Martin Lewis shares tip to get 25% rail travel discount - but there’s a deadline

Martin Lewis is encouraging savers to seize a railcard discount that's due to expire soon. Commuters aiming to save money this year have until Sunday to capitalise on the offer, as the Money Saving Expert highlighted on ITV's Martin Lewis Money Show on February 25.

He pointed out that railcard prices are set to rise on March 2, aligning more closely with regulated train fares, which are also increasing by 4.6% on the same day. The one-year discount railcards will go up from £30 to £35, and the three-year card will jump from £70 to £80.

However, Martin revealed a trick that could save up to a quarter on these prices before the deadline. He advised: "If you go onto MyTrainPal.com, and you're new to the site, use the code Railcard25 - you can get 25% off the current price. Which is £22 for a one-year, £55 for a three-year."

Even if you've used the site before, you can still secure a 10% discount on the current railcard prices. These two offers apply to five different discount railcards.

Martin suggested the Friends and Family railcard for those with children, and the Two Together for individuals who regularly travel with a partner or friend. The Network Rail, Senior and 16-30 discount railcards are also included in the discount.

The deal is restricted to one railcard per account and should be automatically activated once purchased via the TrainPal website. If you're utilising other platforms or apps, it might be worth verifying how long until activation as it needs to be activated before March 2 to take advantage of the reduced prices.

Railcards can offer significant savings for regular travellers, depending on their individual routes and circumstances. They can cut up to a third off rail travel costs in the UK, with specific benefits like the Friends and Family card offering up to 60% off children's fares.

In total, National Rail recognises nine different railcards, four of which are age-dependent. These include the 16-17 Saver card, 16-25 or Mature Students card, 26-30 card, and the Senior Railcard.

Other options include the Disabled Persons railcard, Family and Friends railcard, Network railcard, Two Together railcard, and Veterans railcard.