Family & Friends Railcard

Up to four adults and four children can enjoy cheaper train tickets using a single Family & Friends Railcard.

You can nominate two adults to be named as cardholders. Both adults don’t need to travel together, but you do need to travel with at least one child aged between five and 15 to get the discount.

Because up to eight people can travel together, it’s great for groups of friends or extended family to enjoy big days out together.

Children under five can travel for free by train – including on routes in the TransPennine Express network. Each adult can have up to two under fives with them. If you only have one child in the group and they’re under five, you’ll have to buy them a child train ticket to get the Family & Friends Railcard discount.

If your child turns 16 before your one-year Family & Friends Railcard expires, they can still travel at the discounted child fare for as long as the card is still valid. Or, if you have a three-year Family & Friends Railcard, they can still get the discount until the day before their 17th birthday.

You can use your Family & Friends Railcard to save 1/3 off standard anytime, off-peak and advanced adult fares, and 60% off kids’ fares too.

Although your train ticket discount won’t apply during peak morning times, these restrictions don’t apply during public or bank holidays. So, if you’re going away for a bank holiday weekend you can still save money on your journey.

And remember – there’s no limit to the number of times you can use your Family & Friends Railcard, so you can take as many trips and fun days out as you want all year round.

A Family & Friends Railcard costs £30 for one year, or you can buy a three-year Railcard for £70. 

At such a good price, you could well find you pay back the cost of your Railcard in only a couple of trips.

If you want to buy a Family & Friends Railcard you can apply, go to a ticket office or phone.

If you apply online for your Family & Friends Railcard, you’ll need to submit the name of the second card holder. Up to two adults can be named as cardholders, but you need to register both at the same time as you can’t add or change the name later on.

If you buy online, you’ll have to wait until you receive your Friends & Family Railcard before you can start using it. If you want to take advantage of your train travel savings straight away, you might be better off buying your Railcard from a train station where there is a staffed ticket office. You’ll need to download the application form and take it with you to the train station.

Alternatively, you can get your Family & Friends Railcard by phoning 0844 871 4036. If you buy your Railcard over the phone, you’ll need to send photos of you and the second named cardholder via email.

Yes, you need to apply if you want to buy a Family & Friends Railcard.

You can apply online, over the phone, or download a form to apply at a staffed ticket office. You’ll need a passport photo and ID.

You can renew your Family & Friends Railcard easily online.

Because you have to have a valid Family & Friends Railcard on you to get cheap train tickets, make sure you allow enough time for your replacement to be sent to you in the post before you travel.

You can also renew your Family & Friend Railcard at a staffed ticket office.

If you’ve lost your Family & Friends Railcard, or it’s damaged, you can apply for a replacement one.

You can either do this online, or if you bought your Railcard from a ticket office and have your stamped receipt, you can get a replacement Railcard from a train station.

Whether you get your replacement Family & Friends Railcard online or from a staffed ticket office, you’ll have to pay a £10 administration fee.

If your Railcard was stolen and you have a crime reference number, you can get a free replacement by either logging into your online account or going to a train station and speaking to a member of staff in the ticket office.