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Save up to 25% on rail travel in Europe!

Are you 27 or younger? Great news! You can order a Eurail Youth Pass, which gives you a discount of up to 25% on standard adult prices. Whether you're a student, a backpacker, or just want to see as much of Europe as possible, a Eurail Youth Pass is THE way to get around – all by rail.

Discounted prices for travelers aged 27 or younger

You'll find the discounted prices in the Youth tab of our Eurail Pass price tables. If you're 28 or older on the first day you choose to start your trip, you'll need to travel with an Adult Pass. 

The youth discounts are available for  both 1st and 2nd class . If you have a 1st class Eurail Pass, you can choose to sit in 1st or 2nd class. You can choose the  Eurail Global Pass  or one of the  Eurail One Country Passes . 

Who can use a Youth Pass?

You can use a Youth Pass if you're 12 to 27 or younger on the date you choose to start your trip. 

After you purchase your Youth Pass you have up to 11 months to start traveling. If you purchase your Pass when you're already 27 years of age, you need to start your trip before you turn 28 (your Youth Pass will not activate if you've already turned 28). If you cannot start your trip before you turn 28, you have to purchase an Adult Pass.

Children must be 11 or younger on the date you choose to start your trip to travel  for free with a  Eurail Child Pass !

Planning a family getaway? Make use of our other discounts!

Family discount.

Travelers aged 11 or younger on the date you choose to start your trip can travel for free with a family discount.

Senior discount

Travelers 60 and over on the date you choose to start your trip get a 10% senior discount on all Eurail Passes.

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A practical guide to riding the rails in the US, from train passes to delays

There are dozens of epic train routes crisscrossing America — here’s everything you need to know about booking a slow Stateside odyssey.

For travellers with time on their side and a thirst for adventure, America’s old-school train network offers a charming way to see the country. Brought together under the banner of Amtrak services in 1970, rail tracks wind between almost every state. Travellers can chug through the Rockies, cross the Great Plains or skirt the Pacific Ocean in California, watching the US’s diverse landscapes unfurl from the comfort of a cabin. To get the best value, helpful booking tips and find out what facilities are on board, try this handy guide.

How do I book train tickets?

The US has just one train operator, Amtrak , a government-funded but for-profit company. Book tickets on Amtrak’s website or mobile app. The company also has a tour agency called Amtrak Vacations that offers package deals, including train travel, hotel stays, activities and a personal travel adviser to help you sort your trip. Another option is to use a third-party agency, such as Vacations By Rail , owned by UK-based Great Rail Journeys, which runs group train trips with a wide variety of itineraries.      

How far in advance should I book train tickets?

Book Amtrak tickets as soon as you decide the trip you want to take, ideally at least a few months ahead of time — especially if you’re reserving a room in a sleeper car. Like airlines, Amtrak uses dynamic pricing, so the cheapest tickets sell out first. But don’t panic if you’ve made a last-minute decision to ride the rails — tickets will likely still be available. If you’re not ready to book yet, you can still keep an eye on how quickly the route is selling. The Amtrak website has real-time seat availability to show you how full each train is.

Are there any train passes to help keep costs down?

For an Interrail-style adventure, buy a USA Rail Pass, which lets you take 10 journeys in 30 days for $499 (£410). These passes occasionally go on sale for $299 (£246), which means you could cross the entire country multiple times for under $30 (£25) a ride. There are caveats, though — for example, the pass covers coach seating only, no sleepers. It’s also worth checking Amtrak’s deals page , which often offers savings on group travel and discounts on specific routes at certain times, such as seeing autumn leaves in the north east. In March, Amtrak started offering $10 (£7.80) Night Owl fares on select East Coast routes, such as between Baltimore and Philadelphia, between 7pm and 5am.

What facilities are available on the trains?

Amenities vary widely by train route. Most trains have a cafe service, and anyone who books sleeper rooms receives complimentary three-course dinners with an alcoholic drink included, taken in the dining car with white linen tablecloths. Passengers are also permitted to bring their own food and drinks (no alcohol) on board. Some short- and medium-distance routes have wi-fi, but long-distance overnight routes don’t. The wi-fi is free to use but basic and doesn’t support downloading large files or streaming video or music.

What about train delays?

Amtrak trains are notorious for delays, most of which are attributed to freight train interference, when dispatchers allow freight trains to go ahead of passenger trains, despite being required by law to give Amtrak trains preference. In 2022, Amtrak trains were delayed by a total of 1.1 million minutes (over two years) by freight trains. Keep your plans flexible at the end of your journey, leaving at least 24 to 48 hours before any flights or other major reservations, in case your train arrival time or day is delayed. Unlike in the UK, there’s no compensation available for delayed trains.  

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Related Content

1: plan your route:, 2: research the family-friendly options:, 3: make it fun:, 4: travel light and arrive early at a station:, 5: expect the unexpected:, ready to have a go why not try…, an introduction to child ticket policies:, great britain:, switzerland:, the netherlands:, please support showmethejourney, booking with pan-european ticket services:, the general train ticket guides:, children and interrail/eurail passes:.

Travelling With Children on European Trains

All that's good to know including tips for enhancing journeys and practical ticket and rail pass info.

Five Tips For Travelling With Kids:

A huge thank you to our guest contributor, family travel writer Imogen Hall for this article.

Can you keep the romance of train travel alive when you do it with children in tow? We certainly think so. Not only is travelling by train often cheaper, easier and more environmentally friendly than flying, it’s also way more fun for kids. You can move around, there’s plenty to look at and the buffet car provides a great distraction. Plus, stopping at stations or changing trains breaks up the journey and creates mini-challenges.

If you’re thinking about taking your kids on a rail adventure, here are five tips to ensure the experience runs smoothly.

Forget those freewheeling Interrail trips of your youth, travelling across Europe by rail with kids requires some military style planning. Start by working out where you want to go and then drill right down to the detail so you know the durations, the stations and all the changes involved. Consider how long you think you and your kids can survive on one train without changing. Three hours is a good starting point for a family with younger children.

If you have no choice but to travel with a buggy you’ll want to minimise the number of changes you have to make and you’ll need to know the detail of those changes. A good example here is travelling from London to the south of France which can involve changing stations in Paris - if you were to opt to travel via Lille instead, then the connection will be less awkward. Avoid connections that will be hard to make if you have a sudden meltdown or nappy change to deal with.

Virtually all faster services, such as Italian Frecce trains or German ICE trains, are cheaper if you book in advance, but the further ahead you book, the more you will also increase your opportunity to all sit together.

When they're optional , consider paying for a seat reservation even if the children travel for free. Avoid rush hour, busy routes and big events. Naturally school holidays are crunch points.

Investing in a local family discount card or a rail pass where kids under 16 go free can be very cost effective; make sure you know which services it’s valid on though.

As the ticket info on the Content menu shows, in Europe there’s huge variety in terms of what family-friendly means.

When travelling in Italy your children will be fussed over by fellow travellers but you might struggle to find baby changing facilities, whereas in Finland and Norway your children can take advantage of a dedicated playroom on some InterCity trains. Eurostar have been known to do giveaways for kids (such as virtual reality headsets) in the school holidays and its new trains offer children’s programmes as part of their onboard entertainment (bring headphones).

Think about what really matters to your family when choosing trains and routes. Does your teen make life a misery without wifi? Do you need to be near the toilet for your preschooler? Does being in a family-specific carriage reduce your stress levels?

Most of the main European train companies have an English-language version of their sites, so use it to understand what you are booking.

Let’s face it, even the most train-obsessed toddler gets bored once the train has been moving for a while. Ideally your family will be seated round a table so make the most of the communal surface and bring plenty of travel games, books, colouring and of course the tablets. Don’t forget the charger and headphones. Most modern express trains now have charging points.

Having more space makes things easier so, if you can stretch to it, why not use the savings made from booking well in advance to go first class? That feeling of being extra special can help with behaviour too.

If you really want to up the fun factor, there’s pretty much nothing more exciting for kids than bunking down on a sleeper train for the night.

Try London to Inverness on the Caledonian Sleeper for starters, or Munich to Budapest or Zagreb .

Lastly, what really makes the journey enjoyable is spending time with your family. Children pick up on stress so keep calm and treat any mishaps as part of the adventure. And don’t worry about what other people are thinking. Most of the time your fellow passengers will go out of their way to help you or politely ignore you; and if all else fails remind yourself they were kids once.

Having once left a suitcase in St Pancras International, this writer’s family have learnt that travelling light is key to moving around the railways of Europe easily. Carry only what you can handle together, train your children to take their own hand luggage and only bring a buggy if you really can’t manage without it.

Have a counting system to make sure you get everyone and everything on and off the trains safely and get to the station with plenty of time to board at the same time. Avoid splitting up: it has been known for one parent to get stuck in another coach for four hours due to a combination of late boarding and no interlinking carriages.

If you are at the stage when a buggy is a fact of life, take one that folds up easily and be prepared to stow it away from you. Also be ready to sit on the carriage floor next to a sleeping babe while the rest of your family enjoys the luxury of the top deck (yes, many European countries have double decker trains!). We’ve been there.

However much you plan, something will go wrong. Be prepared for illness (change of clothes, medicine, wipes), no trolley car or buffet service (snacks, water, more snacks), no seats together (those backpacks that double as car boosters can be impromptu seats for little bottoms) or delays or disruption to the service.

It’s also worth prepping your children for busy stations and having a plan in case you become separated. Bright colourful clothing and your phone number in their pocket is a good start.

Equally, embrace the positive. The locals who go out of their way to help you, the sudden offer of an upgrade to first class, the diversion on the line which takes you on a more picturesque route and makes the kids go ‘wow’. It’s all part of the amazing adventure that rail travel creates.

(1) London to Disneyland Paris : what better introduction to family train travel than to use this relatively short and definitely very straightforward journey to arrive in the centre of Disneyland

(2) Germany : take the train from Cologne to Mannheim for a visually stunning journey along the Rhine with a stay in a castle at the familyfriendly Bacharach youth hostel and lots of sweet villages to explore en route

(3) Italy : avoid the stress of Italian driving and introduce your family to the fun of the rails with three relatively short hops between Rome, Florence and Venice, with the added bonus that your kids will be embraced and will love the pizza, pasta and gelato.

(4) Switzerland : train travel here is not for those on a budget but you pay for superior services that run efficiently and punctually.

Base yourself in Interlaken so that teens in your group can throw themselves into adrenalin activities and younger kids can make the most of the tiny trains and amazing playgrounds you find up mountains.

(5) This article is great insight to travelling with small children on an InterRail holiday .

The info, which has been researched by the regular ShowMeTheJourney team, focuses on the standard terms for booking and using child tickets, but most European countries also have specific offers for child and family tickets, particularly when travelling at weekends.

Click the names of the countries on the Content Menu to go direct to the info re: booking tickets, when travelling with children on trains within and from/to each country - more countries will be added soon.

As the info below shows there are no standard ticketing terms when travelling with children on European trains, each country applies its own 'rules', so here's a summary of the age ranges that are applied - in other words the age at which children become 'adults' as applied by the the rail operators.

Children are aged:

• under 17/aged 16 and under in Finland
• under 16/aged 15 and under in Great Britain, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland
• under 15/aged 14 and under in Austria, Czechia, Germany, (Italy - express trains) - and Slovakia
• under 14/aged 13 and under in Hungary and Spain
• under 12/aged 11 and under in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, (Italy - regular trains), Portugal and The Netherlands.

When kids can travel for free

The child rates for tickets is USUALLY discounted by around 50% of the Adult ticket price, but children travel for free on European trains at these ages:

• under 15/aged 14 and under - in Austria and Germany (when an Adult books discounted Sparschiene tickets)
• under 12/aged 11 and under - in Belgium, Denmark (max two children with an adult ticket holder),
• under 6/aged 5 and under - in Austria (when not travelling with Sparschiene tickets), and in Czechia, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden* and in Switzerland
• under 5/aged 4 and under - in Great Britain
• under 4/aged 3 and under - in France*, Hungary*, Italy*, Norway, Poland Spain and The Netherlands*

The rules can vary around whether children travelling for free have to travel in an adult ticket holder's lap, or can have their own seats. Though, in the countries marked with an * you have to purchase a child ticket at the discounted rate if you want a child/children to have a seat to themselves.

Something to be aware of is that on most European train services, ticket inspections will be carried out on the train and when they are, you may have to prove the children's ages, so have their passports with you on every journey, even when NOT taking an international train.

Also worth knowing is that seat reservation fees are always charged at a flat (adult) rate.

Child Tickets for Train journeys within Austria:

If you will be traveling by train in Austria on local and regional REX trains children aged 5 and under travel for free and children aged 6 – 14 travel at half-fare. This also applies on the express IC and Railjet trains, on the relatively rare instances when no discounted 'Sparschiene' tickets are available.

However, if discounted 'Sparschiene' tickets are offered for a journey by IC or Railjet trains on the OBB ticket booking service , then these tickets are great value - OBB is the national rail operator in Austria. If you will be travelling with children who will be aged 14 and under on your date of travel, each adult (aged 15 and over) purchasing a 'Sparschiene' ticket can take up to four children aged 14 and under for free! The 14 and unders will still require tickets, they need to be added when making a booking online, but there will be no charge for them!

Though any seat reservations and upgrades to 1st class will be then be charged at the standard (adult) rate - if you want to be sure of being able to sit together on an IC train or a Railjet you will have to opt to reserve when booking.

What can be confusing, is that when adding the age of the children you will be travelling with, to the booking on the OBB website, you will see 'no discount' - but this is referring to the fact you won't be using a travel card, or any other offer. You will need to show the proof of age of the children to the conductor on the train, so make sure you have the children's passports with you when making journeys within Austria.

Child Tickets for Train journeys to/from Austria:

'Sparschiene' tickets are also available on most international journeys from AND to Austria and the same terms allowing up to four children aged 14 and under to travel for free with each adult booking, also apply. Therefore if you book on OBB when travelling between both Italy/Switzerland and Austria, you can make big savings. If you want to travel between Germany and Austria, you can book on OBB or DB as both ticketing services sell the tickets. It also cheaper to book on OBB if you'll be travelling between Austria and Czechia and Hungary by train - on routes on which Sparschiene' tickets are available.

Child Tickets on OBB Nightjet trains:

Tickets for journeys by the OBB Nightjet trains have two elements (1) the journey costs and (2) the reservation fee for a berth in a couchette or beds in a sleeping cabin 'Sparschiene' tickets are available for journeys by Nightjet, but the they have different terms to the tickets available to the day trains. Nightjet trains have family couchette compartments with 6 berths, which are sold at flat rate price; so are particularly good value if you will occupying 4 or more berths.

When making a booking on the OBB website, you will automatically be offered a 'Family Compartment' if the combination of travellers you enter, meets the criteria. Children also travel at discounted rates in sleeping cabins on Nightjets, but the price per bed isn't a lot cheaper than the adult rates - but there are savings to be made if up to two children share a bed.

Child Tickets for Train journeys within Belgium:

If you have young children exploring Belgium by train as a family is fantastic value for money! Each adult (12 and over) ticket enables up to 4 accompanied children age under 12 to travel for free, in both 1st class and 2nd class.

Though be aware that you will need to be able to provide proof of the age of the children to the conductor - so take their passports with you on journeys within Belgium. You don't need to book these 'free' child tickets - the adult ticket will be valid for the children too.

Not such good news if your children are teenagers - children aged 12 and over have to travel at the adult rates. Also seats can't be reserved on national trains within Belgium, so you will have to hope that seats are free if you want to sit together.

Child Tickets for Train journeys from and to Belgium:

Each of the high speed train services to/from Belgium has different terms when travelling with children.

(1) On the Eurostar trains there is a discount of around 30% discount for children aged 4 – 11 on the travel date, children aged three and under travel for free if they sit on your lap. Seat reservations will be included with the booking.

(2) On the ICE trains to/from Germany - children and grandchildren aged 14 and under travel for free when accompanied by a person aged 15 and over, and there is no limit on the number of children per booking. In other company, or when travelling alone, children aged 14 and under pay 50% of the regular fare.

Note that seat reservations are 'optional' on the ICE trains; so include them when booking if you want to be sure of sitting together.

(3) On the Thalys trains to/from Germany, The Netherlands and Paris - children under the age of 12 travel at a flat rate price of €15 in Standard, €20 in Comfort and €30 in Premium - seat reservations are automatically included when booking Note that the ICE trains are a much cheaper option when travelling between Belgium and Germany.

(4) On the non high-speed Intercity Brussels trains to/from The Netherlands - children from 4 to 11 years old travel free of charge accompanied by an adult (aged 18 or over), so these trains are a cheaper option than the Thalys trains. Seats cannot be reserved on these trains, but finding spare seats so that you can all travel together, shouldn't be a problem.

(5) On the TGV Bruxlles-France trains between Belgium and other cities in France than Paris - children aged 4-11 pay half fare, children aged three and under travel for free if they sit on your lap - seat reservations are included when booking. However the half-fare is calculated against the more expensive 'Leisure' tickets, even when the cheaper adult 'Prems' tickets are still available for a journey.

Tickets for these international journeys can be booked on B-Europe

Child Tickets for Train journeys within Czechia/The Czech Republic:

Travel by train in The Czech Republic and children aged 5 and under travel for free and Children aged 6 – 14 travel at half-fare. Travel by the SuperCity trains and reservations will be included when booking, but they need to be added if you want to reserve for journeys by the IC and EC trains Also this info applies to trains operated by national rail operator CD, other operators in the Czech Republic include Regiojet and Leo Express.

Travelling at weekends:

For travel on a Saturday or Sunday CD sells Group Weekend Tickets and these can be a great deal when travelling with kids, because up to three children aged under 15 can travel with up to two adults, with the entire party being covered by the one ticket. A Group Weekend ticket, a Skupinová víkendová jízdenka, which entitles the users to travel for a whole day anywhere in the Czech Republic, on any train costs only CSK 679 = approximately €27. Regional Group Weekend tickets are also available at cheaper prices.

So when travelling with children at weekends check at the ticket office whether one of these tickets will save you money. The only additional extra cost will be the compulsory seat reservations if you want to travel on a SuperCity train, but they're easily avoided.

Child Tickets for Train journeys to/from Czechia/The Czech Republic:

When booking international tickets with the Czech national operator CD , children aged 5 and under travel for free and Children aged 6 – 14 travel at half-fare on the portion of the journey in the Czech Republic. Then whatever terms and conditions apply in the other countries that the journey includes, are factored into the price that CD will charge. So, for example, when travelling to Germany, the 50% rate applies on journeys as far as the border, but there will be no charge for the rest of the journey. Therefore the child discount varies according to the route.

If you will be travelling with children to/from Austria on a Railjet and can find 'Sparscheine' tickets on the OBB ticket booking service - it will be cheaper to book with OBB.

Similarly when travelling with children on the EC trains to/from Germany - it will be cheaper to book with DB (the German national rail operator's booking service).

Child Tickets for Train journeys within Denmark:

When travelling by train in Denmark the national rail operator is DSB. Book discounted adult 'Orange' or non-discounted Standard' tickets on the DSB website for long-distance journeys which include travel over the Great Belt Bridge, and up to two children under 12 years of age, can travel with each adult ticket holder free of charge. Seat reservations are optional if you will be travelling by Lyn or Intercity services, so make sure you add them to the booking, if you want to be sure of sitting together.

Though the rules around travelling with children vary according to region, but in general they equate to free travel for those aged 11 and under /under 12 and at around 50% of the adult rate for children aged 12 to 15.

Child Tickets for Train journeys to/from Denmark:

(1) Book tickets for the EC trains to/from Germany with DSB (these journeys are no longer sold by the German national ticket booking service, DB Bahn) - be sure to add reservations to the booking to be sure of sitting together (though seats are assigned when booking for summer journeys) Children and grandchildren aged 14 and under travel for free when accompanied by a person aged 15 and over.

(2 Tickets for the Snabbtag trains to/from Sweden can be booked on SJ - the Swedish national rail operator's ticket booking service - seats will be assigned when booking An adult ticket booking on SJ on these trains enables up to two children, aged 15 and under, to travel for around 15% of the adult fare.

(3) On the Oresundtag trains to/from Sweden, up to two children under 12 years of age can travel free of charge with each adult ticket holder - reservations are not available on these trains.

Child Tickets for Train journeys within France:

When travelling by train within France tickets can be booked on SNCF Connect and our guide to booking on SNCF Connect is here . The adult rate is charged for all travellers aged 12 and over. Children aged 4-11 pay half fare on all trains. Children aged under 4 travel for free, but you usually need to travel with them on your lap, see below

Seat reservations will be included for children aged 4-11 when booking journeys by TGV trains and on the longer distance Intercités routes.

The only exception to these general child travel terms are the low cost Ouigo trains. On these Ouigo trains flat rate price is charged for children aged 11 and under of €5 per child, except for journeys to/from central Paris stations when the flat rate price is €8.

There are family spaces on TGV trains and family spaces on the longer distance Intercités trains; though we can't see how you can book these online.

Child Tickets for Train journeys to/from France:

(1) Children aged 4-11 pay half fare on all cross-border local and TER trains and this also applies on the TGB (TGV) trains between Belgium and France and the TGV France-Italy services. Though on the TGB and France/Italy services, the half fare rate is applied to the more expensive 'Leisure' tickets, even when cheaper adult 'Prems' tickets are still available for a journey.

On the other international high speed trains to/from France, the terms differ depending on which train service you will be taking.

(2) On the DB-SNCF train service

The price is equivalent to a 50% reduction on the 'Leisure' rate for the part of the journey within France and free travel within Germany - tickets cost the same whether you book with SNCF Connect or DB . Seat reservations are included with the booking.

(3) On the Eurostar trains there is a discount of around 30% discount for children aged 4 – 11 on the travel date; children aged 3 and under travel for free if you sit with them on your lap.

(4) On the Lyria trains to/from Switzerland, children aged 4 -11 travel at around 30% discount - children aged 3 and under travel for free if you sit with them on your lap. Book tickets for these trains on SNCF Connect as Swiss national rail operator SBB seemingly doesn't offer the child rate for these trains.

(5) On the RENFE-SNCF trains to/from Spain, children aged 4 -11 travel at around 40% discount; children aged 3 and under travel for free if you sit with them on your lap.

(6) On the Thalys trains to/from Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands; children under the age of 12 travel at a flat rate price of €15 in Standard, €20 in Comfort and €30 in Premium Class.

Child Tickets for Train journeys within Germany:

Children aged 5 and under travel for free on all trains.

For journeys by the express trains, the EC , IC and ICE trains , the policy has recently changed for the better . An adult (on German railways an adult is a person aged 15 and over) can now take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge. The change is that this policy only previously applied when parents or grandparents were accompanying the children. The children's ages will need to be entered when booking , so you can't just turn up at the station and hop on board; the kids will still require tickets, but in effect they will be complimentary. These new terms also apply to 1st class tickets and it doesn't matter which type of ticket is chosen; and it also applies to international journeys by these specific trains (except for the ICE trains to/from Paris).

For journeys by the the Regio and S-Bahn trains the former child ticket policy applies, namely a parent or grandparent can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with at no charge.

On all national train services, children aged 6-14 travelling unaccompanied by adults, or when travelling in a party of more than 6 people will be charged 50% of the adult rate. More info is available here .

Something to be aware of is that seat reservations are optional when making 2nd class journeys by IC trains or ICE trains (they're not available on the Regio trains), however DB offers dedicated family reservations for journeys by IC and ICE trains. They cost only €8 per route (if more than one train is required, you only pay the one fee); and this one fee covers up to 5 travellers.

ICE trains also have toddler compartments and family areas - when booking specify at at least one child from 0 to 14 years old, you can then select the family area in a later step on the booking path; if it is still available.

Child Tickets for Train journeys to/from Germany:

These child ticket terms of 1 Adult (aged 15 and over) with up to four children aged 6-14 for no extra charge also applies when booking MOST international train tickets for DAYTIME journeys from and to Germany - the 'Europa Spezial' tickets . The terms that when travelling alone, children aged 6-14 and under pay 50% of the regular fare, also applies. So if you will be travelling with kids and will be taking an ICE train between Germany and Austria, Belgium, Switzerland or The Netherlands or an EC (IC) train between Germany and Austria, Czechia, Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and The Netherlands - book your tickets on DB Bahn .

However, note that seat reservations are optional on the international ICE trains and on the EC (IC) trains between Germany and Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Hungary, Slovakia, Switzerland and The Netherlands - and outside of the summer that list also includes Denmark. So make sure you add them when booking, to ensure that you're sat together. Reservations SHOULD be automatically included when booking the EC trains to Italy, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia,

The only two major exceptions to these ticketing terms are:

1) On the DB-SNCF train service to/from France - children aged 14 and under travel at a discounted rate.

The price is equivalent to a 50% reduction on the 'Leisure' rate for the part of the journey within France and free travel* within Germany - tickets cost the same whether you book with [ SNCF Connect ] https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/ ) or DB . Seat reservations are included with the booking. *If travelling with a parent/grandparent, 50% reduction charged for unaccompanied children.

(2) On the Thalys trains to/from Belgium and Paris - children under the age of 12 travel at a flat rate price of €15 in Standard, €20 in Comfort and €30 in Premium Class - seat reservations are included with the booking. DB doesn't sell tickets for journeys by Thalys trains.

However, when travelling with children, the ICE trains that can be booked with DB are a much cheaper option when travelling between Germany and Belgium.

Child Tickets for Tickets for train journeys within Great Britain:

Amidst what is normally the labyrinth of booking tickets for British train journeys , the rules for child tickets are comparatively simple. Children aged 5 – 15 travel at a 50% discount on any UK train, and those aged 4 and under can travel for free when accompanied by an adult ticket holder Though the terms for children aged 4 and under, such as whether they can have their own seat etc, can vary depending on which Train Operating Company you will be travelling by .

If you book long-distance journeys ONLINE and will be travelling with CrossCountry , East Midlands , Grand Central , Great Western Railway , Hull Trains , ScotRail , TransPennine Express , LNER and Virgin Trains , your seat(s) will be assigned. The reservation will be included with the booking.

When travelling long-distance with these TOCs you will also receive seat reservations if you book Advance tickets at a station AHEAD of your travel date.

Child Tickets for train journeys to/from Great Britain:

On the Eurostar trains there is a discount of around 30% discount for children aged 4 – 11 on the travel date; children aged 3 and under travel for free if you sit with them on your lap.

Child Tickets for Train journeys within Hungary:

Children aged 3 and under travel for free (they need to sit on an adult's lap). Children aged 3 -5 travel for free if they sit in an adult's lap, but 50% of the adult rate if they occupy a seat. Children aged 6 -14 travel at 50% of the adult rate.

Child Tickets for Train journeys to/from Hungary:

If you are going to be taking the EC trains or Euronight trains to and from Germany, then you can save by booking online with DB (the German national rail operator's) booking service. Similarly if you will be taking a Railjet or EC train between Hungary and Austria, you will make big savings if you book with OBB (the Austrian national rail operator's) booking service. If you will be taking the train between Hungary and Czechia/The Czech Republic then book with CD (the Czech national rail operator's) booking service.

For any other international journey you'll only pay the equivalent of a few more euros if you wait until you are Hungary to book tickets. The international journey website of Hungary's national rail operator MAV isn't the simplest - and there are international ticket desks at Budapest Keleti and Budapest Nyugati stations.

Child Tickets for Train journeys within Italy:

(1) Trenitalia trains :

On Italian trains operated by Trenitalia (most trains): Children aged 3 and under travel for Free. Children aged 4 - 11 receive a 50% discount on Regionale (REG) and Regionale Veloce (RGV) trains. Children aged 4 - 14 receive a 50% discount on long distance express trains including any journey by Frecce or Intercity trains and on the 'Treno Notte' overnight trains.

However, on the Frecce and IC trains, the 50% child rates are calculated against the 'Base' ticket price - the most expensive tickets. But the cheapest 'Super Economy' tickets for journeys by these Frecce and Intercity trains can often be discounted by more than 50% - so if these tickets are still available for your journey, it can be worth paying the adult rate for children aged 4 - 14.

Look up the longer distance journeys by express trains on Trenitalia.com , reservations are included for journeys by Frecce and Intercity trains. However, before making a booking for a journey by Frecce or Intercity train, it's worth considering Trenitalia's 'Children Free' offer . For family groups of 2 to 5 people, composed of at least one adult and one young person under the age of 15, the children aged under 15 travel free of charge. However, the adults in the 'family' must pay the full 'Base' ticket price, so it's worth taking the time to look up the journey and work out the cost of 3, 4 or 5 'Super Economy' tickets, if they're still available - and then compare this to the total offer price.

For overnight journeys within Italy, Trenitalia has a ' Famiglia offer' , with discounts for both adults and children in the travelling party.

(2) NTV trains:

NTV operates Italo trains, which compete with Trenitlia's Frecce trains on Italy's high speed rail lines. However, the only child ticket discount that is available on these trains is the Italo Family offer. Children under 14 years of age travel free of charge with their family in the Smart (2nd class) ambience, but to access the offer the Adults have to purchase a Flex ticket – the most expensive type of ticket.

Child Tickets for Train journeys to/from Italy:

Trenitlia.com does NOT seemingly discount child tickets when booking train journeys by daytime express trains to and from Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

(1) So if you will be taking the Railjet or EC trains between Italy and Austria, you will make big savings if you book with OBB (the Austrian national rail operator's) booking service If' Sparschiene' tickets are still available, and they usually are, up to four children aged 14 and under to travel for free with each adult booking.

(2) Children aged 4-11 pay half fare on the TGV France-Italy services if you book with book with Oui.SNCF Though the half fare rate is applied to the more expensive 'Leisure' tickets, even when cheaper adult 'Prems' tickets are still available for a journey.

(3) For journeys by EC train between Italy and Germany - book Europa Spezial tickets on DB and children and grandchildren aged 14 and under travel for free when accompanied by a parent or grandparent . In other company, or when travelling alone, children aged 14 and under pay 50% of the regular fare.

(4) For journeys by EC train between Italy and Switzerland, a €14 flat rate is charged for accompanied children aged 6 -15 if you book tickets with Swiss national rail operator SBB .

There are now three rail operators in Norway and they all take a different approach to child tikcets

• Vy is the dominant company, it operates the routes between Oslo and Bergen, which has day and sleeper trains and the route between Olso and the Swedish border at Halden, so it provides the trains which travel between the Norwegian capital and Göteborg / Gothenburg. Vy also operates most of Norway's regional train services including all such services to/from Oslo.

Ages 0 to 5

On Vy's train services children aged 0-5 travel for free* in Standard (2nd) Class and at an 85% discount in Plus (1st) class; though there is a minimum charge of NOK 100 in Plus class

• = when there is no charge for children they still need a ticket so don't forget to add them to the booking,

Ages 6 to 17

In Standard (2nd) Class there is a 50% discount on Flexible tickets and 'Single' tickets - this type of ticket is available for the shorter distance journeys by Regional trains to/from Olso and for journeys between Bergen and Voss. In Plus Class (first class) there is also 50% discount on Flexible tikcets , but there is a minimum charge of NOK 100

Note than when travelling long-distance there is no discount for children aged 6 to 17 when booking the cheaper Non-Flexible tickets. So it can pay off to book early - when they are first placed on sale, from 90 days ahead of the travel date, these Non-Flexible tickets can be discounted by more than 50%.

• In addition to the trains between Stockholm and Oslo the Swedish national rail operator SJ now also operates many train services wholly within Norway, they are branded SJ NORD and include:
• the day and night trains between Trondheim and both Oslo and Bodø
• the trains between Dombas and Andalsnes
• local and regional trains to/from Trondheim

Free travel in Standard Class, but in Premium Class there is a fixed supplement of NOK 199.

A 50% discount on Flexible tickets when travelling in Standard Class and a 25% discount on Flexible tickets for travel in Premium Class. Note that those aged 6 to 17 years old, aren't eligible for a discount on the cheaper Non-Flexible tickets.

• Go Ahead Norway operates the trains between Oslo and Stavanger and the local trains to/from Stavanger.

There is seemingly no information regarding the discounts children receive on the Go Ahead Norway website, so presumably those aged 0 to 5 travel for free.

Journeys for those aged 6 - 17 were looked up on the Entur website and when booking the cheaper non-Flexible tickets, the discount offered was typically 25-35%, but for journeys with Flexible tickets the discount was 50%.

Child Tickets for Train journeys within Poland:

Tickets for journeys by express trains can be booked on the PKP website and seat reservations will be included. The ages of all travellers, including infants, can be entered when booking and as long as appropriate seats are available, there will be no charge for the places occupied by those aged three and under.

If tickets for a family group are booked on PKP, look out for the option to book 'Family Tickets'; there is a symbol/icon that needs to be ticked named 'Family Ticket' (ignore the button marked 'Big Family'.) The offer is valid provided that 2 to 5 persons, including at least one child under 16/aged 15 and under, will be travelling together. Clicking the Family Icon reduced the total cost for the entire party by 30%.

Child Tickets for Train journeys to/from Poland:

For journeys by EC train between Poland and Berlin - book Europa Spezial tickets on DB and children and grandchildren aged 14 and under travel for free when accompanied by a parent or grandparent Tickets for all other international day and night trains can be booked at major stations in Poland and the terms for child tickets will vary according to the countries you will be travelling to. Apologies but our efforts to provide more precise info than this have proved to be in vain.

Children aged 3 and under are entitled to travel free of when accompanied by an adult, though they must travel in the adult's lap. Children aged 4 to 12 receive a 50% discount and they can travel in their own seat Those aged 13 to 25 inclusive qualify for a 25% discount on ticket prices, but you must have proof of your age with you when taking the journey. Proof of the entitlement to these discounts, such as a passport, must be taken on the journey.

Child Tickets for Train journeys within Sweden:

On trains operated by national rail operator, SJ, for each adult ticket booked, discounts can be applied to two children aged 15 and under. And children aged 5 and under can travel for free if they sit in the adult ticket holder's lap - one child per adult. So if you will be travelling with more than one child aged 5 and under, or want the child to have a seat, you can take advantage of the other discounts.

However, be aware that different terms per train service apply to child tickets.

(1) For journeys by Snabbtåg trains , an adult booking enables up to two children to travel for around 15% of the adult fare.

(2) For journeys by Intercity train , up to two children travelling with an adult, only have to pay the 5 SEK (kronor) reservation fee. Seats are assigned when booking tickets for journeys by Snabbtag and Intercity trains.

(3) On SJ Regional trains the maximum price that two children travelling with an adult will pay is 5 SEK.

Child Tickets for Train journeys to/from Sweden:

(1) On the Snabbtåg trains to and from Stockholm, an adult booking enables up to two children to travel for around 15% of the adult fare.

(2) Book tickets for journeys between Goteborg and Norway on the NSB, Norwegian Railways website and: Children aged 0-3 travel free. Children aged 4-15 travel at half-rate. However, one child aged 4-15 can travel free with an adult travelling with an ordinary ticket.

Renfe is the operator of the national rail services in Spain and it has a blissfully simple child tickets policy, namely children aged 5 -13 and under are entitled to a 40% discount on any of its rail tickets. If you want to place a child aged four and under in its own seat, they will also have a 40% discount on the ticket price, but if you'll be happy to travel with the child on their lap, then there is no charge.

Child Tickets for Tickets for train journeys within Switzerland:

For children under 6 years of age: If you have a valid train ticket and are aged 16 or over, you can take up to eight children aged 5 or younger with you on the trains provided by the national rail operator SBB - more info here .

For children aged 6-15: A good option, if you will travelling long distances in a day on national SBB trains is a ' 1 Day Travel Pass for Children ' - see below An adult ticket holder can be accompanied by up to 4 child pass users.

Or if you don't opt for this pass, children aged 6-15 and travelling with a person aged 16 and over, pay 50% of the adult rate per journey.

The independent railways in Switzerland apply their own rules re: child tickets, so before heading off to travel as a family, it can be be worth checking the info on their respective websites.

Travelling with children and using rail passes for journeys within Switzerland:

If you are going to be holidaying in Switzerland and seeing the country by train then the Swiss Travel Pass is worth considering - particularly as it includes free admission to over 500 museums. Children aged 15 and under can travel for free with a parent.

If you only want to dedicate a day or two to exploring the Swiss Mountain Railways then Saver Day Passes can be a good option, though it seems as though you'll need to make separate bookings* for the Adult Passes and the One Day Pass for Children . These One Day Passes for children cost only 16 CHF for journeys in 2nd class and 32 CHF for journeys in 1st class - take a trip or two on a combination of the national SBB trains and on the mountain railways and you'll typically save more than 20 CHF.

*When booking the Adult Saver Day Pass, select the option without a Half-Fare Card; and then select 'No Discount' when booking.

Child Tickets for train journeys to/from Switzerland:

When booking the Railjet or EC trains between Switzerland and Austria, you will make big savings if you book with OBB (the Austrian national rail operator's) booking service If' Sparschiene' tickets are still available, and they usually are, up to four children aged 14 and under to travel for free with each adult booking.

For journeys by IC trains or ICE trains between Switzerland and Germany - book Europa Spezial tickets on DB and children and grandchildren aged 14 and under travel for free when accompanied by a parent or grandparent

For journeys by Lyria trains to/from France, children aged 4 -11 travel at around 30% discount - children aged 3 and under travel for free if you sit with them on your lap. Book tickets for these trains on Oui.SNCF as Swiss national rail operator SBB seemingly doesn't offer this child rate for these trains.

For journeys by EC train between Italy and Switzerland, a €14 flat rate is charged for accompanied children aged 6 -15 if you book tickets with Swiss national rail operator SBB .

Child Tickets for train journeys within The Netherlands:

Tickets for train journeys within The Netherlands aren't discounted, so you won't lose out financially if you book tickets at the station - there can be a small surcharge for using a ticket booking counter. For children aged 3 and under there is free travel, but the child must not occupy a seat to themselves.

For children aged 4 - 11: You need to purchase ' Railrunner ' tickets for children in this age group, but they cost only €2.50 per child and 'Railrunners' are valid for the whole day. So you don't need to buy separate 'Railrunner' tickets for each journey.

Therefore exploring The Netherlands by train with children of this age can be great value! One adult can be accompanied by an unlimited number of children if you travel in 2nd class - though each child will need their own 'Railrunner' ticket. In 1st class a maximum of three children travelling with 'Railrunners' can accompany each adult.

Children aged 12 and over have to travel at the adult rate.

Child Tickets for train journeys to/from The Netherlands:

Tickets for train journeys from and to The Netherlands can be booked on NS International - our guide to booking with NS International is here . It tends to match the terms and conditions of the national operators in Belgium, Britain, France and Germany.

(1) On the Eurostar trains there is a discount of around 30% discount for children aged 4 – 11 on the travel date - children aged 3 and under travel for free if you sit with them on your lap.

(2) On the IC trains and ICE trains between The Netherlands and Germany, children aged 14 and under travel for free when accompanied by a person aged 15 and over. When travelling alone children aged 14 and under pay 50% of the regular fare. However, seat reservations are optional on these trains, but you have to de-select them when booking on NS International.

(3) On the Thalys trains to/from Antwerp, Brussels and Paris - children under the age of 12 travel at a flat rate price of €15 in Standard, €20 in Comfort and €30 in Premium - seat reservations are automatically included when booking

(4) On the non high-speed Intercity Brussels trains to/from Belgium - children from 4 to 11 years old travel free of charge accompanied by an adult (aged 18 or over), so these trains are a cheaper option than the Thalys trains. Seats cannot be reserved on these trains, but finding spare seats so that you can all travel together shouldn't be a problem

This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help. We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.

Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.

So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please go here to say thank you .

As an alternative to booking tickets with national agents, you can also obtain the same child ticket benefits if you book with a pan-European ticket agent such as:

RAILEUROPE (particularly if you live outside of the E.U.)

Children aged 4-11 need their own passes , but they're free! Youth passes are available at around 20% discount for those aged 12 - 27. This guide has details of the daytime trains on which InterRail pass users do and DON'T have to reserve. All rail pass reservation fees are charged at the flat (adult) rate; so reservations have to be purchased for Child and Youth pass users.

Simon Harper

I wanted to share my passion for train travel and explain how anyone can take the fantastic journeys I have taken.

This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney , which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.

Help keep us advertising and paywall free!

This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.

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So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.

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Hi, I'm Candace

Candace Abroad

A London & Travel Blog

London , London Travel Tips & Inspiration , Moving to London Advice & Resources · June 10, 2024

What is a Railcard? Your Ultimate 2024 Railcard Guide + FAQ

Wondering if you should get a Railcard ? (or what it is in the first place ? ). Look no further. Here’s everything you need about Railcards in the UK — from a London travel blogger.

This post may contain affiliate links. Check out my  Disclosure & Privacy Policy  for more information.

Living in one of the most expensive cities in the world tends to make you think of ways you can save a pretty penny or two. Cue Railcards .

Over the past seven years, using Railcards has saved me hundreds of pounds in transport in the UK, allowing me to get the cheapest fares on trains, the Tube, DLR, London Overground, National Rail, and even the Elizabeth Line.

But what is this magical card, you ask?

In this post, I’ll be answering ‘what is a Railcard?’, ‘what does a Railcard do?’, how to decide if you need a Railcard, what types of Railcards are there, how to get a Railcard, and some quick final tips to help with your Railcard journey (no pun intended). Let’s get into it!

If you definitely know you want a Railcard already, you can purchase your Railcard here .

If you definitely know you want a Railcard already, just skip down to the section ‘How Do I Get a Railcard?’ for a step-by-guide on how to get it set up or purchase your Railcard here .

What is a Railcard? Your Ultimate Railcard Guide + FAQ

P.S. – Coming to London? Have the perfect trip planned for you with our 3,5, or 7-Day London Tourist Itineraries 🇬🇧

What is a Railcard?

Before you think about getting a Railcard, you should probably know what it is.

A Railcard is a card issued by the National Rail network in Britain that allows passengers to get discounted fares when they use certain types of trains and other methods of transportation.

It’s available for adults and children alike, so everyone can benefit from discounted fares!

What Does a Railcard Do?

It makes it rain! In discounts that is.

When you purchase a Railcard , you’ll receive up to 1/3 off most train tickets. You can also get discounts on other services such as the Tube, DLR, London Overground, and the Elizabeth Line if you’re in London.

Each Railcard has different and very specific eligibility criteria and offers different types of discounts, so it’s important to make sure that you’re getting the one that best suits your needs.

How Much Is a Railcard?

As of 2023, Railcards start from £20 – £30 for a 1-year Railcard or £54 – £70 for a 3-year Railcard .

What you pay will depend greatly on what type of Railcard you’re applying for. To figure that out, have a look at the chart below!

How to Decide If You Need a Railcard

Deciding if you need a Railcard comes down to one thing — how long you’ll be in London.

Travelling to London:

As you’ll need to pay for a Railcard yearly, I don’t think it’s worth going through the process of getting a Railcard and utilizing the discounts if you’ll only be here for a week or two.

Since the price is £30 for 1-year or £70 for 3-years, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting an ROI on your savings (i.e – saving more than £30 a year/£70 in 3-years through the discount), which can only really happen if you’re here for an extended amount of time.

With that said, if you’re travelling loads by train during your London trip — it may be worth calculating if the savings would be worth it.

Short-term stays, Living in or Moving to London:

On the other hand, if any of the above applies to you the answer is YES, you should definitely get a Railcard .

Whether you’re a short or long-term Londoner — living in the city is synonymous with a lifestyle of constant travel on public transport, so why not save 1/3 off travel when you can?

What Types of Railcards Are There?

There’s currently nine types of Railcards , each offering various discounts for a certain demographic. These include:

• 16 – 17 Saver – 50% off Rail travel
• 16-25 Railcard – 1/3 off Rail and certain travel fares
• 26 – 30 Railcard -1/3 off off-peak Rails and certain travel fares
• Disabled Persons Railcard – 1/3 off Rail and certain travel fares for you and a friend or travel buddy
• Family & Friends Railcard – 1/3 off off-peak Rails and certain travel fares for four adults and four children who’ll get 60% off (must be aged 5-15)
• Network Rail – 1/3 off Rail fares in South East England, including up to 3 adults and 4 children
• Senior Railcard – 1/3 off all off-peak journies
• Two Together Railcard – 1/3 off off-peak Rail travel for you and your travel buddy (doesn’t need to be a couple)
• Veterans Railcard – 1/3 off Rail travel

P.S – Click here to learn more about which Railcard you’re eligible for

How Do I Get a Railcard?

Once you’ve decided whether or not a Railcard is right for you, you’ll need to get one. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1️⃣ IMPORTANT : Have a valid passport, UK licence, or EEA national identity card and a digital passport-style photo (or a really good selfie!) saved to your computer ready — you’ll need this to verify your identity and get your Railcard set up.

2️⃣ Head to Trainline and select ‘I know the right railcard for me’ or fill in the questionnaire about your age and travel habits to get the right option for you

3️⃣ Follow the steps and make sure you’ve downloaded the Railcard app to your phone to activate your pass

4️⃣ Go to your nearest Underground station and ask the TfL staff to connect your Oyster to your Railcard (you can do it on your phone as well, but I’ve found this way to be quicker/easier)

5️⃣ Start using your glorious Railcard discount!

Final Tips on Getting a Railcard: Railcard FAQ

• You can only connect your Oyster card to your Railcard. So if you’re currently using your contactless card, you’ll need to switch over to be able to take advantage of your Railcard discount ( Read More: Oyster Card vs Contactless: Which Should I Use? )
• Remember the 1/3 off pay-as-you-go Oyster travel is for off-peak fares only, so the discount won’t be applied when you’re travelling in peak times (Monday to Friday, except public holidays, between 06:30 and 09:30, and 16:00 and 19:00)
• Railcard discounts don’t work on buses (but buses are the cheapest out of all London transport options, so you’ll still save loads)
• Despite popular belief, Railcards are not just for British residents! So if you’re travelling here for an extended time and taking a lot of trains/public transport, it may be worth calculating if getting a Railcard would be worth the 1/3 discount during your stay (at £30 a year)
• Don’t hesitate to get your Railcard! Every day you don’t have it, you’re missing out on amazing transport deals in London & the UK — thank me later!

Thanks for reading my ‘What is a Railcard?’ Guide. If you enjoyed it, let me know on  Instagram !

Check out more london guides:.

• How to Get Around London: Your Ultimate Transport Guide
• Oyster Card vs Contactless: Which Should I Use?
• 5 Best Short-Term Accommodation Options in London
• Moving to London
• London Neighbourhood Guides

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Installation of prefabricated 129m active travel bridge for Levenmouth Rail Link begins

04 Sep, 2024 By Thomas Johnson

Network Rail has begun its installation of an active travel bridge over the River Leven and recently completed £116M   Levenmouth Rail Link.  

Over the next fortnight, until 16 September, Network Rail will crane the 129m long structure into position, connecting the communities of Methilhill and Cameron Bridge.  

The installation had originally been planned ahead of the opening of the rail link but was delayed due to the company building the bridge going into administration this year.  

Complex discussions with the administrator to release the part-built structure, as well as the need to source a new supplier, compounded that delay, according to Network Rail.  

Work began on Monday 2 September and will see nine prefabricated sections, including bridge piers, staircase sections and four spans of bridge-deck will be installed.  

At its highest the bridge will sit approximately 8m above the river and will drop in height as it crosses the railway to connect into Cameron Bridge station. It consists of a 60m span over the River Leven and four spans over lower ground ranging between 14.4m to 22.5m in length.  

The bridge sections will be lifted into position using a 750t crane.

Work on the foundations and approaches to the are currently under way Methilhill bridge is underway.  

Work to deliver an alternative walking route to connect from Methilhill to Cameron Bridge station (via the A915 river bridge) as part of the Levenmouth scheme was delivered in late May.

The bridge at Methilhill will be the second of two structures delivered as part of the Levenmouth Rail Link project following successful completion of the bridge at Duniface ahead of the railway opening.  

A third structure at Mountfleurie will be delivered in 2025 on behalf of Fife Council following final design specification being agreed and subject to planning approval.  

Network Rail senior programme manager Tommy McPake said: “The team has worked hard to build the alternative walking route and then to deliver on the revised timeline to get the structure complete and site prepared for the bridge installation.  

“While it was disappointing not to have the bridge in place ahead of the opening, it was due to circumstances beyond our control that could not have been foreseen.  

“We hope the new bridge allows the community in Methilhill the opportunity to fully join in the excitement the return of the passenger service to Levenmouth has created. We’re now very close to completing the connection to their local station which will enable them to easily access all of the opportunities the railway delivers.  

“It is always exciting to see the crane lift the bridge into position to create what will be a very impressive looking structure that will support active travel in the area.  

“We are grateful to the surrounding communities for their cooperation as we bring the bridge sections to site and look forward to completing the work in the coming weeks.”  

Construction of Levenmouth Rail Line project was undertaken by a collaboration between AtkinsRéalis, Bam Nuttall, QTS, Network Rail, Rail Systems Alliance Scotland, Scottish Power Lines, Siemens, Story Contracting and AmcoGiffen.

Passenger services on the 10km rail line started in June. These were the first passenger trains return to the Levenmouth branch line for the first time in more than five decades.

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Restrictions 

• If you travel before 10am Monday–Friday, a minimum-spend limit of £12 applies in order to get a third off of your ticket. These restrictions do not apply in July and August, or if you’re purchasing a season ticket. 
• Tickets can be bought in person from the ticket office or on the train. Simply ask for the Young Scot discount and show your card to get the reduced fare. Tickets should only be bought on the train where a ticket cannot be bought at the station due to no ticket office or ticket machine. 
• You can also book online via the  ScotRail website  or by calling 0330 303 0111 . 

Visit the  National Rail website  for terms and conditions.  

Get more information, claim your discount and plan your journey via  ScotRail’s website .  

All young people under 22-years-old and living in Scotland get free bus travel.

Free bus travel can be accessed by using your Young Scot NEC.

Find out more about how to access free bus travel in Scotland. 

If you are aged 16, 17 or 18 and live on a Scottish island you will receive four ferry vouchers which gives you two free return journeys to the mainland each year.  

The vouchers are valid from 1 April to 31 March of the following year and you get them automatically until you turn 19 (or 26 for full-time volunteers). 

If you have received ferry vouchers because you are aged 16-18, you must be under 19 on the date you travel. Ferry terminal staff will check you have a valid Young Scot card and ferry voucher when you travel and will also check the date of birth on your Young Scot card. 

You will require a valid Young Scot NEC and valid ferry voucher when you book and will need to have these on the day of travel or you will need to pay for the journey. 

However, if you live in Orkney and Shetland, you now get digital vouchers that are stored on your new card.

For existing cardholders in Orkney and Shetland, you will receive a letter each year explaining how to add the digital vouchers to your card. For more information about digital ferry vouchers visit Transport Scotland’s website .

Volunteer full-time?

If you are a full-time volunteer aged up to 26-years-old you get discounted rail travel, discounted bus travel, plus ferry vouchers for Island residents  

Full time volunteers aged between 19-21 years old (inclusive) are entitled to free bus travel under the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme . In addition, when aged 22-25 years old (inclusive) you’re also eligible for discounted bus travel if you volunteer for more than 30 hours a week.  

You’ll need to submit an up to date letter from a senior official in a recognised volunteering organisation which confirms your name, full postal address, and that you volunteer with that organisation for 30+ hours per week. 

Your Young Scot NEC also gives full-time volunteers a 1/3 discount off the adult single fare on almost all local and long-distance buses in Scotland. It also works on services to and from Carlisle and Berwick-Upon-Tweed from anywhere in Scotland. Book in advance or just show your card when you jump on a bus. 

Getting the discount is simple. Place your card on the electronic ticketing machine, state your destination to the driver and your discount will automatically be calculated. 

For more information about concessionary travel discounts, please visit the Transport Scotland website .  

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The Man in Seat 61

European train travel

Travel with children.

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Babies & infants go free

TGV-Lyria trains from Paris to Switzerland offer an inexpensive baby pass for around €12 which gives your wriggly 2 or 3 year old their own seat.  A brilliant idea!

Children travel at a reduced fare

But watch out for these pitfalls, tips & advice for travel with kids.

I take a backpack-sized Eagle Creek roll-along for my clothes and a matching Eagle Creek daypack for my reading books, travel documents, camera, phone, and so on.  My wife also takes an Eagle Creek roll-along for her clothes and a daypack for her own camera, reading book and so on. 

We then take two small holdalls, one for each of our two kids, a pink one for madam and a blue one for sir.  These holdalls can either sit on top of the Eagle Creeks and be pulled along or can be slung over our shoulders whilst the Eagle Creek is pulled.  The daypacks are worn on our backs.  We don't generally bother with a buggy, the children walk.  If I need to carry one of the children, Nicolette can pull both Eagle Creek roll-alongs - however we've generally found that the kids manage to stay awake (and excited) even for relatively late train arrivals, even the 21:45 arrival in Milan of the TGV from Paris. 

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Child age limits on European trains

Within the UK , children under 5 go free, children from 5 to 15 (inclusive) travel at half the adult fare.

On Eurostar , children under 4 go free, and a special child fare (currently £25 single, £50 return to Paris or Brussels in standard class) applies to children from 4 to 11 inclusive.  Children 12 & over travel at the youth fare (for ages 12-26).  All children under 12 must travel accompanied by an adult, and unaccompanied children from 12 to 16 require a consent form signed by their parent or guardian.  See www.eurostar.com for details.

On other European trains , age limits for children vary from country to country, so here's a summary.  Just make sure you tell your booking agency how old your children are, and they will do the rest.  Online booking systems will ask you the ages and will work out the fares for you.  The child fare is normally 50% of the adult fare, although on international trains where special 'global fares' are charged, a special child fare applies.  Note that these age limits are for the main national train operator, private open access operators may have different child age limits.

* Alleo is the consortium of French/German national railways running the Paris-Frankfurt/Stuttgart/Munich high-speed daytime trains.  The French show child age limits as 4-12, the Germans apply their own 6-14 age limits, so even the operators can't agree which child limits apply!  I suggest you book with the Germans if you have children aged 5, 13 or 14!

Watch the video :  Why k ids love train travel

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New Mexico starts building an abortion clinic to serve neighboring states, train medical students

Construction is getting underway on a state-funded reproductive health and abortion clinic in southern New Mexico that will cater to local residents and people who travel from neighboring states such as Texas and Oklahoma with major restrictions on abortion

SANTA FE, N.M. — Construction is getting underway on a state-funded reproductive health and abortion clinic in southern New Mexico that will cater to local residents and people who travel from neighboring states such as Texas and Oklahoma with major restrictions on abortion, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Thursday.

Construction of the clinic will draw upon $10 million in state funding that was set aside by the governor under a 2022 executive order. New Mexico has one of the country’s most liberal abortion-access laws.

Lujan Grisham, a second-term Democrat who can’t run again in 2026, reiterated her commitment to shoring up abortion access in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and revoked universal access to abortion.

“Access to reproductive healthcare should be a fundamental human right,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “Once completed, this clinic will stand as a testament to our state’s commitment to reproductive freedom for residents of New Mexico, and also those who travel here from out-of-state in need of this care.”

New Mexico accompanies Democratic-led states from California to New Jersey that are underwriting efforts to bolster abortion services and protections.

New Jersey last year awarded $15 million in zero-interest loans and grants to health care facilities that provide abortion services for facility improvements and increased security. In 2022, California legislators approved $200 million in new spending to bolster the state’s already robust abortion protections.

The governor’s announcement in New Mexico thrusts public policy on abortion back in the spotlight in the runup to the November general election, with the entire state Legislature up for reelection as Democrats defend their state House and Senate majorities.

Republican contenders for a U.S. Senate seat and a congressional swing district in southern New Mexico have said they won’t support a federal abortion ban, amid Democratic-backed political ads that highlight the potential for further federal restrictions.

The Republican Party of New Mexico on Thursday condemned public spending on an abortion clinic that caters to out-of-state visitors as an example of misplaced priorities among Democrats.

In 2021, New Mexico state lawmakers repealed a dormant 1969 statute that outlawed most abortion procedures as felonies, ensuring access. But opposition to abortion runs deep in New Mexico communities along the border with Texas, which has one of the most restrictive bans in the U.S.

Several New Mexico cities and counties have approved abortion-ban ordinances that are on hold while the state Supreme Court weighs whether local governments have the right to back federal abortion restrictions under a 19th century U.S. law that prohibits the shipping of abortion medication and supplies.

The new clinic is scheduled for completion within 18 months to provide services ranging from medical and procedural abortions to contraception, cervical cancer screenings and education about adoptions.

The health branch of the University of New Mexico says it broke ground on the clinic in a partnership with groups including Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.

The project was designed to improve health care access and create new training and residency opportunities beyond Albuquerque for University of New Mexico School of Medicine students, the University of New Mexico said in a statement.

The public university’s board of regents approved the acquisition of land for the project in May.

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Amazing savings for anyone aged between 16-25 or in full-time education

Do i qualify for a 16-25 railcard.

If you're between 16 and 25, or if you're a mature student attending a course full-time at a recognized college or university, you can buy a 16-25 Railcard.

How long does the16-25 railcard last?

• You can still get a 16-25 student railcard as a mature age student if you’re attending college or university full-time
• You can use your railcard past your 26th birthday if it hasn’t expired

How much do I save with a 16-25 digital Railcard?

16-25 Railcard discounts include saving you 1/3 on train tickets across the country in standard class.

You can also use it on First Class Advance tickets and buy Weekend First Class Upgrades with discounted standard class tickets.

You can also save on special offers with your railcard, and our 2FOR1 entry offers at loads of UK attractions.

When can I use a 16-25 Railcard?

You can use your digital railcard at any time. There's a £12 minimum fare on weekdays before 10:00, but this doesn't apply on bank holidays or during July and August (so those summer days out just got cheaper!)

How much is a 16-25 digital Railcard?

The 16-25 Railcard costs just £30 a year, or £70 for the three-year card - saving you £20.

How do I apply for a 16-25 Railcard?

You can apply online or download an application form and apply at a staffed station.

You will need to provide proof of age (a valid passport, UK driving licence or EEA national identity card ) and a digital passport-style photo if applying online.

If you are applying for a railcard at a station, you will require printed passport sized photo and may also present a birth certificate as proof of age.

How long does a 16-25 Railcard take to arrive?

If you are applying online for a physical railcard you should allow 5 working days for your application to be to be approved and 5 working days for delivery. You can also pay for Special Delivery service if you would like your 16-25 railcard to be delivered within two days.

Digital railcards and those bought at the station can be obtained on the same day.

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