Railways Bill amendment seeks legal protection for military railcard discounts

The government has tabled an amendment to the Railways Bill intended to give statutory protection to rail fare discounts for veterans and serving armed forces personnel.

In a statement to Parliament on 9 November 2026, the government said both groups currently benefit from railcards offering one-third off most rail fares, but that these discounts have lacked statutory protection. The amendment would protect their continued provision in law; it is not an announcement of a new discount.

Discounts for young, elderly and disabled passengers already have statutory protection. The proposed change would extend that safeguard to veterans and service personnel, giving the armed forces community and their families greater assurance that the concession will remain available to future generations.

The government presented the amendment as recognition of military service and sacrifice, and as part of its plans to establish Great British Railways (GBR). It said the new organisation would put passengers at the centre of the railway, with a different culture and a focus on reliable, affordable and high-quality services.

Ministers argued that the railways had been run for too long in the interests of profit rather than passengers. Their stated ambition is for GBR to serve all communities, with the proposed protection for military railcards forming part of that approach.

The measure follows a recent expansion of free rail travel for a bereaved military family member attending Remembrance events. The government said that provision was intended to prevent travel costs becoming a barrier to commemorating loved ones who had died in service.

Together, the government said, the measures would recognise the armed forces community through practical support. The statutory safeguard for railcard discounts remains a proposed change to the Bill.