBUS for your journeys to the shops, leisure attractions and to visit your friends!
Buying a Season Ticket
When can I buy a ticket?
You may be able to buy your Season Ticket before the day it is due to start. However, to avoid misuse of season tickets, they can only be purchased a short period of time beforehand.
The table below summarises when you can purchase or renew your season ticket or Travelcard:
|
I need to |
7 Day Season Ticket or Travelcard |
Season Tickets for 1 month or more |
|
Buy a new season ticket or Travelcard |
On the start dateIf the start date is a Monday (or Tuesday after a Bank Holiday), the season ticket may be issued from 0600 hours on the previous Sunday. |
If the start date is a Saturday, Sunday or Monday (also Tuesday after a Bank Holiday), the ticket may be issued from noon on the previous Friday.If the start date is another day, the ticket may be issued after noon on the previous day. |
|
Renew my existing season ticket or Travelcard |
If the start date is a Sunday or Monday (or Tuesday after a Bank Holiday), the season ticket may be issued from noon on the previous Friday.If the start date is any another day, the ticket may be issued after noon on the previous day. |
The ticket may be issued anytime up to SEVEN DAYS in advance |
Where can I buy a ticket?
You can buy a season ticket at any staffed ticket office. If you are buying a Monthly or longer season ticket for the first time, you'll need to complete an application form.
- You will need a recent passport-type photograph for the accompanying photo card
- To avoid the queues, it's best to avoid buying your ticket on weekday mornings
- If you already have a photocard, you may be able to buy seven day season tickets at self-service ticket machines.
You may also be able to buy your tickets over the telephone or internet from the appropriate Train Company.
How can I pay for my season ticket:
It's easy to pay for your season ticket, with a range of options available.
You can pay for your season ticket in the following ways:
- Personal Cheque (presented with a valid cheque guarantee card)
- Employers cheque
- Rail travel vouchers
- A Rail Warrant issued by your employer
- One of the following credit or debit cards:
- American Express
- Delta
- Mastercard
- Maestro
- Visa
- JCB
- Some train companies may also allow you to spread the cost of the season ticket by paying with Direct Debit – please ask when purchasing for more information.
Season Tickets Routes
Which Train Company or Route can I use?
Unless the season ticket says it can only be used on a specific Train Company, it is valid on all Train Company services on the route and within the zones for which the ticket is issued.
Season tickets with 'Dual Route Availability'
If two railway lines run close to each other (for example, Bedford on the East Midlands Trains runs very close to Milton Keynes of the West Coast Mainline), it may possible to buy season tickets with dual route availability - i.e. valid on the London to Milton Keynes line and on the London to Bedford route.
Discounts
Children
Children (aged 5-15 years inclusive) receive a 50% discount on Season Tickets and Travelcards, for both First Class and Standard travel.
- 7-Day Season Tickets/Travelcards - If the child reaches their 16th birthday during the validity of the ticket, a 7-Day Season Ticket with the 50% discount will remain valid.
- Monthly or Longer Season Tickets or Travelcards - If the child's sixteenth birthday occurs during the validity of the ticket, the 50% discount will remain valid. However, if the child is aged over 15 years and 8 months old when purchasing the ticket, the season ticket/Travelcard may only have a maximum validity period of four months.
- Annual Gold Cards - These tickets are not issued to children. Full details on Gold Cards.
Railcards
Railcard discounts are not available on Season Tickets, as these tickets are already heavily discounted.
Special Season Tickets
Annual Gold Cards
Gold Cards are annual season tickets with a difference! When you buy an annual season ticket for a journey entirely within the Network Area, you are automatically issued with a Gold Card.
More information about Gold Cards
First Capital Connect – 'Flexitime'
First Capital Connect offers discounted season tickets if you travel at certain times.
First Capital Connect offers discounted Season Tickets between:
- New Barnet (and intermediate stations) and Welwyn Garden City,
- Enfield Chase (and intermediate stations) and Hertford (North),
- Enfield Town, Edmonton Green, Ponders End (and intermediate stations) and Hertford East.
- Hertford (North), Watton-at-Stone and Stevenage.
Tickets are valid for travel in the country-bound direction by any train on any day. On Mondays to Fridays travel in the London-bound direction is only permitted on trains timed to depart between 1200 and 0230. No restrictions apply Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
First Transpennine Express - 'Early Bird'
First Transpennine Express offers discounted season tickets for travel on earlier trains.
First Transpennine Express offers discounted travel between Huddersfield/Dewsbury/Leeds and Manchester Piccadilly for those passengers who can arrive at Manchester before 0730. The return journey must depart between 1000 and 1600, or after 1830. Ask at the booking office for more details and price.
The Early Bird Plus add-on ticket is available at £6.00 for customers who need to travel during the peak. This must be purchased before you board the train.
Passenger's Charter Discounts
Each Train Company Passenger's Charter gives performance targets and details of the discounts available for Monthly or longer Season Ticket renewals in the event of below standard reliability or time keeping for the train service group. Details of any discounts are announced locally by individual Train Companies.
Season Ticket refunds
If you stop travelling and no longer need your Season Ticket, please hand it in at, or post it to, the ticket office where you bought it.
Full information about season ticket refunds can be found in the Season Ticket Terms and Conditions page.
Full Terms and Conditions
Full details of your season ticket can be found in our Season Ticket Terms and Conditions page. There may be some special conditions that apply to individual Train Companies or journeys. These will be explained to you when you buy your ticket.
