Enjoy more family time, less driving time and travel together for less all year round.

We know how stressful it can be to travel as a family, and how expensive, too. That’s why we have some great offers when you’re travelling with kids.

Children aged 11-15 can travel for free on our trains during off-peak times whilst under 11’s can travel for free on our services at any time, both when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.

 

View where you can go with free kids' rail tickets

*Geographical exclusions apply, see terms and conditions for more information. 

 

Find out what the kids thought of their free tickets

 

There’s so much to discover by train. We’ve selected just a few things to keep the kids busy both on the train and when out exploring the network.

 

Important things to note before you travel with kids

  • Free children’s train tickets are only available in Standard class.
  • Up to two children can travel for free, per paying adult. Adults must obtain a ticket for all children travelling. Free children’s travel tickets are only available from a ticket office or on-board from a conductor.
  • If you’re an adult buying free child tickets on the train, you’ll still need to buy your own ticket before boarding. You can buy on our app or website, at a station ticket office or using a station ticket machine.
  • Are you an adult using pay as you go for your journeys with us? You’ll still need to collect any free child tickets at a station ticket office or from the conductor on the train to take advantage of this offer.
  • Under 5’s travel for free on all National Rail services.
  • Children aged 5-15 travel for free on Transport for Wales trains only.
  • Adults travelling with a Family and Friends Railcard must pay for one child between the ages of 5 and 15 to be eligible for the discount.
  • See full terms and conditions for more information.

    • 1.1 Age 5-10 - Under 11s Anytime

      Terms and conditions:

      1 Description

      • Up to 2 children aged 5 to 10 can travel for free on Transport for Wales Rail services (in standard class accommodation only) when travelling with a full or discounted standard class fare-paying adult (aged 16+).

      2 Availability

      • A free ticket is required for children aged 5 to 10.
      • The free ticket can be obtained from any Transport for Wales Rail ticket office or from the on-board train conductor.

      3 Discounted Standard Class Fare

      • This includes a customer using a local or *national railcard to gain a discount, or someone traveling with an advance, off peak or small group day ticket. It does not include concessionary scheme users or individuals travelling using a staff pass. *Adults travelling with a Family and Friends Railcard must pay for one child between the ages of 5 and 15 to be eligible for the discount.

      4 When and where the free travel can be utilised

      • Free travel for children aged 5 to 10 is only valid on Transport for Wales Rail services (in standard class accommodation only), see the network map below for a breakdown of the free child travel geographical boundary. https://tfw.wales/sites/default/files/2023-01/TfW_Network_Map.pdf
      • If you are travelling on multiple Train Operators throughout your journey you will need to ensure that you have the correct fare for the elements of the journey not on Transport for Wales Rail services.
      • Free travel for children aged 5 to 10 on Transport for Wales Rail services is valid any time of day, 7 days a week.

      5 Conditions of use

      • Children aged 5 to 10 must be accompanied by a fare-paying adult (16+) for the entire duration of their journey. For the avoidance of doubt, a fare-paying adult is defined as any passenger aged 16 or over that is holding a valid Ticket or other authority to travel (but does not include concessionary scheme users or individuals travelling using a staff pass).
      • A maximum of 2 children aged 5 to 10 can travel free of charge per fare-paying adult (16+) in standard class accommodation only.
      • A child traveling for free is not required to give up their seat to a fare paying passenger.
      • Seat reservations are not available for accompanying children who are travelling free of charge. If you wish to reserve a seat for your child aged 5 to 10 - a child discounted ticket may be purchased and a reservation made.

      6 Break of journey

      • You may start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station along the route of travel unless the fare-paying adult’s (16+) ticket restriction for the journey being made does not allow this.

      7 Changing the time or date of travel

      • Free travel for children aged 5 to 10 can only be obtained on the date of departure.

      8 Refunds

      • Not applicable for free child travel.
      • If you purchased a child fare for a journey that you subsequently discovered should have been free of charge and did not make a reservation for the child, you may apply for a full refund by contacting Transport for Wales Rail customer services team. Contact information can be found at https://tfw.wales/help-and-contact/rail/contact-us.

      9 Other

       

      1.2 Age 11-15 - Under 16s Off-Peak

      Terms and Conditions:

      1 Description

      • Up to 2 children aged 11 to 15 can travel for free on Transport for Wales Rail services (in standard class accommodation only) when travelling with a full or discounted standard class fare-paying adult (aged 16+) between the hours of 09:30 and 16:00 and after 18:30, Monday to Friday and any time Saturday and Sunday.

      2 Availability

      • A free ticket is required for children aged 11 to 15.
      • The free ticket can be obtained from any Transport for Wales Rail ticket office or from the on-board train conductor.

      3 Discounted Standard Class Fare

      • This includes a customer using a local or *national railcard to gain a discount, or someone traveling with an advance, off peak or small group day ticket. It does not include concessionary scheme users or individuals travelling using a staff pass. *Adults travelling with a Family and Friends Railcard must pay for one child between the ages of 5 and 15 to be eligible for the discount.

      4 When and where the free travel can be utilised

      • Free travel for children aged 11 to 15 is only valid on Transport for Wales Rail services (in standard class accommodation only), see the network map below for a breakdown of the free child travel geographical boundary. https://tfw.wales/sites/default/files/2023-01/TfW_Network_Map.pdf
      • If you are travelling on multiple Train Operators throughout your journey you will need to ensure that you have the correct fare for the elements of the journey not on Transport for Wales Rail services.
      • Free travel for children aged 11 to 15 on Transport for Wales Rail services is valid between the hours of 09:30 and 16:00 and after 18:30, Monday to Friday and any time Saturday and Sunday.

      5 Conditions of use

      • Children aged 11 to 15 must be accompanied by a fare-paying adult (16+) for the entire duration of their journey. For the avoidance of doubt, a fare-paying adult is defined as any passenger aged 16 or over that is holding a valid Ticket or other authority to travel (but does not include concessionary scheme users or individuals travelling using a staff pass).
      • A maximum of 2 children aged 11 to 15 can travel free of charge per fare-paying adult (16+) in standard class accommodation only.
      • A child traveling for free is not required to give up their seat to a fare paying passenger.
      • Seat reservations are not available for accompanying children who are travelling free of charge. If you wish to reserve a seat for your child aged 11 to 15 - a child discounted ticket may be purchased and a reservation made.

      6 Break of journey

      • You may start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station along the route of travel unless the fare-paying adult’s (16+) ticket restriction for the journey being made does not allow this.

      7 Changing the time or date of travel

      • Free travel for children aged 11 to 15 can only be obtained on the date of departure.

      8 Refunds

      • Not applicable for free child travel.
      • If you purchased a child fare for a journey that you subsequently discovered should have been free of charge and did not make a reservation for the child, you may apply for a full refund by contacting Transport for Wales Rail customer services team. Contact information can be found at https://tfw.wales/help-and-contact/rail/contact-us.

      9 Other

Travelling with children? Our activities can keep them busy however long your journey is. Designed for young travel enthusiasts, there’s something for everyone.