Many students use the train to travel back and forth from university, so learning that more strikes are taking place next week is already frustrating. However, if you’ve bought a railcard, we can tell you if you can get a refund because of the train strikes.
Though it’s now the season for handing in final assessments and your last exams for the year, that doesn’t mean strikes aren’t still disruptive for students. You may still have a few trips left to uni to make, or even take the train back home for the summer.
Wherever you’re going, many students invest in a 16-25 railcard to help save some money on their travels. However, this is particularly helpful when strikes mean trips are cancelled or you’re delayed.
You may think your railcard purchase seems a little less worth it now because of the action. If that’s so, we can answer your railcard refund questions.
Will Railcards Be Refunded Because Of The Strikes?
No, railcards will not be refunded because of the strikes.
This refund policy applies to the 16-25 card, the 16-30 and the Senior railcard and all others.
A similar question was asked during the pandemic and the government confirmed that railcards could not be refunded:
“Refunding or extending Railcards would come at a significant cost to the taxpayer.”
In fact, once a railcard is issued it is non-refundable, no matter the circumstance. So, unfortunately for any students hoping to claim some money back from their earlier investment, that won’t be the case.
If you’ve bought one, then we recommend making the most of it on non-strike days to really get your money’s worth. However, that’s not particularly helpful if you are planning on travelling by train next week.
More Train Strikes Next Week
Towards the end of half-term and early into next week, rail strikes will be occurring around the UK.
Here are the dates so you can plan accordingly:
- Wednesday, 31 May (Aslef)
- Friday, June 2 (RMT)
- Saturday, 3 June (Aslef)
If you have a ticket for any of the above dates can be used on the following days:
- 31 May: Tuesday, 30 May – 5 June
- 2/3 June – Thursday, 1 June – Tuesday, 6 June
How To Claim A Refund Because Of Rail Strikes
Even if you can’t claim money back for your railcard, you can still get a refund on your tickets because of the strikes.
The amount you can claim will depend on the operator and how long you have been delayed, or if the train has been cancelled. Typically, partial refunds begin from 30-minute delays to full compensation if it is 2 hours or more.
Usually, you will have 28 days to make your claim, so do it as soon as possible so you don’t forget.
Even if you have purchased a season ticket, you may still get a refund because of the strikes. Check with your operator. In fact, if you have had multiple issues, you may be able to claim for ‘sustained poor performance.’
If you need help with your compensation, you can visit the National Rail site here.