Are train tickets transferable in the UK? Rules explained

• It's not tied to a specific name: You can't transfer your season ticket or Railcard-discounted ticket to someone else as these have your name on them.
• The journey hasn't started yet: If it's a return ticket and you've taken the outbound, you can't give away or sell the return to someone else to use (even though your name isn't printed on the ticket).
• It's not being resold above face value: You are not allowed to profit from reselling transferable tickets.

Yes, you can buy a train ticket for someone else - in the UK, most train tickets are unnamed, and you don’t need to show ID to board. If you purchase a ticket online for someone via a website like TrainPal, you simply forward them the booking or the QR code. The passenger would then either show this at the gate or enter the code into the ticket machine to print their paper ticket.

It's worth knowing the difference between buying for someone upfront and transferring a ticket after purchase:

• Buying for someone else from the start is always fine. There's no rule against paying for someone else's journey, and it's how many family or group bookings work.
• Transferring a ticket after purchase is allowed in certain cases. Under Condition 5.1 of the National Rail Conditions of Travel (NRCoT), the ticket must not have a name attached, the journey must not have started, and the ticket can't be resold above face value.
• Railcard discounts can't be transferred to non-Railcardholders. You can't use your Railcard to buy a cheaper ticket for someone else - the passenger must carry a Railcard in their name on the day of travel.

• Anytime and Off-Peak tickets: These tickets have no name attached, so they're transferable before the journey starts. The NRCoT 5.1 conditions still apply, meaning they can't be resold above face value.
• Advance tickets: This type of ticket is also unnamed, so it's technically transferable before departure. The only thing is that they're tied to a specific departure time, so the new passenger needs to catch that exact service. If plans change, you can exchange the ticket for a fee plus any fare difference (usually up until the day before departure).
• Season tickets: Season tickets are strictly non-transferable. Every Season Ticket requires a photocard with the holder's name, and the National Rail Season Ticket terms state plainly that you cannot pass your Season Ticket to another person.
• Railcard-discounted tickets: Only the eligible Railcard holder can use these, and they need to carry the Railcard during the journey. The same rule applies to every type: Senior, 16-25, Family & Friends, Two Together, Disabled Persons, and the rest.*

*Someone else can pay for a Railcard-discounted ticket on behalf of the passengers, but they'd need to provide the person paying with their details. For example, if you're a parent of a 16-25 Railcardholder, you can pay for the tickets on their behalf - you just can't use the ticket yourself.

Yes, as long as you fulfil condition 5 of the NRCoT (unnamed ticket, journey not yet started, no profit made), e-tickets and mobile train tickets can be transferred to another person - they can only be used by one passenger and cannot be passed on after use. It's important to keep in mind, too, the difference between e-tickets and mobile tickets:

• E-tickets: These are usually PDFs with a barcode or QR code that you can easily share via email or messenger apps. They are only valid for one person and are void after the code is scanned and the ticket is used (they can't be used again).
• Mobile tickets: These are tickets purchased through or downloaded to an app, like the Trainpal app. While they technically are transferable before use, there often isn't a function to send the ticket to another passenger. So, for someone else to use it, they'd have to have your logins for the app. Given this, it's best not to transfer mobile tickets.

• Get married and change your surname

• Misspelt your name on the application

• Changed your name legally

In these cases, you'd need to provide proof, like a marriage or deed poll certificate, and a valid ID, such as a passport or driver's licence, to make the change. Just keep in mind that there is often an admin fee of around £10. As Railcards and Season Tickets are non-transferable, you can't change the name for someone else to use.

For other types of train ticket, like Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime, there's no need to change the name as they aren't required for travel - anyone can use the ticket as long as they comply with condition 5 of the NRCoT.

If someone else uses your named train tickets, such as a Season Ticket or Railcard, they may face a penalty and criminal prosecution. You may also face criminal prosecution if you knowingly gave them your Railcard and Season Ticket.

• Season Ticket: As these are non-transferable, if someone else uses it, they're treated as having no valid ticket, and this leads to a penalty fare. Ticket inspectors can ask to see your photocard, which makes it easy to detect unauthorised use.
• Railcards: The Ts&Cs state “you must not give, lend, or resell…only the named cardholder(s) can use the Railcard." If caught travelling with someone else’s, you’ll need to pay the penalty. The inspector may also seize the Railcard.

A penalty fare is £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 21 days) plus the full single fare for the journey. You may also be prosecuted under the Regulation of Railways Act 1889, which states that intentionally travelling without paying the correct fare is a criminal offence, as is knowingly enabling it. A conviction can lead to up to three months in prison or a fine of up to £1000.

• Check that the passenger qualifies for the fare you're booking. For example, child fares apply to ages 5–15, and Railcard discounts are only valid when travelling with the photocard. 
• Don't apply your own Railcard to someone else's journey. The discount only applies if the traveller is the named holder of the photocard and has the Railcard with them on the day. If they don't, they'll be charged the full fare.
• Send the e-ticket directly to the traveller. Forward the PDF from your booking confirmation by email, messaging app or AirDrop. It's a good idea to save a copy offline too, in case there's no signal when the ticket inspector passes through - low phone or Wi-Fi signal is not uncommon in rural areas.
• Triple-check the journey details before you pay. Make sure the date, time, stations and Railcard category are all correct - once an Advance ticket is booked, fixing a mistake costs £10 plus any fare difference.
• Avoid Advance tickets if plans might change. Advance fares are usually the cheapest, but they're also the most restrictive when it comes to changes. If there's even a remote chance of plans changing, an Off-Peak or Anytime ticket is more flexible.
• For mobile tickets, buy from the ticket holder's account. Mobile tickets in apps are often “locked” to the account that bought them, so ideally, the traveller needs their own account

Can I give my train ticket to a friend? 

Yes, as long as there's no name attached to the ticket, the journey hasn't yet started, and you're not reselling it at above face value. Anytime and Off-Peak tickets are the easiest to pass on. Advance tickets can technically be transferred before the train leaves, too, but these are for a specific departure time, so your friend would have to catch the exact train you booked.

Can multiple people use the same ticket? 

No. Each ticket is valid for one passenger and one journey. Using a single ticket for more than one person counts as invalid travel, and each passenger would risk receiving a Penalty Fare. If you're travelling as a group, everyone needs their own ticket - though group discounts like GroupSave can make it cheaper per person.

Can I share my e-ticket?

You can forward the PDF to the person who's actually travelling by email or messenger apps. What you can't do is share the same e-ticket with multiple passengers - each barcode can only be used once and becomes void after being scanned. Mobile tickets are different. They can't be forwarded like a PDF, so the recipient needs to have access to it through their own device.

Can I change the passenger's name on a ticket?

Most UK train tickets don't have passenger names on them, so there's no need to change the name - you simply give the other person the ticket before the journey starts. If you're selling it on, you can't charge above face value. All this is governed by condition 5 of the National Rail Conditions of Travel. Season Tickets and Railcards don't let you change the name to someone else's.

Can I use my Railcard to buy a cheaper ticket for someone else?

No. The traveller has to be an eligible Railcard holder, and they need to carry the Railcard with their photo on it on the day of travel. If they get caught without this, the train company can charge the full undiscounted single fare plus a £100 Penalty Fare.