What is monthly auto-renewal?
Monthly auto-renewal is our exclusive smartcard product to help save money and time if an Annual Season Ticket isn’t for you.
Instead of having to renew your Season Ticket online or at the station every month, we’ll automatically renew it before it expires so you just need to touch in at a smartcard reader to load your new Season Ticket. Plus, if you auto-renew the same Season Ticket 11 times in a row your 12th is free, including the London Travelcard on your Season Ticket, saving even more money.
This means you’ll be able to continue using your Monthly rail passes as long as you want without extra admin. If you set up auto-renewal for your season ticket on your smartcard you simply Touch your smartcard on a smartcard reader to get your new ticket.
Monthly auto-renewals are valid on most of our network with SWR Touch Smartcard and must be for the same origin and destination stations throughout the term of the auto-renewal – check where you can use a smartcard on our dedicated map.
How does monthly auto-renewal work?
Once you’ve set-up monthly auto-renewal, a reminder is emailed 14 days before your renewal date. You can then change the renewal start date by up to 14 days, payment card, the station to collect your Season Ticket or cancel your renewal.
If you don't need to make any changes, payment for your Season Ticket is taken seven days before the renewal date. Your Season Ticket will be loaded onto your smartcard when you touch in on the first day it's valid.
It’s not a direct debit and you can cancel your auto-renewal at any time.
How do I set-up monthly auto-renewal?
If you don’t have a smartcard all you need to do is:
- Create an SWR account or if you have one already, go to our smartcard login
- Apply for a smartcard under ‘Manage your smartcards’
- Fill out our application form and tick if you want to buy tickets
- Choose your Monthly Season Ticket and tick ‘Continuous Authority’
- Submit your order
You’ll receive your new Touch Smartcard with your Monthly Season Ticket ready to use in five working days.
If you already have a smartcard:
- Login to your account
- Choose your Monthly Season Ticket and tick ‘Continuous Authority’
- Submit your order
You can collect your Monthly Season Ticket onto your smartcard after two hours at your nominated station on a smartcard reader.
A National Rail Photo ID is required when travelling with your smartcard and should be presented when requested. Your local station can create one for you if you provide a passport photo.
Can I apply a Railcard to my Monthly Season train ticket?
You can’t use a Railcard with most Monthly Season tickets as season ticket savings are already applied. However, children (aged 5-15 inclusive) get a 50% discount on Standard and First Class season tickets including London Travelcards. If your child's Monthly Season ticket starts before their 16th birthday, the 50% off travel will still apply until the ticket expires or up to four months after their 16th birthday, whichever comes first. Once they've turned 16, they can buy a 16-17 Saver Railcard to continue getting 50% off train travel.
Watch the video to learn more about Monthly auto-renewal rail tickets
