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HM Forces War Widows Discounted Rail Cards


The price of the railcard has to be increased to £15.00 in line with the price paid by Serving members of the Armed Forces and their families for a Forces Family Railcard.

The War Widows’ Association, for the foreseeable future, will pay in advance for the purchase of a stock of railcards. It has been decided that the administration fee will be waived and the Association will make a donation in lieu to the Royal British Legion therefore from 1 November 2010 the price of the railcard for qualifying applicants will be £15.00 per card.

The Association has been asked to provide formal evidence of the entitlement of applicants and so in future a form, which can be downloaded from the Association website or obtained from the Royal British Legion (Rail Cards), must be completed and returned with every application. For anyone applying for the first time a passport photo is required for each card.

The Eligibility criteria is as follows:

1. War Widow(er)s, and dependent children aged 16 and over in receipt of a Forces Family Pension from either the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 or 2005 AND a War Widows, War Widowers or Child’s War Pension.
2.  War Widows, War Widowers, Recognised Partners and dependent children aged 16 and over in receipt of the Guaranteed Payment (GIP) from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme 2005.

Please note

1. Children aged 16 and over in full time education, receiving the qualifying pensions may have a railcard in their own right. (16 and 17 year olds can only purchase tickets for themselves.)
2. A Qualifying adult may take up to 4 children, aged over 5 years and under 16 years on the date of travel, with them at a discounted child rate when travelling in Standard or First Class accommodation.
3. The restriction at age 60 has now been removed.  Thus the Railcard is available for qualifying adults for life.
4. Those who remarry are no longer eligible once the current railcard has expired.

Rachael at the Royal British Legion very kindly administers the Scheme on behalf of the War Widows Association. Please only telephone her if you need information and an Application Form

First time applicants send a completed form and a Passport photograph for each Railcard required.

Renewal send a completed application form and the expired railcard(s)

First time and renewal please remember to enclose your cheque for £15.00, per card, made payable to the War Widows Association of Great Britain.

The issue of the card(s) will be speeded up if you send an SAE.
Send your completed application form, cheque etc to:

The Pensions Officer (Railcards)
199 Borough High Street
LONDON
SE1 1AA

write Confidential in the top left hand corner of the application envelope.