A brand new rail card that extends half-price child rail fares to 16 and 17 year olds has been announced by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

The new 16 and 17 railcard will be launched this coming September (2019) with up to 1.2 million young people guaranteed a 50% discount on rail travel to coincide with the new academic year.

The announcement comes on the same day the rail industry launches the 26 to 30 railcard, benefitting an extra 3 million people with a third off their travel. It now means that rail travellers from the ages of 16 to 30 will be able to benefit from cut-price fares across the country.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: "The new 16 and 17 and 26 to 30 railcard will cut fares for a generation of travellers, ensuring more young people than ever will be able to travel on our railways for less.

"Today’s announcement of a new 16 and 17 railcard could cut the cost of travel by hundreds of pounds a year for young people and their parents, making it cheaper to get to school, college and work.

"This builds on the roll-out of the new 26 to 30 railcard and our record investment into our railways, ensuring people get the frequent, affordable and reliable journeys they deserve."

The new railcard will guarantee 50% off rail travel until the cardholder reaches their 18th birthday. Further details will be available ahead of the card’s launch in the summer.

The move comes as the government freezes regulated fares in line with inflation for other travellers for the sixth year running. Since 2014 fares have, on average, remained below the annual inflation cap.

The government wants to see lower fares in the future and has launched root and branch review of the rail industry looking at fares reform and affordability for passengers. Reforms will begin in 2020.