Thousands fail to secure new railcard as website crashes

A website promising big discounts to rail passengers aged 26-30 crashed yesterday, with thousands complaining it was easier to buy tickets for Glastonbury.

The sale, which some said had not been properly announced, descended into chaos with the website crashing and the 10,000 discount cards selling out.

Only one railcard was available for every 500 eligible applicants.

A critic quipped on Twitter: “Cunning of the Government to limit 26-30 railcards to 10,000 and only allow sales through a website that crashed, replicating the Glastonbury experience, which 26-30-year-olds love.”

Another said the railcard would have saved them thousands of pounds, but the Government let them down “by only trialling 10,000”.

Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, had promised 4.5 million young people “a third off their rail fares”. But many fear the scheme will not now be rolled out.