Train passengers could avoid hefty fines for forgetting their railcard as they will soon be available on smartphones.
National Rail is offering commuters the chance to buy a digital railcard, which they can save on an app.
The move could spell the end for the paper vouchers, which gives customers a third off the price of train tickets.
National Rail are offering commuters digital railcards, which can be saved on phone apps
The digital 16-25 railcard was introduced this summer, while the Two Together and Family & Friends cards will be available soon.
National Rail have also pledged to introduce a paperless version of the Senior and Disabled Persons Railcards by the end of the year.
It comes after the announcement of a ‘Millennial’ railcard for those aged 26-30.
Currently, if a passenger without their railcard still claimed the discount, they could be handed a penalty fare.
Staff can fine forgetful commuters £20 or double the full single fare.
National Rail’s Jyoti Bird said it was designed to be quicker and easier for passengers to save on fares.
‘Railcards enable customers to explore more of Great Britain for fun, in an ultra-convenient and cost-effective way,’ she told the Telegraph.
‘The introduction of digital Railcards is the latest example of train companies working together using technology to make rail travel easier. The money customers save through travel, and additional Railcard benefits, means the more they have to spend in the places they go.
The newest railcard, for passsngers aged 26-30, is set to be tested in the area served by Greater Anglia from early December, with 10,000 railcards initially available.
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, has refused to comment on whether it has plans for a wider rollout.
The digital railcard roll-out comes after the Millennial railcard was also announced for people aged 26 to 30
But a document circulated on a UK rail forum, which appears to be an internal Rail Delivery Group briefing to staff dated last month, gives details of the scheme and says the card ‘goes national in early 2018’.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), which is part of the Rail Delivery Group, also appears to have registered a number of website domain names related to the card, suggesting it may be preparing for a wider launch.
Steve Nowottny (CORR), news and features editor at MoneySavingExpert.com, said: ‘This is a trial, we still don’t have full details and a national rollout hasn’ t yet been officially confirmed, so it’s early days.
‘But on the face of it, this is great news for passengers who are a little too long in the tooth for the 16-25 Railcard – if the trial’s successful it’ll mean you’ll now be able to benefit from discounted fares until your 31st birthday.
‘As a rule of thumb, if you spend over £90 a year on train travel, even just on one fare, a railcard can be worth getting if you’re eligible – and while it remains to be seen how the trial goes, any extension of the scheme is very welcome.’