Railway Pension Scheme: Complete Rates, myRPS Guide
The Railway Pension Scheme is the industry-wide final salary pension scheme created in 1994 for UK rail employees, run by Railpen Limited on behalf of the Railways Pension Trustee Company Limited.
It covers defined benefit and defined contribution sections, and the increase and contribution figures below are correct as of April 2026.
Key Takeaways
- The Railway Pension Scheme is a final salary Defined Benefit scheme with a separate Industry-wide Defined Contribution (IWDC) section, administered by Railpen Limited.
- Pensions in payment will rise by up to 3.8% from 6 April 2026, based on the Consumer Prices Index figure from September 2025.
- Members can contact Railpen on 0800 012 1117, or call the general Railways Pension Scheme line on 0800 2 343434, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
What Is the Railway Pension Scheme?
The Railway Pension Scheme is a final salary pension arrangement established in 1994 for the rail industry, following British Rail’s privatisation. It replaced the British Railways Superannuation Fund and now operates as an umbrella scheme.
The Railways Pension Trustee Company Limited governs the scheme and looks after its assets, as set out in the Railways Pension Scheme Order 1994.
The scheme is organised into several distinct sections, each with its own approach to building retirement income:
- Defined Benefit (DB) sections, which calculate a pension from salary and length of service.
- The Industry-wide Defined Contribution (IWDC) section, which builds a pot from contributions and investment growth.
- Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) sections, used by employers including Network Rail.
- Shared cost arrangements, where employer and member costs are split under agreed terms.
The section a member belongs to determines their contributions, increases and retirement options.
Who Is Eligible for the Railway Pension Scheme?
Eligibility for the Railway Pension Scheme usually comes down to one of three things: an employment contract that includes it, protected person status from before privatisation, or an employer that has chosen the RPS for auto-enrolment.
Some employers also offer membership outside these routes, so a member’s own contract is the most reliable place to check.
Auto-enrolment law, overseen by The Pensions Regulator, means you qualify automatically if you work in the UK, are at least 22 but under State Pension age, earn above the £10,000 threshold, and aren’t already in a qualifying workplace pension.
Anyone who meets these conditions at an RPS employer is enrolled automatically, and a welcome letter with a new joiner pack usually follows shortly after.
You can still opt in even outside these criteria, and if you opt out later, your employer may need to re-enrol you automatically after three years. Anyone unsure of their status should speak to their employer directly, since the RPS cannot add or remove members without an employer’s instruction.
How Do You Log In to myRPS?
Members access their railway pension scheme details through the myRPS online account, run by Railpen Limited, the scheme’s administrator. Registration takes only a few minutes and gives access to payslips, forecasts and personal details.
To log in or register for myRPS, follow these steps:
- Visit railwayspensions.co.uk and select “Log In / Register” at the top of the page.
- Enter a National Insurance number and personal details if registering for the first time, or existing login details if returning.
- Use the account to check payments, update bank details, or run the Retirement Budgeting Calculator.
New members should register early, since tools including pension estimates only become available once an account is active.
Railway Pension Scheme Contact Numbers and Opening Times
Members can reach the Railway Pension Scheme by phone on 0800 2 343434, the general enquiries line, or 0800 012 1117, Railpen’s dedicated customer services number. Both lines run Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, free from UK landlines and mobiles.
Which number to use depends on the query. General scheme and payslip questions go through the main Railpen line, while Network Rail members with CARE or NRDC queries should contact Willis Towers Watson on 01737 230 487 instead.
For broader pension guidance, MoneyHelper offers free, government-backed support alongside the scheme’s own contacts.
Retired members claiming more than one type of benefit will often need to use more than one number. For welfare-related queries outside the RPS itself, such as means-tested top-ups, the pension credit contact number is a separate, useful number to have to hand.
Is the Railway Pension Scheme a Defined Benefit Scheme?
Yes, the core Railway Pension Scheme membership is a final salary Defined Benefit scheme, though a separate Industry-wide Defined Contribution (IWDC) section also exists for some members. Which type applies depends on an employee’s start date and employer.
| Feature | Defined Benefit (DB) | IWDC (Defined Contribution) |
|---|---|---|
| How pension is calculated | Salary and years of service | Contributions plus investment growth |
| Investment risk | Held by the scheme | Held by the member |
| Typical members | Longer-serving rail employees | Newer joiners at some employers |
| Retirement flexibility | Fixed pension formula | Drawdown, annuity or cash options |
Both sections sit inside the same industry-wide scheme, and British Railways Superannuation Fund pensioners transferred into the RPS in 1994 remain in DB arrangements. Members unsure which type applies to them can check their myRPS account or annual benefit statement.
Why Isn’t There One Railway Pension Scheme Contribution Percentage?
There is no single railway pension scheme contribution percentage, because the scheme is an umbrella covering many sections and employers rather than one uniform arrangement. Each section, and often each employer within it, sets its own contribution structure.
Widely circulated claim: many people assume the Railway Pension Scheme has one fixed contribution rate that applies to every member.
Correct position: contribution rates are section-specific, set out in each member’s individual Key Features leaflet, since active members, protected persons and shared cost arrangements are governed by different terms.
Source: Railpen (railwayspensions.co.uk), confirmed via the scheme’s published member guides.
This structure dates back to privatisation, when the RPS absorbed dozens of former British Rail employers, each with its own pension promises.
The scheme preserved these existing arrangements through protected person status, which is why contribution rates can differ between colleagues on the same line. Anyone wanting their exact percentage should check their Key Features leaflet or myRPS account.
What Is the 2026 Railway Pension Increase?
Railway pension scheme payments will rise by up to 3.8% from 6 April 2026, matched to the Consumer Prices Index figure from September 2025.
Exactly how much an individual receives depends on how long they’ve been a retired or preserved pensioner, and the rules of their specific section.
| Date pension started (or became preserved) | 2026 increase |
|---|---|
| 21 April 2025 or before | 3.80% |
| 22 July – 21 August 2025 | 2.53% |
| 22 October – 21 November 2025 | 1.58% |
| 22 January – 21 February 2026 | 0.63% |
| On or after 22 March 2026 | 0.00% |
Members turning 65 on or before 6 April 2026 may see a smaller rise, since part of their pension may count as Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP), which increases at a different rate governed partly by HMRC rules. Figures confirmed as of April 2026 via Railpen.
Members due an increase receive written confirmation each spring, with the updated figure also visible on payslips inside myRPS from the April payment onward.
Because payments fall on a four-weekly cycle, some members receive a blend of old and new rates before the full increase applies.
This kind of rise is worth weighing against the average pension pot held outside occupational pensions, since Defined Benefit uplifts have no real equivalent for personal savers.
How Does the Railway Pension Scheme Calculator Work?
The Railway Pension Scheme’s Retirement Budgeting Calculator helps members estimate how much income they might need once they stop working. It’s accessed through the myRPS account rather than as a public tool.
To use the calculator, follow these steps:
- Log in to myRPS and select the Retirement Budgeting Calculator from the Knowledge Hub.
- Enter expected outgoings, including housing, bills and lifestyle costs.
- Compare the result against projected pension income from DB or IWDC benefits to see any shortfall.
The tool only covers income from the scheme itself, so it’s best used alongside a fuller picture of a member’s overall retirement savings.
Can You Pay More Into the Railway Pension Scheme?
Yes, members can top up their railway pension through BRASS or AVC Extra, both additional voluntary contribution arrangements sitting alongside core scheme benefits rather than replacing them.
The two options work differently:
- BRASS suits longer-serving members and offers a range of fund choices.
- AVC Extra is typically used by newer members with similar fund options.
- Both allow contributions to be adjusted or stopped via payroll forms.
- Protected persons face a 15% contribution limit unless a waiver is completed.
Members deciding whether to top up often start by working out how much do I need to retire overall, which makes the choice between BRASS and AVC Extra easier to make.
What Happens to Your Railway Pension When You Die?
If a railway pension scheme member dies, dependants may be entitled to a spouse’s or partner’s pension, and any lump sum death benefit is normally paid according to the member’s nomination form.
Reporting a death to the scheme starts the process of confirming who receives any benefits due.
The Railways Pension Trustee Company Limited uses the nomination on file, rather than a will, to decide discretionary lump sum payments, which is why an out-of-date nomination can cause real delays for a grieving family, and why updating it after marriage, divorce or a new dependant matters.
When Can You Take Your Railway Pension?
Most railway pension scheme members can take their pension from age 55, rising to 57 from 2028 under wider UK pension rules, though normal retirement ages vary by section.
Several factors affect the right time to retire:
- Taking a DB pension before normal retirement age usually reduces its value.
- IWDC members have more flexibility, including drawdown and phased retirement.
- Working past retirement age may still allow continued scheme membership in some cases.
- The Pensions Regulator oversees how schemes apply early and late retirement rules.
Members planning ahead sometimes compare their position against how much should I have in my pension at 40, to see whether their combined pension provision, including the RPS, is on track. Wider guidance is also available through GOV.UK and The Pension Service.
Conclusion
The Railway Pension Scheme is built around a final salary Defined Benefit structure, with pensions rising by up to 3.8% from April 2026 and support available through different contact routes depending on the query.
Contribution rates remain section-specific rather than universal, and members are best served by checking myRPS directly for personal figures. Railway pension scheme membership means reliable, structured retirement income for rail industry employees in 2026.
FAQ
Is the Railway Pension Scheme a defined benefit scheme?
Yes, the core scheme is a final salary Defined Benefit arrangement, though a separate Industry-wide Defined Contribution (IWDC) section also exists. Which one applies depends on an employee’s start date and employer, and can be checked through the myRPS account or an annual benefit statement.
Do you pay tax on a railway pension?
Yes, railway pension payments count as taxable income under HMRC rules. The scheme applies a tax code to deduct Income Tax before payment, and members can check HMRC pensioners tax relief guidance for how allowances apply to combined workplace pension income.
Is there a Railway Pension Scheme app?
No, there is currently no dedicated mobile app for the Railway Pension Scheme. Members manage their pension through the myRPS web portal, which works from a phone browser but isn’t a downloadable app.
Where might you consider retiring on a railway pension income?
This depends on individual circumstances, including whether the pension is Defined Benefit or IWDC-based, and any other income in retirement. Members comparing options sometimes look into best places to retire for a wider view of living costs and lifestyle across the UK.
What is the Railway Pension Scheme contact number?
The main enquiries line is 0800 2 343434, and Railpen’s dedicated customer services number is 0800 012 1117. Both operate Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, free from UK landlines and mobiles.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only; please consult Railpen or a certified financial advisor for official scheme details.
