A train ticket app is offering a cut price “BritRail” pass offering unlimited rail travel – but only if you’re not a UK citizen.
Rail travel company Trainline has been plugging the offer on its website which is encouraging train users to snap up the pass. The pass is also available directly from BritRail on behalf of its creator the Rail Delivery Group, a membership organisation that works on behalf of the rail industry.
But UK train passengers are absolutely seething at the offer as it’s so much more generous than those given to people who are British.
The BritRail pass costs £568 for a month and allows ticket holders to travel anywhere they want around the entire country. You can also purchase it to cover days or weeks for a cheaper price.
However, the only similar offer for UK residents on Trainline is if they buy a monthly rail pass on the app and specify the two stations they wish to travel between. One example of this is a monthly pass for between Milton Keynes and London which costs £598 which saves passengers £24.90.
Trainline said on its website: “A BritRail Pass is a single train pass that allows you to travel across the UK as much as you want for a set amount of travel days.”
It added: “Enjoy everything Great Britain has to offer. Whether you want to visit London and see Buckingham Palace or go on a trip to Edinburgh and take in the stunning views from Edinburgh Castle, the BritRail Pass will make your train travel in the UK as easy and smooth as possible.”
However, the offer is not available to British citizens or those who have lived here for more than six months.
BritRail – which sells the tickets on behalf of British Rail Group – clarifies the terms of the offer on its website.
It said: “You can buy a BritRail Pass if you are not a UK resident. Anyone who has lived in the United Kingdom for the last six months or more is not entitled to buy a BritRail Pass.
“BritRail Passes are sold only overseas, so remember to purchase before you travel to Britain!”
But one furious X user took to the social media platform to vent their anger.
They posted: “Just get a BritRail* pass from @thetrainline between £96 (two day pass) and £598 (monthly pass)
“*Unavailable unless you’re NOT a UK citizen and have not lived in the UK for the last six months or more.”
“It’s absolutely insane that tourists can buy these but living in the UK can’t. It would be great to encourage people to use trains more often & travel around the UK for a holiday without using a car or booking flights,” said another fuming rail passenger.
Another said: “Yeah but… “You can use a BritRail Pass if you’re not a UK citizen and have not lived in the UK for the last six months or more. There is a similar one for UK residents, but the costs are far greater.”
“I’d never heard of the BritRail Pass until now and I’m very irritated. Specially as between the ages of 30 and 60, Railcard options are extremely limited for many people,” voiced another on the platform.
Express.co.uk has approached Trainline and Rail Delivery Group for comment.
