We recognise that many customers will not have been able to use their National Rail Travel Vouchers due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Since late-October/early November 2020, when national lockdowns were imposed, the advice from the Scottish and UK governments has been for people to stay at home and only travel if a journey is essential. Because of this, a large number of customers issued with Rail Travel Vouchers haven't been able to redeem them.
Previously, Rail Travel Vouchers that expired between 17 March and 16 September 2020 were extended for six months, to allow customers more time to use them towards new tickets or National Rail products, after the first national lockdown. It has now been agreed that Rail Travel Vouchers that have expired or are due to expire after ‘essential travel only’ messaging began in late October/early November 2020, can be extended for a further six months, up to, and including Wednesday 30 June 2021.
If you are in possession of a Rail Travel Voucher, which you haven’t been able to use due to lockdown restrictions, the below table will help you understand the new expiry date of your voucher.
Please note the following important information:
- Any Rail Travel Voucher issued before 21 October 2019, or on or after 02 July 2020 will have the stated 12-month validity period only
- Any Rail Travel Voucher that previously expired between 17 September 2020 and 19 October 2020 will not be included in this extension, as travel was permitted at this time
- Only Rail Travel Vouchers that were issued between the dates shown on the table below can be extended and accepted up to the new expiry dates
| Original Issue Date | Original Expiry Date | Extended Expiry Date |
| 21 > 31 October 2019 | 20 > 30 October 2020 | 20 > 30 April 2021 |
| 01 > 30 November 2019 | 31 October > 29 November 2020 | 30 April > 29 May 2021 |
| 01 > 31 December 2019 | 30 November > 30 December 2020 | 30 May > 30 June 2021 |
| 01 > 31 January 2020 | 31 December 2020 > 30 January 2021 | 30 June > 30 July 2021 |
| 01 > 29 February 2020 | 31 January > 28 February 2021 | 31 July > 28 August 2021 |
| 01 > 31 March 2020 | 28 February > 30 March 2021 | 28 August > 30 September 2021 |
| 01 > 30 April 2020 | 31 March > 29 April 2021 | 30 September > 29 October 2021 |
| 01 > 31 May 2020 | 30 April > 30 May 2021 | 30 October > 30 November 2021 |
| 01 > 30 June 2020 | 31 May > 29 June 2021 | 30 November > 29 December 2021 |
| 01 July 2020 | 30 June 2021 | 30 December 2021 |
Railcards
Railcards used across the UK are administered centrally by National Rail. In these exceptional times, National Rail are working together with ScotRail and other train operators to assist Railcard holders who have been unable to use their Railcard due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
ScotRail customers should contact National Rail directly for updates on the validity of Railcards here .