Family train ticket

It’s a Return train ticket that allows up to two children under 16 to travel on our network for free with every fare-paying adult.

• On our app or website
• At ticket machines
• From conductors onboard
• At ticket offices
• Over the phone

Family tickets are available as:

• Digital e-tickets
• Paper tickets

Please select Return journey in the ticket search option to access a Family ticket. You won't be tied into a specific service by doing this. Family tickets are valid for travel any time when the ticket is valid.

They’re valid across the TfW network, including services using our network run by other operators, including:

• CrossCountry
• Great Western Railway
• Avanti West Coast
• West Midlands Railway
• TransPennine Express
• Northern

Up to two children aged under 16 travel free with each fare-paying adult. Children under 5 can travel free anytime without a ticket.

Yes. Children (under 16) can travel free anytime, including peak hours with a Family ticket.

No. This is because a Family ticket is a group ticket, not an individual one.

Family tickets are the easiest way to get free child travel because you can access them digitally - beating the queues at the ticket office.

You can still buy discounted tickets with your Railcard and get free child tickets separately at the ticket office or onboard from the conductor.

Yes. Family tickets are refundable. If you decide not to use your ticket or the number of booked travellers changes, you can get a full refund of an unused ticket by:

• taking paper tickets bought with us to a TfW ticket office
• emailing e-tickets bought on our app or website, or a scan or photo of a paper ticket to customer.relations@tfw.wales
• returning tickets bought with another retailer to the place of purchase

Please do this within 28 days of your ticket expiring. You’ll need to buy a new ticket for the correct number of travellers. You may need to pay an administration fee (up to a maximum of £5 per ticket).

Unfortunately, we cannot refund Family tickets if they’ve been used but not everyone travelled.

You can find more information on refunds here:

Family ticket (1-Day Return) | National Rail

Family ticket (1-Month Return) | National Rail

If you have a Family ticket and experience a delay or disruption during your journey, you may be eligible for Delay Repay.

Please visit our Delay Repay page to find out more and apply for compensation.

1.1 Family ticket (1-Day Return)

Terms and conditions:

1 Description

• Transport for Wales Family tickets allow up to 2 adults and 4 children to travel together, the adult will be charged the equivalent cost of the available return fare with up to 4 children then added at no extra cost. Up to 2 children under 16 can travel for free on Transport for Wales Rail services when travelling with a standard class fare-paying adult (aged 16+).

2 Availability 

• This ticket can be purchased in advance or immediately before travel.
• Any National Rail staffed ticket office, train company telesales office, online at most train company website (including the Transport for Wales - Web and App) and selected rail appointed travel agents.
• You do not need to book a seat reservation for validity.
• Advertised fares are valid until further notice.
• Family tickets are available in Standard only.

3 Discounts

• No Discounts available

4 When and where the Family ticket can be utilised

• The Family ticket is only valid on Transport for Wales Rail services and connections, see the network map below for a breakdown of the Transport for Wales geographical boundary. https://tfw.wales/sites/default/files/2025-11/TfW_Rail-Bus_network_map_ENGLISH-A3-V6_WEB.pdf
• The outward part of the ticket is only valid for travel when accompanied by the unused return part of the same ticket.
• All members of the family group must travel together at all times to validate the product.
• This Family ticket is valid at anytime of the day, 7 days a week.

5 Conditions of use

• Children under 16 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 who is fulfilling the adult portion of the Family ticket.
• A maximum of 2 children under 16 can travel free of charge per fare-paying adult (16+).
• A child traveling for free is not required to give up their seat to a fare paying passenger.
• Seat reservations are not available for the Family ticket product using Transport for Wales or connecting services.

6 Outward Journey

• Valid within the Transport for Wales network where an Anytime Day Return is available, tickets are valid for one return journey. The outward portion is valid on the date shown on the ticket and until 04:29 the following morning.
• Break of journey is allowed.
• Valid to travel at any time of the day.

7 Return Journey

• Valid within the Transport for Wales network where an Anytime Day Return is available, tickets are valid for one return journey. The return portion is valid on the date shown on the ticket and until 04:29 the following morning.
• Break of journey is allowed.
• Valid to travel at any time of the day.

8 Refunds

Family tickets are refundable. If you decide not to use your ticket (s) to make your intended journey or the number of booked travellers changes, then you can get a full refund by returning your unused ticket to the ticket office or place of purchase (for tickets bought via websites, telesales or travel agents) within 28 days of the ticket expiry date. You will be required to purchase a new ticket for the correct number of travellers.

9 Changes to Travel Plans

You may change your travel plans at any time within the validity of the ticket without having to pay an additional fare. Restrictions on when you can travel with this ticket may apply to both the outward and return journeys - please check before travelling.

10 Other

If you have special requirements, or need help, please let us know at least 2 hours before you travel. Get in touch with the Transport for Wales Passenger Assist Team.

All tickets and travel are subject to the National Conditions of Travel.

1.2 Family ticket (1-Month Return)

Terms and conditions:

1 Description 

• Transport for Wales Family tickets allow up to 2 adults and 4 children to travel together, the adult will be charged the equivalent cost of the available return fare with up to 4 children then added at no extra cost. Up to 2 children under 16 can travel for free on Transport for Wales Rail services when travelling with a standard class fare-paying adult (aged 16+).

2 Availability

• This ticket can be purchased in advance or immediately before travel.
• Any National Rail staffed ticket office, train company telesales office, online at most train company website (including the Transport for Wales - Web and App) and selected rail appointed travel agents.
• You do not need to book a seat reservation for validity.
• Advertised fares are valid until further notice.
• Family tickets are available in Standard only.

3 Discounts

• No Discounts available

4 When and where the Family ticket can be utilised

• The Family ticket is only valid on Transport for Wales Rail services and connections, see the network map below for a breakdown of the Transport for Wales geographical boundary. https://tfw.wales/sites/default/files/2025-11/TfW_Rail-Bus_network_map_ENGLISH-A3-V6_WEB.pdf
• The outward part of the ticket is only valid for travel when accompanied by the unused return part of the same ticket.
• All members of the family group must travel together at all times to validate the product.
• For this Family ticket - see outward and return journeys

5 Conditions of use

• Children under 16 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 who is fulfilling the adult portion of the Family ticket.
• A maximum of 2 children under 16 can travel free of charge per fare-paying adult (16+).
• A child traveling for free is not required to give up their seat to a fare paying passenger.
• Seat reservations are not available for the Family ticket product using Transport for Wales or connecting services.

6 Outward Journey

• Valid within the Transport for Wales network where an Anytime Day Return is available, tickets are valid for one return journey. The outward portion is valid on the date shown on the ticket and until 04:29 the following morning.
• The National Rail Journey Planner will automatically work out which tickets are valid for your journey.
• Valid for a Return journey between two stations. Outward portion is valid for travel on date shown on ticket.
• Please refer to the National Rail Family ticket Terms & Conditions for exact details on the validity of the outward and return under certain travel conditions.

7 Return Journey

• Valid within the Transport for Wales network where an Anytime Day Return is available, tickets are valid for one return journey. The return portion is valid on the date shown on the ticket and until 04:29 the following morning.
• The National Rail Journey Planner will automatically work out which tickets are valid for your journey.
• Return portion valid for one calendar month from start date shown on ticket.
• Valid for a Return journey between two stations.
• Please refer to the National Rail Family ticket Terms & Conditions for exact details on the validity of the outward and return under certain travel conditions.

8 Refunds

Family tickets are refundable. If you decide not to use your ticket (s) to make your intended journey or the number of booked travellers changes, then you can get a full refund by returning your unused ticket to the ticket office or place of purchase (for tickets bought via websites, telesales or travel agents) within 28 days of the ticket expiry date. You will be required to purchase a new ticket for the correct number of travellers.

9 Changes to Travel Plans

You may change your travel plans at any time within the validity of the ticket without having to pay an additional fare. Restrictions on when you can travel with this ticket may apply to both the outward and return journeys - please check before travelling.

10 Other

If you have special requirements, or need help, please let us know at least 2 hours before you travel. Get in touch with the Transport for Wales Passenger Assist Team.

All tickets and travel are subject to the National Conditions of Travel.

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 or off peak 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/2025-11/TfW_Rail-Bus_network_map_ENGLISH-A3-V6_WEB.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

• All tickets and travel is subject to the National Rail Conditions of Travel.

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 or off peak 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/2025-11/TfW_Rail-Bus_network_map_ENGLISH-A3-V6_WEB.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

• All tickets and travel is subject to the National Rail Conditions of Travel.