Up until now rail passengers have had to relinquish their automatic right to discounted travel at the age of 26, but this may all be set to change, The Mirror reports.

Millenials will jump for joy at the news that a new 26-31 Railcard could be rolled out nationally in 2018.

It has been revealed that train company Greater Anglia will trial the new railcard from December 2017.

The railcard gives 26-30 year olds a third off most train journeys and if the initial trial goes well, it may be made available across the country early next year.

Just 10,000 cards will initially be available - and it's not been confirmed whether the discount will be valid on Greater Anglia services only.

A document circulated on a UK rail forum - which appears to be an internal Rail Delivery Group briefing to staff dated last month - gives details of the scheme and says the railcard "goes national in early 2018".

A new railcard could give 26 to 30-year-olds a third off train journeys

But the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, has declined to comment on whether it has plans for a wider rollout.

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), which is part of the Rail Delivery Group, also appears to have registered a number of website domain names related to the card, including 26-30 railcard.com.

No indication of how much the pass will cost has been shared - however, a 16-25 card currently costs £30 a year.

The briefing document - again, unconfirmed - says you'll be able to buy the card up to and including the day before you turn 31.

Steve Nowottny, news and features editor at MoneySavingExpert.com , who broke the story, said: "This is a trial, we still don't have full details and a national rollout hasn't yet been officially confirmed, so it's early days."

According to the consumer website, there's likely to be a £12 minimum fare for tickets (other than advance fares) between 4.30am and 10am Monday to Friday - excluding public holidays and dates in July and August.

"But on the face of it, this is great news for passengers who are a little too long in the tooth for the 16-25 Railcard - if the trial's successful it'll mean you'll now be able to benefit from discounted fares until your 31st birthday," Steve added.

"As a rule of thumb, if you spend over £90 a year on train travel, even just on one fare, a railcard can be worth getting if you're eligible - and while it remains to be seen how the trial goes, any extension of the scheme is very welcome."

Greater Anglia will trail the new railcard

What about everyone else?

If you're a frequent traveller but don't qualify for a railcard, you can still apply for a Network Railcard, whatever your age.

This is Network Rail's alternative discount card that gives you 1/3 off most journeys in the Network Rail area - it can also save you money on trips in and around London.

The card can be used across London to Cambridge, Margate, Dover, Hastings, the majority of the south coast, and parts of Worcestershire and Exeter.

If you're travelling to a major UK city, you can use the discount to the nearest Network Rail stop and then purchase a full price ticket for the remainder of your journey.

The Network Railcard costs £30 and is valid for 12 months - there's no age restriction.

The added benefit is that up to three adults travelling with you can also redeem 1/3 off their fare. Plus, you can get 60% off fares for up to four children (aged 5 to 15 years).

There's one catch though - the Network Railcard cannot be used before 10am Monday to Friday, unlike a standard railcard which can be used 24/7 - unless you're travelling with Virgin Trains . On weekdays, there's also a minimum spend of £13 per adult, or £1 per child.

You can sign up or find out more about the card at Network-railcard.co.uk .

For the lucky few that still have a year or so until their 16-25 card expires, buy or renew your pass the day before your 26th birthday and you'll legally bag an extra year - making it a 16-26 railcard.

For an extra three years, you’ll have to plan further ahead and renew your card the day before your 24th birthday, which will extend the expiry date to the day before your 27th birthday.

Railcards explained

Railcards offer travellers a way to save a third on their journeys all year round. They're mostly useful for frequent travellers - such as students - although anyone can purchase one, providing you fall into one of the required age brackets.

Customers can choose to buy a one-year or three-year card, prices start at £30 - although Railcard.co.uk offers deals for new members all year round.

The options include a Two Together Railcard which costs £30 for a whole year, and offers a third off for two travellers.

There's also the 16-25 Railcard which gives you a third off most journeys in the UK, including all standard and first class advance fares. It costs £30 a year. To be eligible you must be 16-25, or a mature student – 26 years or older and in full-time education.

If you’re 60 or over, you might want to purchase a Senior Railcard, which offers the same terms as the 16-25 version above.

You can buy a three-year Senior Railcard for £70, or £30 for one-year.

Then there's the Family & Friends Railcard which gives you a third off adult fares and 60% off kids’ fares across the country.

If you aren't eligible for any of the above, you may qualify for a Network Railcard instead. This gives you 1/3 off journeys in the Network Railcard area and anyone over the age of 16 can apply.

The Network Railcard costs £30 and is valid for 12 months. Here's our guide on how the Network Railcard works .

How does the discount work?

If you purchase a railcard, you must carry it with you when you travel - including when you buy your ticket at the station.

Failure to do so could result in you paying more, or a penalty fare, which you may be able to claim back if you can show your card at a later date .

Keep up to date with the latest news in west London via the free getwestlondon app.

You can set up your app to see all the latest news and events from your area, plus receive push notifications for breaking news.

Available to download from the App Store or Google Play for Android .