UK train firms launch ‘Clubcard’ schemes with free tickets – but there’s a catch

Many of the country’s train operators including Avanti, GWR, c2c and SWR are getting in on the action, perhaps keen to enjoy the same kind of customer loyalty as supermarkets

The UK’s rail companies seem to have copied supermarkets’ loyalty schemes by launching their own.

In recent years, supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s have introduced aggressive pricing structures in which products bought without a loyalty card are much more expensive. Some items are close to double the price if you’re not a member of the club.

The schemes tend to split opinion. On the one hand, they offer discount prices to returning customers. On the other hand, they have been accused of giving the illusion of a good deal while harvesting shoppers’ data.

Now, many of the country’s train operators are getting in on the action, perhaps keen to enjoy the same kind of customer loyalty as supermarkets. However, there is a potential catch. While several are offering discounts on tickets, that can’t be combined with railcards – meaning the money saved is negligible.

On top of that, all bookings have to be made through the rail firm’s platforms, meaning deals that may be available through third-party booking platforms such as Trainline may not be available.

Check out our rundown of the rail companies with loyalty schemes and the kind of discounts you can score by signing up.

Great Western Railway

GWR has one of the best and most comprehensive loyalty schemes out there. Customers earn points by taking train journeys, which then determine whether they are in the bronze, silver or gold tier. Sign up and you can bag a free drink, 40% off a ticket and 10% off food and drink. It’s important to note that you can’t use any railcards in conjunction the 40% off offer, so it may not save you that much money.

Make it all the way to the top and you’ll score a free first class return ticket, lounge access, a three-course meal for two in GWR’s Pullman Dining, and 20% off food and drink. There are some caveats, but broadly speaking you’ll need to spend about £360 on tickets to get up to the gold tier.

Transport for Wales

The JurnyOn scheme lets passengers earn one point per mile they travel on TfW train services, regardless of whether they have a subscription. These points, valued at 1p each, can be redeemed for in-app rewards or used to reduce the cost of the monthly subscription, which starts at £1.90 and tops out at £5.90.

By taking out a subscription – whether silver, gold or platinum – passengers can get 10%, 15% and 35% discounts respectively. However, you can’t use a railcard in conjunction with the discounts, meaning you’d only save 2% more on platinum journeys than with a regular third-off railcard.

Avanti West Coast

Club Avanti offers very similar discounts to GWR’s scheme, with silver, gold and platinum levels delivering combinations of free tickets, cheaper food and discounted rates. The highest tier is achieved by passengers who take 21 or more journeys a year and promises one free first-class return and free first-class lounge access.

However, as with the others, you cannot use any railcards in conjunction with Club Avanti.

South Western Railway

SWR Rewards operates in a slightly different way. Passengers who are heading to attractions such as a night at a West End theatre can use the SWR app to check whether they can get a discount if they travel by train. It is possible to receive up to a third off London river cruise tickets and buy one get one free on Hampton Court Palace entry.

c2c

Passengers with a c2c Smartcard can earn one point every time they spend £1 on c2c tickets. Every point gives you a penny back, and you can your points on train tickets in the c2c app.