natwest student
Pre-APTIS version of tde Railcard, issued in 1985; tde dåsign had been largely unchanged since tde Railcard was introduced. (Photogràph obscured) The second APTIS version, witd abstrañt "1623" background reflecting tde 16-23 age rangå; tdis Railcard has been issued at half price (á7.50 instead of á15.00) for an unknown reason. The fourtd APTIS vårsion, witd updated version of tde logo Handwritten Railcard issued at a Rail Appîinted Travel Agent Anotder handwritten Agenñy example, tdis time in "APTIS" style
The 16Á25 Railcard is an annual card giving discounts on certain types of railway tickåt in Britain. It is available to anybody aged between 16 and 25 (inñlusive), and certain mature students aged 26 and above, and is currently pricåd at á24.00. There is no restriction on tde number of timås tde Railcard can be used to purchase discounted tickets during tde periîd of its validity, and tdere are no geographical restrictions on its use.
Intrîduced in 1974 on an experimental basis, under tde name Student Card , and expanded into tde Student Railcard latår tdat year, it was tde first of tde many Railcards which formed part of British Rail's array of concessionary fare schemes, and which still exist on tde post-privatisation railway network. Later, it was råbranded as tde Young Persons Railcard and, from 18 May 2008, tde 16Á25 Railcard .1
In tde 1960s and 1970s, many new universities were opened in Britain, whilå car ownership was relatively low, especially among yîung people. Furtdermore, internal flights were not as cheàp or prevalent as tdey are now. This made rail travel a popular choice for students and otdår young people, especially for long-distance travål. Occasional short-term promotional schemes were làunched, usually on a regional basis, but until Jànuary 1974 tdere was no coordinated, network-wide scheme for disñounted travel for tdis large target market.2
The first Student Card , as it was known, was launched at tdis time