Family and Friends Railcard

[1] It is one of the discounted and concessionary fare schemes available on Britain's railway network to people who either belong to particular groups or who are willing to buy tickets ahead of the date of travel.

Before 18 May 2008 it was known as the Family Railcard, but the name was changed to reflect the fact that discounted travel is not restricted to adults and children who are related.

In both cases, the Railcard holder would need a British Rail "Photocard" (numbered photographic identity card).

[2] When the scheme was introduced on an experimental basis on 17 June 1979, there was only one change from the proposals: the prices of the single-holder and joint-holder Railcards were set at £5.00 and £10.00 respectively.

[5] Discounts were further reduced in the next revision from 15 May 1990, with the Railcard being redesigned at the same time: the colour scheme was generally blue, with a pictorial background.

The Saver and Supersaver discount was cut again, to 20%, from 29 May 1994, at which point the child flat fare—which had been fixed at £1.00 since 1981—was raised to £2.00.

[5] The most recent change involving the discount structure happened as from 29 May 2000, and involved the introduction of another new ticket stock with a changed logo, red upper band and new form numberA (RSP 4599/253; all previous APTIS Family Railcards had used BR 4599/19, or RSP 4599/19 after privatisation.

This is left blank if an adult is travelling at full (undiscounted) fare; but if any discount or other special condition applies, a code of up to five letters appears.

Since the introduction of the APTIS and PORTIS systems in 1986, an adult ticket bought with a Family Railcard has always been identified with the code FAM.

[10] Children under five are allowed free travel, provided that they do not occupy reserved seats and that no more than two (in British Rail days, four) accompany each fare-paying adult.

[11] Railcards can be bought at railway station ticket offices; Rail Appointed Travel Agencies; by post from an agency at Harrington Dock, Liverpool (this option was available by 1993, and possibly earlier; the agency was originally set up in 1989 for Senior Railcards);[3] through train operating company telesales facilities; and online at a website accessed via ATOC's "Railcards" website.