Family & Friends Railcard for 1/3 Discount on UK Train Travel
Official Railcard Retailers
Save 33% on Rail Fares
Ideal for Large Groups
What Is a Family & Friends Railcard?
The Family & Friends Railcard provides a 1/3 discount on most UK rail fares and requires a minimum of two adults and one child to travel together.
Family & Friends Railcards are only £30 for one year and £70 for three years. Both cards have no restrictions during usage, but a three-year Railcard is £20 cheaper than three one-year Railcards. What's more, the average annual savings can be up to £113.*
The Family & Friends Railcard is ideal for those who travel in large groups together frequently, such as families with children or school classes.
This Railcard provides discounts on Anytime, Off-Peak and Advance tickets and more. You can travel from any time on weekends, bank holidays, and weekdays except between two stations inside London and the South East area during morning peak time.
For an in-depth breakdown of eligibility and terms of use, see below.
How to Get a Family & Friends Railcard?
You can purchase your Railcard online here (1-year or 3-year) or through the Trip.com app, as shown below.
What do I need on-hand when buying my Railcard?
Proof of age (UK driving licence/provisional licence, passport, or EEA national ID card)
A high-quality digital passport-style photo of yourself
Debit or credit card for payment
Step 1: Open the Trip.com app and tap "Trains" at the top of the homepage
Step 2: Tap "Buy a Railcard" at the bottom of the page
Step 3: Sign in to your Trip.com account and select the right Railcard for you
Step 4: Enter your personal information (including name, date of birth and a passport-style photo) and purchase
Step 5: You can now tap ‘My Railcards’ to view your new Railcard
Step 6: Make sure to add your Railcard when booking train tickets digitally (or select it if buying tickets physically) to enjoy discounts.
Family & Friends Railcard Benefits With Trip.com
Where Can You Travel With a Family & Friends Railcard?
Manchester to London
US$40.98US$27.05Save US$13.93 with a Family & Friends Railcard
Liverpool to London
US$17.93US$11.83Save US$6.10 with a Family & Friends Railcard
London to Sheffield
US$16.27US$10.74Save US$5.53 with a Family & Friends Railcard
Newcastle to London
US$19.08US$12.59Save US$6.49 with a Family & Friends Railcard
Family & Friends Railcard Restrictions
The Family & Friends Railcard offers a 1/3 discount on most Off-Peak rail fares for travel across the UK. Below, you will find information on tickets, time restrictions, and the cheapest fares available. Take a look to plan your travel accordingly:
The only area you can't use your Family & Friends Railcard is Northern Ireland. The only time you can’t use it is during morning peak time between two stations inside London and the South East area.
Full list of covered services:
| Ticket Type | Available | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Anytime (Day, Single & Return) | | - |
| Standard & Super Off-Peak (Day, Single & Return) | | - |
| Standard Advance | | Must be booked before you travel |
| Anytime Day Travelcards | | When bought as part of ticket to London from outside the London Zones area (subject to minimum fare of £22.60) |
| Hop-on, Hop-off | | Available on PLUSBUS tickets and most Rail Rover fares |
| Express Trains to Airport | | Discounts apply Gatwick Express, Stansted Express and Heathrow Express |
| Caledonian Sleeper | | Discounts apply on seated tickets only |
| Combined Rail/Sea Journeys | | Discounts are available on some rail and sea journeys with Wightlink and Red Funnel Ferries to stations on the Isle of Wight and Hovertravel services to and from Ryde Hoverport.* |
| Eurostar | | - |
| Season tickets | | Including Travelcard Season tickets |
| First Class tickets | | Except when using a First Class Upgrade at weekends (subject to availability) upon payment of the appropriate supplement |
Family & Friends Railcard FAQs
How does a Family & Friends Railcard work?
A Family & Friends Railcard offers discounted fares for families and small groups travelling together on the National Rail network in Great Britain. Here's how it works:
Eligibility: The Railcard can be purchased by anyone aged 16 or over.
Coverage: For areas, it can be used for rail discounts in the area known as Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). They cannot be used for rail travel in neither Northern Ireland nor the Republic of Ireland. For time usage, it is not available on tickets for morning peak period services, for journeys wholly within the London & South East Network Railcard area on Mondays to Fridays. (The exceptions to this discounted fare rule are when you travel at weekends and on Public Holidays).
Discounts: The Railcard provides a 1/3 discount on adult fares and a 60% discount on child fares for up to four adults and four children travelling together.
Validity: The Railcard is valid for one or three years from the date of purchase and can be used for unlimited journeys during that period.
Accompanied travel: At least one child and one adult must travel together for the Railcard to be valid.
How long does it take to get a Family & Friends Railcard?
Prepare your proof of age, three high-quality digital passport-style photos of yourself, and debit or credit card for payment. Purchase on the Trip.com app, fill in the relevant information, and use it immediately.
How many can travel using a Family & Friends Railcard?
A Family & Friends Railcard makes you get 1/3 off rail fares for up to 4 adults and 60% off for up to 4 kids between 5 and 15.Who can use a Family & Friends Railcard?
The Railcard can be used by the named cardholder, who must be aged 16 or over, and they can travel with up to four adults and four children. The adults and children travelling with the cardholder can be family members or friends.Where does a Family & Friends Railcard cover?
Railcards can be used for rail discounts in the area known as Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). They cannot be used for rail travel in either in Northern Ireland nor the Republic of Ireland.Can I use a Family & Friends Railcard in First Class?
No. Family & Friends Railcards won't be valid on First Class tickets, except when using a First Class Upgrade at weekends (subject to availability) upon payment of the appropriate supplement.Does every traveller need to have a Railcard?
No, not every traveller needs to have a Railcard. Only the person named on the Railcard needs to have it with them during the journey. The Railcard holder can travel with different individuals each time, as long as they meet the requirements of the Railcard (such as travelling with at least one child and one adult). The Railcard holder can purchase discounted tickets for the other travellers in their group.Can I get a refund if I don’t use my Family & Friends Railcard?
No. It is non-refundable once a Railcard has been issued.Does everyone registered to the Family & Friends Railcard need to be travelling for it to be valid?
No. It is not necessary for everyone registered on the railcard to be present on every journey. But on each journey, there must be one railcard holder travelling throughout the entire journey, accompanied by at least one child and one adult.
How do you renew a Family & Friends Railcard?
Whether digital or plastic Railcards, you can only renew online when it’s within 30 days of its expiry date. Simply follow these easy steps:
Click ‘My Railcards’ on the Trip.com app
Click ‘Renew’ under your expired or soon to expired Railcard
Select the best plan for you
Can you get a 3-year Family & Friends Railcard?
Yes. You can get a 3-year Family & Friends Railcard on Trip.com app. If you go on outings with family and friends every year, this Railcard is £20 cheaper than three 1-year Railcards.