Black Friday Railcards: Save up to £35 when you buy with Trainline

A woman and a child looking out of a train carriage window

(Image credit: Getty Images)

last updated 25 November 2022

You can save £15 on your next train journey on top of a £20 saving on selected Railcards with this Black Friday Railcard deal.

Black Friday 2022 is officially here, with retailers from all walks of life sharing exclusive savings. We've been keeping our eyes peeled for all the best deals, from cookware such as Black Friday air fryer deals and the best KitchenAid discounts, to beauty items like Black Friday perfume offers.

But it's not just kitchen gadgets, must-have tech and beauty favourites on offer. This Black Friday deal from Trainline has also caught our eye - especially as it could save you a chunk of money if you're planning on visiting family and friends up and down the country during the festive period. If you buy a Railcard with Trainline between now and Monday 28 November, you'll save £15 on your next journey, and some Railcards also offer a £20 discount if you buy one with three years validity - that means you'll save £35 in total. Keep reading to find out about all the different Railcards on offer and how you can take advantage of the deal...

Black Friday Railcard deals 2022

How much do Railcards cost?

Railcards usually cost £30 for a year or £70 for three years - though with a third off travel they quickly pay for themselves - and this Black Friday deal allows eligible customers to save even more with £15 off their next trip. This means if you're eligible for a three year Railcard you'll save £35 in total.

To take advantage of the offer, simply choose your Railcard, and a unique discount code will be sent to your inbox. Next time you're buying a train ticket, copy and paste this code at the checkout to secure the discount - but make sure you book before the end of December 2022. The offer is live from now until Monday 28 November - so you'd better be quick!

Not sure which Railcard you're eligible for? Use Trainline's Railcard finder. Simply input your age, who you normally travel with and whether you travel in the South East, and it will tell you which Railcard is best for you.

When can I use a Railcard?

How and when you use a Railcard depends on the type you have. As a general rule, all Railcards can be used for discounted train fares during Off-Peak times, weekends, and public holidays.

Some, like the age-related Railcards, can be used during Peak times with a minimum fare, and there's also a Disabled Persons Railcard that can be used at any time.

Where can I travel using a Railcard?

Where you can travel using your Railcard depends on which one you buy. Although, unless you've opted for the Network Railcard (only valid on journeys starting and ending in the South-East Network Railcard zone), you will be able to use it on the vast majority of routes in the UK.

According to Trainline, these are the most popular UK train journeys to book on Black Friday:

London to Manchester - from £22.80
Birmingham to London - from £6.40
London to Edinburgh - from £26.90
Leeds to Scarborough - from £10.20
London to Brighton - from £5.50

Trainline also offers SNCF Railcards, which allows you to explore France by train on national, regional and local routes - including high-speed trains from Paris train stations. And the great news is, the Carte Advantage is also on sale for Black Friday, saving you 50% off it's usual price - perfect if you're a frequent visitor to France.

What was Trainline's Black Friday Railcard offer last year?

Last year, Trainline offered a half price discount on all seven of its digital Railcards. Customers could get 50% off the price of these Railcards and save a third on train travel for a year with the code RAILCARD50 at checkout.

Trainline originally said the discount would run all the way up until December 17th 2021, giving customers an opportunity to make savings on festive journeys to visit friends and family or even buy a Railcard as a gift for a loved one.

However, the deal didn't run as smoothly as planned, and many frustrated users found that when they entered the code at the checkout they were told the deal had expired. In response, the Trainline tweeted: "Due to unprecedented demand, we’ve had to end our Black Friday deal earlier than anticipated. We’re sorry that you missed out on this occasion however, watch this space, as we may have some other exciting deals in the pipeline."

Related features:

Video of the Week

Explore More

Black Friday

Ellie is Goodto’s Feature Editor, having joined the team as a Junior Features Writer in 2022, and covers everything from wellbeing for parents to the latest TV and entertainment. Ellie has covered all the latest trends in the parenting world, including baby names, parenting hacks, and foodie tips for busy families. She has a distinction in MA Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and a first-class degree in Journalism from Cardiff University, and previously Ellie has worked with BBC Good Food, The Big Issue, and the Nottingham Post, as well as freelancing as an arts and entertainment writer alongside her studies.