Who is eligible for the Family & Friends Railcard?
The Family & Friends discount can be applied to any group train travel that includes at least one child (aged 5–15), with savings possible for groups of up to 4 adults and 4 children on one card. Whether you're living in Britain or just visiting from abroad, you can benefit from these cheap family train tickets.
While adults travelling with the Railcard get savings of 1/3, the little ones can enjoy a double discount – a whopping 60% off kids' rail fares! Apply for your Family & Friends Railcard now!
Where can I use my Family & Friends Railcard?
The Family & Friends Railcard provides extensive coverage across the entire National Rail network throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, and is available to both Great Britain residents and international visitors. While it offers broad savings for group travel, please note that discounts do not apply to Eurostar, Season tickets, or London Underground (TfL) Pay As You Go services. Additionally, the card cannot be used on most heritage railways or any rail services within Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Applying for a Family & Friends Railcard: What documents do I need?
- A smartphone with the TrainPal app
- The name of the second cardholder (if applicable)
- A digital, passport-style photo for you (and the second cardholder, if applicable) is necessary as part of Railcard photo requirements
The Family & Friends Railcard online application can be completed on the TrainPal app for quick and easy processing. So now that you have everything prepared, go ahead and start your application!
How much can you save with a Family & Friends Railcard?
Families travelling with a Family & Friends Railcard can make massive savings on their train tickets – adults save 1/3 on fares, while kids get a double discount of 60% off child fares! Over the course of a year, you can enjoy average Family & Friends Railcard savings of £122.00 (based on the average savings made by cardholders between April 2024 and March 2025, excluding price of Railcard).
This group rail discount can be applied to Standard Class Anytime, Off-Peak and Advance tickets, making family days out by train super affordable. Take a look at the cheap family train tickets you can get your hands on below:
Ticket types and time restrictions of the Family & Friends Railcard
The Family & Friends Railcard discount can only be applied to Standard Class tickets, and is also subject to London peak travel rules. This means that for journeys wholly within the London and South East area, you cannot apply your family train fare discount to morning peak services on weekdays. These times vary, so make sure to check before booking.
The Family & Friends group travel conditions also require at least one named cardholder and one child to be travelling in the group in order to benefit from the discount.
Standard Anytime & Anytime Day (Singles & Returns)
Standard Off-Peak & Super Off-Peak (Singles & Returns)
Standard Advance
Caledonian Sleeper (seated tickets only)
Gatwick Express
Stansted Express
Heathrow Express
Anytime Day Travelcards: 1/3 off Zones 1-9 when purchased as part of a journey from outside the London Zones area (subject to a £23.60 minimum fare).
Most Rail Rovers tickets
PLUSBUS tickets
Isle of Wight Services: Discounts apply to select rail/sea journeys via Wightlink, Red Funnel Ferries, and Hovertravel (must be part of a continuous journey to/from a National Rail station).
Morning Peak Restrictions: Not valid for travel between two stations inside the London and South East area during morning peak times (Monday–Friday). This restriction is lifted on Public Holidays.
First Class
Season tickets
GroupSave
Most London Underground and Docklands Light Railway tickets
Eurostar tickets
Special excursions
Charter trains
Some coach/bus links
Family & Friends Railcard vs. Two Together Railcard: Which one should I get?
| Feature | Two Together Railcard | Family & Friends railcard |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Two named people aged 16 and over who travel together | At least one child (5-15) must be travelling for the discount to be valid |
| Price (1-Year) | £35.00 | £35.00 / £80.00 (3-year) |
| Discounts | 1/3 off | 1/3 off for adults 60% off for children |
| Time restrictions | Not valid for journeys before 9:30 am, Mon-Fri | Not valid for weekday morning peak travel in the London & South East area. |
| Season Tickets | | |
| First Class | (1/3 off) | |
| Oyster Discount | | |
| Use in Scotland | | |
How to choose the right Railcard for you?
Your travel style will largely determine which Railcard will be most useful for you and get you the most savings on your train travel. For groups with children, the Family & Friends Railcard is almost always the best option thanks to the 60% child discount. However, couples that sometimes travel without kids might also benefit from the Two Together Railcard. We've broken down some scenarios below to help you decide on the Railcard for you.
Choose the Family & Friends Railcard
for The Classic Family Outing
The Family & Friends Railcard is the best choice for you, as it's the only Railcard offering 60% off child fares, while still securing adults a 1/3 discount. This is the best option for any group travelling with at least one adult and one child, as the savings are unmatched.
Choose the Two Together Railcard
for The Committed Pair
You and your friend in your 30s regularly commit to taking trips across the country together a few times a year.
Choose the Family & Friends Railcard
for The Couple with Occasional Child Guests
You're a retired couple who usually travel together, but every summer, you take your 10-year-old grandchild on one long-distance train journey.
Even though this couple can't use the Railcard for their couple-only trips, the 60% they would save on their yearly grandson trip makes Family & Friends Railcard the winner here. If you take a lot of trips without a child, it might be a good idea to also purchase a Two Together Railcard to take advantage of both cards' benefits.
How to buy and use the Digital Railcard on TrainPal
Step 1
Log in or register your TrainPal account
Step 2
Select the Railcard
Step 3
Enter your information
Step 4
Verify with a digital passport-style photo and ID
Step 5
Complete the purchase on TrainPal
Step 6
Activate with any train ticket purchase within 180 days
FAQs about Family & Friends Railcard
What is a Family & Friends Railcard?
The Family & Friends Railcard is a national Railcard designed for group train travel that includes at least one child. It offers a 1/3 discount on adult fares and 60% off child rail fares for kids aged 5–15. It costs £35.00 for one year or £80.00 for three.
Can 2 adults travel on a Family & Friends Railcard?
No, two adults cannot travel by themselves with a Family & Friends Railcard discount. The discount is only valid when travelling with at least one fare-paying child.
How do I get a Family & Friends Railcard?
You can purchase a Family & Friends Railcard online via the official Family & Friends Railcard website or at most staffed National Rail ticket offices. Up to two adults can be named on the card, and unlike some other Railcards, photos are not required.
How many can travel on a Family & Friends Railcard?
Up to 4 adults and 4 children can travel together on a Family & Friends Railcard with group travel discounts. The group must always include at least one named cardholder and at least one child, aged 5 to 15 years old.
Can you travel alone on a Family & Friends Railcard?
No, a solo traveller cannot get discounted train travel with a Family & Friends Railcard. The discount is only valid for groups including at least one named cardholder and one child travelling together.
Can I use a Family & Friends Railcard without a child?
No, you cannot use a Family & Friends Railcard without a child, as the presence of a child is a fundamental condition for using the card. Groups of adults travelling without children cannot benefit from discounted travel with this Railcard.
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