rail travel for under 16

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Riding Amtrak: how and when to enjoy an affordable rail trip with kids

I love rail travel: I find a train journey to be restful, peaceful, and productive for a work-from-the-road type like myself. My kids enjoy it as well: they appreciate the mobility afforded (compared to air travel), the extra leg room, and the fun dining and panoramic cars. However, train travel today is not always the economical choice it was just a few decades ago. Price a multi-day rail journey across a portion of the US or Canada on Amtrak or VIA Rail, and your jaw is likely to drop. It’s cheaper for an entire family to fly to a far-flung destination than travel by train. However, there are ways to experience a rail journey in the US or Canada for less. Here’s how to enjoy an affordable rail trip with kids:

amtrak-with-kids

Table of Contents

1. Take a day trip.

Coach seats on Amtrak and VIA Rail are very reasonable. It’s when parents book passage in the sleeper cars that rates skyrocket. We don’t advise booking coach tickets for overnight travel with young kids—trust us, you’ll be miserable—but day journeys are perfectly comfortable in coach class. We like to utilize Amtrak to commute from our hometown in Southern Oregon to Portland International Airport (PDX) for more affordable air tickets, and save on long term parking fees. The trip takes us six hours (instead of the usual four by car) but no one has to drive, the kids enjoy the scenery through the Cascades, and we make up the train fare in the lack of parking fees.

riding-amtrak

As coach passengers, families don’t get meals included, but food packed from home is permitted, and a lounge car always has causal meals and snacks on offer. On Amtrak, when all sleeper car passengers have booked their meal reservations in the dining car, the crew opens reservations for coach passengers. Dining car meals are a fun affair, but costly. Parents pay a la carte if traveling coach. We find a happy medium bringing our our lunch and supplementing with a treat from the lounge.

2. Book early for Super Saver tickets.

amtrak-lounge-car

Unlike air travel, for which the best ticket prices are usually offered during a 6-8 week window pre-trip, families can save the most by booking rail tickets as far ahead as possible. Look for Super Saver tickets, or book your train travel in the off-season. In June-August, families will pay top dollar for both coach and sleeper tickets.

3. Try a single overnight.

If your crew really wants to spend the night on the train—and yes, it is fun—24 hours is usually enough. We spent a memorable day and night riding VIA Rail’s Canadian route, and while we loved watching the stunning scenery go by and enjoying the dining car and comfortable berths (yes, really!), we were more than ready to hop off and stretch our legs after 24 hours. Check Amtrak and VIA Rail routes online to find a one-night itinerary that works for your family: there are more station stops than most people realize.

A few rail travel tips:

amtrak-trip

Don’t be in a hurry: If you have a tight schedule, this is not the time for a rail trip. Amtrak runs at its own pace, stopping en route for freight trains (they have priority), at stations, and slowing through towns. Becoming behind schedule is the norm. We never book a rail trip on the same day of a flight departure.

2. Know what you’ll have access to: Coach passengers are usually offered electrical outlets at each seat, plus pillows and blankets. Seats recline and have foot rests. A lounge car offers snack foods and ceiling to floor windows. Restrooms are in every car. Sleeper passengers also enjoy access to a parlor car with additional dining, a dining car with included meals (3x daily) and wifi. Check the information on the train you’ll be taking online before you go.

amtrak-trip-with-kids

3. Pack carry-on only if possible: Amtrak and VIA Rail both offer checked luggage service, but in our personal experience, getting your luggage back can take a while. Because passengers are allowed two carry-ons (just like when flying), and there’s ample space for your carry-on (unlike when flying), we recommend carrying luggage on board.

4. Let kids bring their own camera: Our kids love taking photos aboard trains, and the freedom of movement afforded by rail travel makes it possible for kids to walk from car to car taking photos. In most lounge cars, docents are on-hand to offer knowledge about the vistas and landmarks passing outside the window. Encourage kids to ask questions or follow along on a map.

5. Board early for panoramic car or lounge car seats: Cars with public access, like lounge cars with great views, fill up fast. Usually, boarding a train is a casual affair, with ample time. Instead of sitting in the train station lounge until the last minute, board early to snag good seats.

6. Opt in for Amtrak schedule notifications: Because Amtrak considers the posted schedule only a suggestion (as noted, they are restricted by many factors, including freight schedules) it’s helpful to sign up for schedule change email alerts or texts. Knowledge of delays can save families from early wake-up calls or long waits.

Have train travel tips to share? Leave them in the comments!

Photo credit: Amy Whitley, Jim Guest

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An Amtrak assistant conductor stands at the coach door of a train at the station in Lamy, New Mexico.

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 $5 (£4.10) 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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rail travel for under 16

Introducing the 16-17 Saver

14th August 2019

Are you 16 or 17? Heading to a new school or college in September or up for a bit of exploring and new adventures with your friends?

rail travel for under 16

Welcome to our new 16-17 Saver, offering you the highest ever discount on rail travel- meaning you can still get half price train tickets! The new 16-17 Saver is now on sale  online  and offers 50% off most rail fares for anyone aged 16 and 17 years old.  

For only £30, the 16-17 Saver is valid for one year or until your 18th birthday (whichever is earliest) and discounts will be applied to standard Season, Anytime, Off-Peak and Advance tickets for travel on the National Rail network, except on ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper services.  

Whilst the existing 16-25 Railcard offers a 1/3 off leisure travel, the new 16-17 Saver will extend the 50% child discount to 16 and 17 year olds. You’ll be able to start buying tickets for travel from 2 September 2019 and can choose to either have your 16-17 Saver on your phone, or have a printed card sent to you via post.  

Whether it’s for going into town, days out to the coast, travel to college or visiting friends, expand your horizons and benefit from new opportunities with the new 16-17 Saver.

Family travel in the Pacific Northwest and BC

Union Station in Portland, Oregon

18 Tips for Riding Amtrak Trains with Kids

rail travel for under 16

But as with so many other escapades, much of your family’s Amtrak success will come down to preparation. Here are tips on taking the train with kids. I’ll soon offer some information on the family sleeper cars, and best train trips through Washington, Oregon and BC.

Train Price Tips for Amtrak with Kids

1. Save money. Can kids ride free on Amtrak? Well, you can save by taking advantage of Amtrak’s 50% off discount for children’s coach fares . But no, children don’t ride free. Instead, one child ages 2-12 receives a 50% discount on the lowest available adult Amtrak rail fair. But they must be accompanied by an adult.

So, if two adults you travel with three kids, you’ll get two fares at 50%, and pay full freight for the last one. Book 14 days in advance to get a lower adult fare.

Note! These fares aren’t possible on weekday Acela trains (Northeast corridor), or charges associated with sleeper cars, Business Class or First Class. Sometimes, also not available on Thruway buses.

2. Baby benefits. As with planes, one child under age 2 can ride free with each adult. If you’re riding with three babies, first of all, my condolences. But also, the third baby only qualifies for the 50% discount. You might drive.

Those with small children can board earlier than other passengers, giving you time to stow strollers. And parents traveling with toddlers and babies (under age 2) can carry on any stroller or diaper bag without the items counting against your carry-on allowance.

3. Can children travel alone on Amtrak? Kids 12 and under can’t solo by train, and have to be with someone 18+. Children 13, 14 and 15 years old can travel as unaccompanied minors, but you have to call into the phone line (1-800-USA-RAIL or 1-800-872-7245) to make a reservation. Children 16 or 17 can travel unaccompanied. Read about unaccompanied minors on the Amtrak website .

Family Train Seating Tips for Amtrak

4. Snag your seats. Ideally, families can grab some family-style seating, which is four seats facing each other, around a table. If you don’t snag one of these seats, visit the lounge car, which has 10 tables and seating for 30. It’s best to try to grab a seat ASAP, because it’s first-come, first-serve.

5. Go coach with kids. Standard coach seats are reclining, with a fairly substantial seat-back tray, power outlets, reading lights. Think: very comfortable airline seat. Business class provides bigger seats, more legroom, and fewer passengers per car. You’ll also get free wifi (maybe), newspapers, and a coupon for money off any bistro menu item. You’ll board and get off the train first. But business seating doesn’t qualify for the children’s 50% off fares.

In my opinion, the best seats along the I-5 corridor are on the Amtrak train’s western-facing side (which depends on where you’re going north or south), for views of water, bridges, sunsets and sea life.

6. Sleep suite. If you can afford a splurge or want an unusual vacation, take a family suite sleeper car. Meals are included, along with beverages (juice, water, coffee).

On-Board Amtrak Family Activity Tips

7. Walk around. The biggest advantage of train travel is not being buckled into a set for hours. So yeah, go on strolls. You’ll have a mini-James-Bond moment when moving through jostling, adjacent train cars. The train can really bump and sway though, so it’s sort of like gaining your train-legs. Toddlers will need help.

rail travel for under 16

Pack a picnic basket. The Amtrak food is … not dependable. We’ve had great meals and really bad ones. Bring hard cheese, crackers, sausage, chocolate, oranges and other easily transportable foods. Much like you’d do on a plane.

8. Prepare for delays. There are many reasons for train delays that have to do with right-of-way and a poorly funded national passenger rail system, but none of them are the fault of your conductor or attendants, so please be kind to them. Prepare for delays while waiting for your train or en route, anywhere between a few minutes to a few hours. Oh yes, hours. But with enough podcasts/movies/snacks, anything is bearable.

9. You’ll probably have nearby charging plugs. You probably won’t have wifi. Make sure you have a fully stocked electronic device, because despite whatever your particular train says, WiFi tends to be unusable, whether spotty or slow.

10. What is there to do on the train? It depends on which train you’re taking. The Amtrak Cascades is a high(er) speed Acela train that was primarily targeted at business commuters, and is more bare-bones. The slower Superliner is for leisure travelers, and is my favorite for traveling with kids. It leaves once a day from Seattle for destinations such as Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. On the Coast Starlight, the Sightseer Cafe has snacks, treats and hot dogs and the like.

rail travel for under 16

Look for Amtrak Trails & Rails volunteers on your trip and learn about our national parks, by reviewing the complete national Trails & Rails calendar .

Logistical Tips for Traveling with Kids on Amtrak

11. Arrive early but not too early. This isn’t the airport. You don’t have to arrive two hours early and go through intensive screening; it’s often enough to get there 30-40 minutes in advance. This advantage is wonderful, along with the fact that most rail stations are beautiful, with two-story high ceilings. An exception: when you’re boarding in Canada to return to the U.S., arrive at least an hour in advance, as it takes a while to go through U.S. customs before boarding the train.

12. Take advantage of the free train carry ons with kids. You can bring two carry-on suitcases for free. I’d suggest making everything fit in the carry-ons and not checking luggage.

13. Check your train’s status on the iPhone or Android Amtrak app. It may not always be up to date, but you’ll get an idea. You can also sign up for text alerts, but I’ve found those to be remarkably inaccurate.

14. Be prepared for diaper changes on the go. The bathroom in each train car may have a changing area, but it also may not or you may not reach it in time. Check once you board the train, in advance. Look for the accessible restrooms, which are more likely to have changing areas. If you can’t locate one easily, ask your coach attendant for help.

15. Stay allergy aware. Amtrak can’t promise a allergen-free trip (including nuts). So bring epinephrine if there’s a life-endangering allergy in the family.

16. Car-free trip Options. Can you turn your Amtrak trip into a car-free vacation? That depends. In larger cities such as Portland, Vancouver, Seattle and Los Angeles, you should be able to hail a quick taxi or Lyft or catch a bus or lightrail to your hotel, after exiting the station. Because of the station’s location, you could make a (very long) day trip to Portland, Oregon, or Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia. Other stations, such as the one in Olympia, Washington—the station is very, very far from downtown. Make sure you’ve done research in advance.

rail travel for under 16

17. When taking the train between Vancouver, BC and Seattle (or anywhere Amtrak goes), make extremely sure you didn’t book on a bus. It’s a bus, not a train, which sends most of the cool benefits of train travel right out the trapped-in-your-seat-the-whole-time window. I’ve spend enough time on Greyhound buses to know they’re not for me unless I’m strapped for cash.

Packing List for Amtrak Train Travel with Kids

1. Books 2. Snack kits with goldfish, cheese sticks, other kid-friendly foods 3. Legos and other small-building toys (if you have a sleeper car, otherwise not recommended) 4. Craft kits and supplies but preferably without a lot of small parts unless you’re in your own car. 5. Activity books 6. Card games 7. Wet wipes for easy cleanup, or washcloths 8. Stuffed animals and dolls 9. Crayons, pencils, art supplies 10. Wildlife-spotting books and ID guides. We saw deer, cows, llamas, falcons, dogs and seals, and a lot of cool birds I couldn’t identify. 11. Fully charged tablets/phones with a queue of movies, TV shows and games and earphones, so other passengers don’t have to listen in.

Do you have any travel tips?

Lora Shinn writes about family travel, Pacific NW travel, grown-up travel...and travel in general. Her travel-related articles and essays have appeared in Family Fun, Parenting, AFAR, National Geographic Traveler, AAA magazines and Redbook, among others.

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Travelling With Children on European Trains

All that's good to know about travelling with children on European trains from tips to enhancing journeys, to practical ticket and rail pass information.

Simon Harper

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.

rail travel for under 16

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.

rail travel for under 16

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.

Departing London with children by Eurostar

(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 Oui.SNCF 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.

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.

Using Eurail and InterRail Passes - A starting point

Simon Harper

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

ShowMeTheJourney

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.

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.

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

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rail travel for under 16

50% off rail fares for you!

If you’re aged 16 or 17, you can now enjoy 50% off Standard  Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance and Season tickets , helping you save money on trips into town, days out to the coast, travel to college or weekend festivals – as many times as you like.

A 16-17 Saver is available to buy online or over the phone for  just £30 and is valid for one year or until your 18th birthday, whichever comes first.

Download your 16-17 Saver to your phone with the  Railcard app or keep your 16-17 Saver in your wallet to get half price tickets across the National Rail network (excluding travel on ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper services).   

* *Average saving is based on the average savings made by 16-17 Savers between April 2022 and March 2023, excluding price of Railcard.

^ Average saving per journey is based on the average savings made by 16-17 Savers between April 2022 and March 2023.

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Save 50% on your rail fares for just £30 a year

Whether it's heading to college, a weekend with your mates or a day out in the city, you can travel for less with South Western Railway and the 16-17 Saver.

What is a 16-17 Saver Railcard?

A 16-17 Saver is a Railcard that makes train travel cheaper for young adults. The 16-17 Saver can be purchased by all 16- and 17-year-olds who live in Britain or abroad.

What discount will I get with a 16-17 Saver?

With a 16-17 Saver railcard, you can get up to 50% off standard Anytime, Off-Peak, Advance and Season tickets.

You'll need a photocard with a Season ticket - take a passport photo to any of our ticket offices and we'll give you one for free).

You can use 16-17 Saver discounted tickets on National Rail services across Great Britain (but not on ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper services).

How much does the 16-17 Saver cost?

Just £30! Your 16-17 Saver will be valid for one year or until you turn 18.

Where can I buy a 16-17 Saver?

  • Online at 16-17saver.co.uk
  • Call the team on 0345 301 1656

Choose to get your 16-17 Saver on your phone or get a card sent to you.

You will need to provide:

  • Evidence of age - a valid UK driving licence, passport or EEA national ID card
  • A good quality digital passport-style photo ready to upload or emailed
  • A debit or credit card for payment

If you don't have any of the above forms of ID, you can upload a scan of your birth certificate or a Government-approved PASS card instead. Please note that applications using these will take a little longer to process.

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rail travel for under 16

Tickets and travelcards for children and young people.

Children travel on public transport at low prices or even free of charge throughout Switzerland. Young people and families can also get discounted tickets and travelcards.

Children under six years of age.

Both accompanied and unaccompanied children under six years travel free of charge.

Children aged between six and 16 years.

Children aged between 6 and under 16 who are travelling alone or with an adult pay half price or the minimum fare for their ticket. 

Junior Travelcard.

If you are a parent who regularly travels with your children, we recommend you purchase the Junior Travelcard.

The Junior Travelcard enables children aged between 6 and under 16 to travel on public transport free of charge when accompanied by a parent. The accompanying parent must hold a valid ticket or travelcard. 

Children’s Co-Travelcard.

If you regularly travel with a child (e.g. godchild, a neighbour’s child, grandchild), we recommend you purchase the Children’s Co-Travelcard.

Day Pass Children.

The Day Pass Children is available for children under 16 at the price of CHF 19 in 2nd class or CHF 33 in 1st class. A child can use it to travel through Switzerland alone, together with other children or with adults for a whole day.

GA Travelcard for Children.

Children aged between 6 and under 16 can get the GA Travelcard in 1st or 2nd class at a reduced price. It is available as a GA Travelcard with annual or monthly billing.

GA Travelcard for Children GA Travelcard for the whole family

Young people between 16 and 25.

Half fare travelcard for youth..

Young people aged between 16 and under 25 can benefit from an advantageous price with the Half Fare Travelcard for Youth.

GA Night Travelcard.

The GA Night Travelcard is ideal for all under-25s who like to be out and about at night.

Half Fare Travelcard PLUS for Youth.

Are you in studying or working but not always required to be on campus or at work? And do you go on trips across Switzerland from time to time? Then the Half-Fare travelcard PLUS, the prepaid travelcard with the free bonus and a money-back guarantee, is definitely the thing for you.

GA Travelcard for Youth.

Young people aged between 16 and under 25 can get the GA Travelcard in 1st or 2nd class at a reduced price. It is available as a GA Travelcard with annual or monthly billing.

GA Travelcard for Youth GA Travelcard for the whole family

GA Travelcard for 25 Year Olds.

Have you just turned 25 and do you commute to work or your place of study or simply travel very often by public transport? Then benefit from a slightly reduced price for your GA Travelcard for one year (from your 25th birthday to the day before your 26th birthday). This GA Travelcard is also available with monthly or annual billing.

GA Travelcard for 25 Year Olds GA Travelcard for the whole family

On the move together.

Friends day pass for youth..

With the Friends Day Pass for Youth, those under the age of 25 can travel across Switzerland for an entire day in groups of two, three or four.

Tandem Day Pass for GA Travelcard Youth.

With the Tandem Day Pass for GA Travelcard Youth, those under the age of 25 can travel in tandem with friends of the same age who have a GA Travelcard for just CHF 20 per day.

Commuting alone for the first time.

rail travel for under 16

Is your child attending a school outside of your town? Or maybe starting a new apprenticeship? Or going back and forth between family members? Then a Regional Travelcard is sure to be a practical solution for your child. Regional Travelcards are available for children and young people aged between 6 and under 25 who are travelling alone.

Depending on how far your destination is from your home, a Point-to-Point Travelcard, a Modular Travelcard or even a GA Travelcard may be the best solution for you. Point-to-Point Travelcards, Modular Travelcard and GA Travelcards are available for children and young people aged between 6 and under 25 who are travelling alone. And for those who are 25, there is the GA Travelcard for 25 year olds.

Point-to-Point Travelcard Modular Travelcard GA Travelcard for children GA Travelcard Youth GA Travelcard for 25 year olds

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We would be happy to advise you at a staffed point of sale in your local area – or you can even book an appointment for a free personal consultation with SBB so that our staff can help you to discover which travelcard is right for you.

Arrange a consultation.

Would you like to be sure you’ll have a seat on a journey with your family? You can reserve your seat in the SBB Mobile app, on SBB.ch or at any public transport point of sale.

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Reserve seats in the family coach.

You can also reserve seats in the family coach online. The corresponding trains are marked in the timetable with ‘FA’.

Tipp: Züge mit Familienwagen (IC2000 und FV-Dosto) verkehren hauptsächlich auf folgenden InterCity-Strecken:

  • IC1: St. Gallen–Zürich HB–Bern–Genf Flughafen
  • IC8: Romanshorn–Zürich HB–Bern–Brig
  • IC6: Basel SBB–Bern–Brig
  • IC61: Basel SBB–Bern–Interlaken Ost
  • IC3: Basel SBB–Zürich HB–Chur

Seat reservations Help with seat reservations in the family coach

Children’s offers for Europe.

Whether it is fixed prices for children travelling to Italy, or free travel to Germany and Austria when accompanied by an adult – family trips by train are particularly good value.

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rail travel for under 16

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Get 1/3 off train travel with a 16-25 Railcard

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rail travel for under 16

How much can I save?

People with a 16-25 Railcard  save on average £182 per year** , or  £4.64 per journey^ . If you’re travelling here’s an example of some of the savings you can make on train tickets:

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Save 5% on Hoseasons Lodges, Parks and Boating breaks with your 16-25 Railcard

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Save 5% on a cottages.com booking with your 16-25 Railcard.

How does using a Railcard work?

rail travel for under 16

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rail travel for under 16

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rail travel for under 16

Have your Railcard with you when you travel

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Eligibility and terms of use

  • Buy a Railcard and keep it with you when you travel (on your phone or wallet)
  • Save on most tickets including Advance tickets
  • £12 minimum fare applies on morning peak

Read full eligibility and usage terms

Need help getting or using your Railcard?

Need help? Can't figure out what card to buy? Or just have a question?

Can I continue to use my Railcard if I have my 26th birthday before it expires?

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Yes. You can buy or renew your 1-year 16-25 Railcard up to and including the day before your 26th birthday and keep using it until its expiry date. With 3-year 16-25 Railcards you can buy them up until the day before your 24th birthday, which will make the expiry date the day before your 27th birthday.

Can I use my Railcard for tickets for travel on the London Underground?

With your Railcard you can get 1/3 off Anytime Day Travelcard when bought as part of your journey to London from outside London Zones 1-9 (subject to a minimum fare which is currently £19.10).   With an Oyster card, you can get your Railcard discount loaded onto your Oyster card to save 1/3 on single off-peak pay as you go fares on London Underground and Docklands Light Railway services in London. You will need to have registered your Oyster in your name to do this. Simply take your Oyster card and valid Railcard to a London Underground station and ask a member of staff to set the discount for you. You can also get the discount set at Oyster Ticket Shops and Visitor Centres.

I am a mature student, can I buy or renew a Railcard online?

Yes. You will, however, need to complete a  Mature Student Application Form  to prove that you are still in full time study. You will need to get it endorsed by your university/college and also include a copy of your student photo identity card or NUS photo ID. 

Please allow up to 5 working days for your Railcard application to be approved.

How long do I have to wait for my Railcard to arrive?

If you have ordered a plastic 16-25 Railcard online, please allow up to 5 working days for delivery. If you paid for ‘Special Delivery’ and placed your order before 15:45pm, your Railcard will be delivered within two days (Monday to Thursday) or three days (Friday to Sunday).

If you have purchased a digital 16-25 Railcard, it will be available to use straight away. A download code will be sent to your registered email address, along with instructions on how to download your Railcard. 

You cannot travel on discounted tickets until you have received your Railcard.

Can I use a provisional driving licence to prove my age online?

Yes. Provisional driving licences can be used to demonstrate your age to our online system.

Kids go free on our trains

rail travel for under 16

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 under 16 can travel for free on our trains during off-peak times, when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.  Under 11’s can travel for free on our services at any time.

View where you can go with free kids' rail tickets

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

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.

Activities

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.
  • Under 5’s travel for free on all National Rail services.
  • Children aged 5-15 travel for free on Transport for Wales trains only.

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.

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 purchased on the date of departure.
  • 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 .
  • 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:

  • 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.
  • A free ticket is required for children aged 11 to 15.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Free travel for children aged 11 to 15 can only be purchased on the date of departure.

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

  • Did you know? Multiflex tickets Our lowest single fare for hundreds of regular journeys Available exclusively on our app

rail travel for under 16

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Life Kit

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We asked, you answered: Parent-approved tips on traveling with kids under 2

Becky Harlan headshot

Becky Harlan

Photograph of a baby sitting next to an open carryon suitcase filled with clothing and other travel items, all against a light pink backdrop.

Last month, Life Kit asked parents to share their go-to advice for traveling with babies and toddlers under age 2 as part of an episode we did on the subject. Over 200 folks responded with tips they wish they'd known before taking a big trip with a little one.

Reading through these responses, it became clear there's no magic hack that works for every kid. Some parents swore by sticking to their kid's sleep schedule on a trip, others said their vacation was smoother when they let the usual routine go. Some sang the praises of the overnight flight (so their child would sleep on the plane), others said their child has never slept more than 10 minutes on a plane no matter the timing.

I flew to Japan with my baby. Here's the travel advice that helped me survive the trip

I flew to Japan with my baby. Here's the travel advice that helped me survive the trip

A few pieces of advice held true throughout. A hungry kid is an unpleasant kid, and children are messy. So packing lots of snacks, extra diapers and a change of clothes ranked high on the list of must-dos. Almost 40 of over 200 responses suggested packing extra outfits in your carry-on for your kid and for you. (If your charge spits up, throws up, blows out or spills it will also get on you!)

So here's a non-exhaustive, impossible-to-be-comprehensive, but-hopefully-still-helpful round-up of your top advice for traveling with little kids. These responses have been edited for length and clarity.

What to pack

A stroller that can be stored in the overhead bin. It's a game changer to not have to check clunky strollers at the gate or check-in counters. —Amy P.

A change of clothes for yourself. If the baby spits up or has a blowout, there's a high likelihood that the mess will end up on you too, especially if you're holding them. Also, be sure to bring a bag to put messy clothes in. Reusable waterproof bags are great and they keep the smell in! —Jenna Yount

Extra diapers. You think you will be fine but if something comes up it's not a good situation to be in. —Jeanna Limtiaco

Overnight diapers. Fewer diaper changes in transit makes everyone happier. —Samantha Warren

Snacks. Remember, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration allows for any size baby food [and baby or toddler beverage], so pack those pouches! —Clara W.

Meds you and your kids might need in flight. That includes chewable Tylenol, Imodium, Dramamine, Zofran, ginger chews, Band-Aids and alcohol wipes. —Paige Ellis

A dark-colored bath towel. It's a blanket, it's for tidying up, it's a tablecloth, it's a sun cover, it shields bottoms from hot slides, it dries off swings. It's a multi-tasking powerhouse. —Judith Heise

Consider what may make sense to buy, rent or borrow upon arrival. You don't need to stuff everything into your suitcase. Buy some of your diapers and snacks at your destination. See if you can borrow or rent large, bulky items like car seats or travel cribs from Facebook Marketplace or your hotel or Airbnb. —Jocelyn Newman

How to get through the flight

Get to your gate an hour before boarding. It gives you time to feed your child, change their diapers, have a cup of coffee and fill your water bottle. It can also help your kid let out their energy before they have to sit on the plane. —Shelly C.

Check the airport for family friendly spaces. Use nursing spaces or pods and family restrooms to reset as needed. Check lounges for nursing and play rooms. —Sara Conger

Take an early morning flight. Those are least likely to get delayed, which is important when traveling with kids. —Carina Ochoa

Parenthood Is A Shock To The System. These Tips Can Help You With The Transition

Parenthood Is A Shock To The System. These Tips Can Help You With The Transition

Board with your partner separately. If you're traveling with two caregivers, have one go on the plane first with all the stuff and do the gate-checking of the stroller while the other hangs back with the kids until the last minute. It gives kids more time to run around! —Andrea De Francesca

Get a plane seat for your kid. Even though many airlines allow kids under 2 to fly for free as a lap baby, if you can afford to get them their own seat, it is worth it. It is recommended for safety to have them in a car seat, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and the extra space for them to move around is nice. —Nicole Shelledy

Be ready for motion sickness. We were not prepared for how easily some little ones get motion sickness on an airplane. Have throw-up bags handy at all times. —Tiff Bankhurst

Prevent ear discomfort. Sucking during take off and landing may help relieve ear discomfort. My babies have flown with me from 4 weeks onward and never had a problem as long as they had a bottle or sippy cup or straw to suck on. —Shelly Ransom

Don't plan on them sleeping on the plane. It's great if they do, but if it doesn't happen, you'll be frustrated. —Colleen Mayerhoff

Don't worry too much about your kid "bothering" other people. The vast majority of people don't care, and many have been in the same situation you've been in and feel nothing but empathy for you. As for those who do care, they are not guaranteed a child-free existence in public. Kids are part of society too, and they are also allowed to take up space. —Jenna Yount

Make friends with the flight crew. They're going to help, they've got more experience than you, and they also want the flight to be pleasant. —April Graham

Save the screens for the flight. If you're using a screen, wait until you're on the plane. While you're waiting in the terminal, let them move as much as possible. Find an empty gate and play Simon Says, see who can jump in one place the longest, do animal charades. Let them go wild. —Paige Ellis

Download age-appropriate shows for your child on an iPad. (But know that if your kid is under age 2 they'll mostly just want to push the buttons.) —Chantel Dockstader

Travel hacks

Find a lodging close to a grocery store and a park. It makes it easy to buy last-minute things and burn off their energy easily at a park. —Gillian Molina

Dress your young kids in bright, matching shirts. I once traveled alone when my kids were 2, 4 and 6. We all wore matching yellow shirts so people could see we were together. —Emily Hernandez

If you want to let your little one crawl around , bring a pair of socks that you can put over their hands. Then you don't have to worry about dirty hands afterward. —Shannon Geraghty

Hire a photographer. You'll have photos with everyone in them, maybe get to see some scenic parts of the city you hadn't seen before. Dress up, wear matching outfits, be extra! They're only little once. —Tina Doyle

Helpful mindsets

It's not a vacation. It's a trip. You're just parenting in a new place. Set your expectations accordingly. —Laura Henriquez

The airport/train/bus/car is not the time to enforce the normal at-home rules. Do you want Doritos at 7 a.m. at the airport? OK. Do you want to watch 20 episodes of Blippi on the plane? No problem. There are no rules when traveling. This also makes traveling fun for kids because they get to do something different. —Meg Houston

Build in extra time to do things. It will decrease the chances of you and your child getting into stressful situations. —Cori DeLano

You're not going to get as much done as you think with a kiddo in tow. Think about things like nap schedule, traveling with a stroller, meltdowns, diaper changes. On my most "successful" trip with my kiddo, we planned one big activity a day and left the rest of the day open with some general ideas and left room for flexibility. —Whitney Winters

They might not remember, but you will. —Nina Hartman

The digital story was edited by Malaka Gharib. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at [email protected].

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

‘Intense’ moment dog was rescued after falling under a Tube train

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Dog rescued from under tube train Credit @londonboyonline

Video footage shows the moment a dog was rescued from under a tube train after a woman was heard screaming for help.

Passengers travelling through King’s Cross underground station were met with an ‘intense’ scene as people scrambled to pull the dog from the gap between the platform and a train.

In the footage, a man can be seen lying on the ground as he reaches below the edge of the platform while passengers waited on board the train.

A man’s voice can be heard saying, ‘I only just bought him today’, followed by a woman calling out for ‘Milo’.

Station staff in orange hi-vis jackets then arrived shouting ‘move back, move back’, as one onlooker says, ‘the professionals have arrived’.

A visibly shaken blond-haired dog was then lifted on to the platform where it cowered amid a chorus of ‘aw’ from the watching crowd.

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It was then comforted with a bowl of water as the owner bent down to meet it at eye level.

One passenger was reading Metro when they noticed the chaos as their Hammersmith and City Line train pulled into King’s Cross just before midday on Wednesday.

The passenger, who filmed the footage and asked to stay anonymous, initially feared a child had fallen under the train.

He told Metro.co.uk : ‘As I was getting out, I heard a woman screaming.

‘On the other side of the train platform, there was a big crowd. It looked like there was something going on.

‘I thought there might be a fire, it might be something else, so I went back into the train, found one of the emergency buttons and pressed it.’

Describing the ‘difficult situation’, he said: ‘The man who was kneeling down, he was desperate to the get the dog out to the point where he was going to jump in under the train.

‘People told him not to do it. I was really scared, I didn’t know what to do.’

Panic turned to relief once the dog was liberated.

He said: ‘I felt really good for the dog. I was definitely relieved.’

The passenger suspects the incident happened because the dog was overwhelmed by the noise and crowds flowing through the station.

The passenger said: ‘Other dog owners should be careful about taking their dog on the train. The trains are really loud.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

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rail travel for under 16

Japan launches bullet train service to a region that 'guidebooks rarely mention'

J apan is launching a new high-speed bullet train, or shinkansen, extension on Saturday that will make an under-the-radar prefecture far more accessible to travelers.

The coastal Fukui Prefecture is some 185 miles west of Tokyo. The new train will pass through the city of Fukui, the town of Awara and other places guidebooks rarely mention, before reaching the port town of Tsuruga, adding some 78 miles to the Hokuriku Shinkansen's existing Tokyo-to- Kanazawa service.

Once it begins on March 16, the route will open a door to a part of Japan — known for dinosaurs, Zen meditation and soothing hot-spring baths — where few international travelers go.

Jurassic Japan

Of all the stops on the new extension, Fukui makes the best base for visiting the sights of the prefecture.

Dinosaurs are one of the area's main draws, from the robotic replicas at Fukui Station to the local mascot, a smiley, green dino named Juratic, whose face is emblazoned on souvenirs throughout the city.

There is good reason for that. Close to 80% of Japan's dinosaur fossils were discovered in Fukui, something the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum in Katsuyama does an excellent job of detailing in Japanese and English.

Just under an hour from Fukui Station on the trundling Katsuyama-Eiheiji rail line, the cavernous museum houses a collection of remains and exhibits on the existence and demise of dinosaurs, plus life-size animatronics of a menacing Tyrannosaurus rex and a long-necked herbivore. Fossil digs in the connected Katsuyama Dinosaur Park add a hands-on element that's especially well-geared for families.

Finding Zen and hot springs

On the local train back to Fukui, travelers interested in learning about Zen Buddhism can hop off at Eiheijiguchi Station to go to Eiheiji , a temple and monastery founded in the 1200s by the legendary Zen priest and scholar Dogen.

Travelers with a couple of hours can explore the temple buildings, but it's also possible to plan an overnight temple stay that includes options for zazen meditation sessions and traditional plant-based Buddhist meals.

With an extra day in Fukui, another option is to take the new shinkansen to Awara for a spot of traditional pampering. Like many small hot spring towns in Japan, the reason most people visit Awara is to spend a night at a ryokan inn, where they soak in mineral-rich baths, slip into yukata gowns, unwind in tatami mat guestrooms and indulge in kaiseki-ryori dinners featuring a photogenic array of small in-season dishes.

But there is plenty to do in Awara beyond baths and ryokans, with hands-on experiences like glassblowing and ceramics at Kanaz Forest of Creation — a 200,000 square-meter forest home to art installations and walking trails. Rural areas also have orchard-picking — strawberries in the spring and blueberries, grapes and Asian pears in the summer.

The end of the line

The new shinkansen service ends in the town of Tsuruga. Arguably, there's less to linger for here, but those with a few hours to spare can visit a few standout sights accessible via the town bus.

The Kehi-no-Matsubara beachside pine grove is a nationally designated site of scenic beauty.

Also along the coast is the Port of Humanity Museum , which details how Jewish refugees from Poland and Lithuania arrived in Tsuruga in the 1940s after being granted special visas by Japanese diplomat Sugihara Chiune. It's estimated that Sugihara saved several thousand Jews from Nazi concentration camps.

Travelers can also follow the footsteps of the 17th-century haikuist Matsuo Basho, who visited Tsuruga's Kehi Jingu shrine to see the autumnal full moon during a journey immortalized in the haiku-punctuated travelogue "The Narrow Road to the Deep North."

The shrine has been rebuilt several times since Basho's visit, but the version he saw certainly left an impression. "The air of the shrine was hushed in the silence of night," he wrote, "and the moon through the dark needles of pine shone brilliantly."

While Basho left Tsuruga plodding slowly south, today express trains run from Tsuruga down to Kyoto in just under an hour, or southeast to Nagoya in 90 minutes. Travelers can also reboard the new shinkansen for the three-hour ride back to Tokyo.

Hokojima island in Japan's Fukui Prefecture. 

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COMMENTS

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  6. Riding Amtrak: how and when to enjoy an affordable rail trip with kids

    2. Book early for Super Saver tickets. Unlike air travel, for which the best ticket prices are usually offered during a 6-8 week window pre-trip, families can save the most by booking rail tickets as far ahead as possible. Look for Super Saver tickets, or book your train travel in the off-season.

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  9. 18 Tips for Riding Amtrak Trains with Kids : Cascadia Kids

    Kids 12 and under can't solo by train, and have to be with someone 18+. Children 13, 14 and 15 years old can travel as unaccompanied minors, but you have to call into the phone line (1-800-USA-RAIL or 1-800-872-7245) to make a reservation. Children 16 or 17 can travel unaccompanied.

  10. Train travel with kids: our top tips

    Our top 12 tips on travelling by train with children: 1. If you are travelling in the UK, always ensure you have a Family and Friends' railway card if your children are under 16 years old. Read more in our Railcards blog. If your children are over 16, they can get a 16-25 Railcard, and once one of the young people in your family or group ...

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    The new 16 & 17 Railcard is expected to launch this September, in time for the next academic year. The railcard will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to buy train tickets at child prices - which are 50% of adult fares - until their 18th birthdays. Currently under-fives are generally allowed to travel for free with a paying adult, those aged five ...

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  17. Can my child ride the train without adult supervision?

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  22. 16-25 Railcard

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  23. Free rail travel for kids

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  24. 29 parent-approved tips on traveling with babies and toddlers : NPR

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    A man reaching beneath a tube train in an effort to save his dog after it fell into the gap between the train and the platform at King's Cross (Picture: @londonboyonline/X) Video footage shows ...

  27. Japan launches bullet train service to a region that 'guidebooks ...

    Japan is launching a new high-speed bullet train, or shinkansen, extension on Saturday that will make an under-the-radar prefecture far more accessible to travelers. The coastal Fukui Prefecture ...