Railcard Holders Will Not Get Refund or Extension After Months of COVID-19 Restrictions

Millions of Railcard holders will not be receiving refunds or extensions even though Railcards have gone unused during the pandemic lockdown. 

To date, Railcard refunds have been refused, but many users are just seeking a partial refund because it went unused for four months. Others would be happy with a four-month extension on their Railcards to make up for the time it wasn’t used.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) was hoping to offer Railcard holders either a refund or an extension, but the Department for Transport (DfT) rejected that plan to make sure taxpayers were being treated fairly, according to The Independent. 

“Passengers deserve punctual and reliable journeys at a fair price which is why we are investing billions into modernising the network and working with industry to try to provide commuters with more flexibility and better value,” a DfT spokesperson said, according to The Independent.

Railcard holders receive a discount of one-third off rail fare; however, any holder who was not an essentail worker was told not to travel between late March and July.

The Railcard scheme is available for many populations in the U.K. including families that have young children, 16- to 25-year-olds, 26- to 30-year-olds and seniors, This Is Money reported. All totalled, there are 5.1 million Railcard holders who won’t be getting refunds for unused passes.

Most Railcards cost around £30, saving Railcard holders substantially on fare. Disabled people can receive a Railcard at an ever lower rate of  £20 per year.

Railcard refunds have been denied because with most customers paying £30, refunding 5 million users could cost around £150 million.

“We understand that this decision may not be the news our customers had been hoping for,” a spokesperson for Railcard said, according to This Is Money. “Refunding or extending Railcards for over 5.1 million customers would come at a significant cost to the taxpayer at a time when the focus must be on maintaining rail services to support the country’s recovery from the pandemic.”

The Guardian has received a flurry of letters from people who are upset about not getting Railcard refunds.

Some people think the denial of Railcard refunds is fraudulent and could result in a legal case.

“This is fraud,” Barry Doe, a writer for Rail magazine, told The Independent. “People have bought Railcards in good faith, and it is disgusting that the DfT won’t allow the rail industry to grant an extension.”

Doe continued: “I wonder if a legal case could be made. A Railcard gives a reduction on all journeys for a year and the government telling people not to travel negated that contract and compensation is due.”

Penny Dent, a disappointed Bedfordshire train passenger, called the decision to refuse Railcard refunds “short-sighted,” The Independent reported. 

“My Friends and Family Railcard hasn’t been used at all since late February, because my family was following the rules,” Dent said. “Whilst I’d love to come back to the trains, it grates a bit when I’ve been a Railcard holder for years.”

Meanwhile, Coachcard holders have been given a six-month extension for their unused National Express bus passes, The Independent reported.

The coaches did not run from April until June, but Coachcards have automatically been boosted with an additional six months of validity. The bus firm notified passengers no further action is needed, just travel with current Coachcards as usual.

“Passengers bought Railcards in good faith and will be disappointed by the decision not to extend them or offer a discount on renewal to make up for the period when we were encouraged not to travel,” Transport Focus chief executive Anthony Smith told The Guardian.

“While the government continues to provide high levels of support to make sure the day-to-day railway keeps operating, it seems a pity some slack could not be given on this issue to encourage people back to rail travel,” Smith added.

Are you a Railcard holder? Do you think Railcard refunds should be issued, considering passengers were unable to use them for months? Share how you feel in the comments.

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