FAQs

• Am I eligible to use a Family & Friends Railcard?
• My child is under five, can I still use a Family & Friends Railcard?
• What happens if my child turns 16 while my Family & Friends Railcard is still valid?
• Who can be a named cardholder?
• Can visitors to Britain buy the Family & Friends Railcard?

1. Am I eligible to use a Family & Friends Railcard?

Your group must have at least one named Family & Friends Railcard holder and at least one child between five and 15 years old. The named card holder must travel for the entire journey with any passengers who have been bought discounted tickets.

2. My child is under five. Can I still use a Family & Friends Railcard?

If the only child in the Family & Friends Railcard group is less than five years old, as the Railcard holder you must buy a discounted ticket for the child so that any accompanying adult/s can get the discount on their ticket/s.

3. What happens if my child turns 16 while my Family & Friends Railcard is still valid?

If you have a 1 year Family & Friends Railcard children who turn 16 while your Family & Friends Railcard is valid are still entitled to the discounted child fare. This lasts as long as your 1 year Family & Friends Railcard is valid.

If your child turns 16 during the validity period of your 3 year Family & Friends Railcard, they can only travel as a child on the card until the day before they turn 17.

4. Who can be a named Family & Friends Railcard holder?

Any two adults can be named cardholders, and they can take up to four children with them. The second cardholder can be anyone you know : a friend, Granny, or the childminder.

5. Can visitors to Britain buy the Family & Friends Railcard?

Yes you can buy it online, as long as you can provide an address in Britain.

Alternatively, you can buy a Family & Friends Railcard at a staffed station ticket office or at a National Rail -licensed Travel Agent on arrival. The Railcard can also be bought at Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport rail stations, Luton Airport Parkway and Manchester Airport – but NOT at London Heathrow Airport.

You will have to complete an application form and provide payment. The Railcard will be issued for use straightaway and is valid for 12 months.

Your Railcard will be accepted by all of the Train Companies who operate Passenger Railway Services except Eurostar. Special excursions and charters are also excluded.

However you might also like to consider the BritRail Pass if visiting Britain. For details about BritRail please see www.raileurope.com.