Train Travel with Children

• Depending on their age, children under 16 are able to get discounted fares - or even travel for free!

• Children under 5 years of age travel for free on most journeys but check with your train company to make sure.
• Please Note: Children under 5 who are travelling without a ticket may only occupy a seat that is not required by a fare-paying passenger.
• To have a reserved seat for a child under 5 you will need to purchase a child rate ticket.
• These come with seat reservations (if available), and there is also a 50% discount on most tickets.

• We suggest that children who look older than 16 carry a form of ID to show that they are entitled to a child rate fare. For example, a Child Rate Photocard, which can be obtained for free at any staffed National Rail station.

• Where children travel in sleeper accommodation, they must either share a room with another member of their travelling party or have sole occupancy of a room.
• Where they have sole occupancy of a room, there must be an accompanying adult travelling in the same coach.
• Where children travel in seated accommodation they must be accompanied by an adult in the seated coach.

• Bring the whole family.
• Check with your train company about their discounts for children.
• Play some trainspotting games.

• Forget to bring a snack.
• Be surprised if you are asked for ID if you look older than 16.
• Stare at your screen the whole journey - there are exciting things going on outside the window!

• Yes, if seat reservations are available on your train, you can reserve a seat for your child.
• However, if the child is under 5 and travelling without a ticket, you cannot reserve a seat for them, and you must be prepared to give up their seat if another passenger needs it.
• If you want to reserve a seat for a child under 5, you can buy them a ticket for children aged 5 to 15.

• Yes, you can bring your child on a sleeper train.
• They must be accompanied by an adult throughout the journey.