Do I have to pay for my child’s ticket?

Children under 5

Most UK Train Operating Companies (TOCs) let you bring up to two children under the age of five with you for free, as long as they're travelling with at least one paying adult. You won’t need to buy a child ticket.

As the child won’t have a ticket it also means they won’t have a seat reserved and so if the train is busy they will be expected to sit on your knee.

If you want to guarantee them a seat then you will need to buy a child ticket. Child tickets are only available for the age range 5-15, so please select this even if your child is younger.

Children from 5 to 15

For children between the ages of 5 and 15 inclusive, you can get a 50% discount on most tickets. It'll be automatically applied when you choose a child’s ticket. If your child looks older than 15, you might want to carry some form of ID, like a passport, that shows their age.

If you’re travelling as a group with children, you’ll probably save money with a Family and Friends Railcard. This gives you a 33% discount for adults and a 60% discount for children, so long as you’re all travelling together. Just select the Family and Friends Railcard from the drop-down menu when you start your search.

Children under 6

Children under the age of 6 travel free. They require a complimentary ticket which can be obtained from the conductor.

Children aged 6 to 14

Children between the ages of 6 and 14 inclusive get a 50% discount on their ticket. It’ll be automatically applied when you choose a child’s ticket. Children between 10 and 14 should carry some form of ID, that shows their age.

Children under the age of 12 travel for free when they are accompanied by someone over the age of 12 (adult/youth). This is valid for up to 4 children per adult/youth.

Children aged under 6

Children under the age of 6 do not need a ticket or seat reservation, if you add an under 6 to your booking, they will not appear on your e-ticket.

Children aged between 6 and 14

Children aged between 6 and 14 travel for free in Germany when they are travelling with their parents or grandparents. They must have a ticket to travel, so you should include them as a passenger when you make your booking. You must add the optional seat reservation if you're booking 2nd class. If you're booking 1st class, the seat reservation is automatically added.

For cross-border travel between Germany and France you must purchase a ticket for children aged between 6 and 14.

Children aged 0 -11

Up to 2 children aged between 0 and 11 can travel free of charge for each paying adult travelling.

Children aged 12 -15

Children aged 12 and 15 travel at a reduced rate which. It will be automatically applied when you choose a child's ticket.

Children under 4 

Children under 4 can travel for free, but he won’t have seat and will need to sit on your lap.
In this case you don’t need to add the child during the booking process, otherwise a child fare will apply automatically. .

If you want them to have their own seat you'll need to buy a child ticket.

If you are travelling alone with two or more children under 4 then you'll need to take one on your lap and buy child tickets for the others.

Children from 4 to 11

Special fares for kids aged 4 to 11 years old are available in Standard class. Children, aged 12 and over, are eligible for our youth fares.

Italo Family Offer

With the Italo Family offer children under 14 years of age travel free of charge with their family in Smart ambiance, if Adults purchase a Flex ticket. A family or group is composed of minimum 2 and maximum 4 people, with at least 1 passenger over 18 years of age. Infants under 36 months of age are not counted, as they can travel without a seat on an adult’s lap. If the offer is available, you will see it displayed in the fare conditions to the right of the timetables when you conduct a search.

Children under the age of 3 years (36 months) travel for free if they sit on an accompanying adult’s lap.

Children under the age of 12 travel for free when they are accompanied by someone over the age of 12 (adult/youth). This is valid for up to 4 children per adult/youth.

Children under 6

Children under the age of 6 travel free when accompanied by an adult. They must be included in the reservation at the time of booking and will be issued with a ticket for free travel. Please note, that children travelling for free on night trains will not have their own bed. If you'd like to reserve a bed, you'll need to book a Child ticket.

Children aged 6 to 14

Children between the ages 6 and 14 inclusive get a 50% discount on their ticket. The discount will automatically be applied when you enter their age

15 and over

Will be charged and adult fare.

All children under the age of 12 are charged a set fare depending on the departure and arrival stations-

• Departures and arrivals from Paris Center and Lille-Flandres stations cost €8
• Departures and arrivals for all other stations cost €5

Children aged 12 and over are charged a standard adult fare.

Children aged 0 - 4

Children aged between 0 and 4 can travel free of charge for each paying adult travelling, they do not need to be included in the reservation.

Children aged 4-13

Children aged between 4 and 13 travel at a reduced rate which will be automatically applied when you include them in the reservation.

Children under the aged of 2

Children under 2 are charged 50% of a full fare, each child is required to be accompanied by at least one adult.

Children aged between 2 and 12

Children aged between 2 and 12 are charged 75% of a full fare.

A form of identification is required, it must have a picture and show the child's date of birth.

• Children up to 3 years old
  travel for free without occupying a seat, sitting on the lap of the accompanying adult during the journey. They must be included in the reservation; If the route is on a Media Distancia train, it will not be necessary to obtain a free child's ticket.
• Children between 4 and 14 years old
  Get a 40% discount on the ticket price and occupy a place.

You will see that during the reservation process, our system asks to enter an identification document per person in the 'Passenger information' section. However, if you are traveling with a person under 14 who still does not have a DNI or passport, for domestic trips it will not be necessary to include it, so you can simply write "11111111" in the 'Number' field.   

Be sure to bring the Family Book as it is very possible that they will ask you for it.

It is important to bear in mind that, from the age of 14, it is mandatory by law to carry official identification document, which is why it's asked for when buying a ticket. 

Children under 6

Children under the age of 6 travel free when accompanied by an adult or a youth aged 12 or over. Up to 4 children can travel free when accompanied by an over 12, and up to 8 children when accompanied by an adult. Additional children must purchase a child ticket.

Children aged 6 to 15

Children between the ages of 6 and 15 inclusive get either a 50% discount on their ticket, or pay the minimum fare. The discount will automatically be applied when you enter their age

16 and over

Will be charged and adult fare.

Children under the aged of 4

Children under 4 travel for free and do not require a ticket as long as they sit on an accompanying adult’s lap. If a seat reservation is desired, child tickets start from €15 one-way and can be purchased by including the child as a passenger in the reservation.

Children aged between 4 and 14

For Children aged between 4 and 14, and if a seat is desired for under 4’s, there is a 40% reduction in the ticket price for the “Flexi” or “Essential” fares.

Children under the age of 12 travel for free when they are accompanied by someone over the age of 12 (adult/youth). This is valid for up to 4 children per adult/youth.

Children under 4 travel for free and do not require a ticket as long as they sit on an accompanying adult’s lap.

If a seat reservation is desired, a Forfait Bambin ticket can be purchased for €9 and can be purchased by including the child as a passenger in the reservation.

Children under 4 travel for free and do not require a ticket as long as they sit on an accompanying adult’s lap.

If a seat reservation is desired, Baby Pass tickets start from €9 and can be purchased by including the child as a passenger in the reservation.

Children under the aged of 4

Children under 4 years of age travel for free, and do not require a ticket, provided they share a bed or a couchette with an adult accompanying them. There is a limit of one child (under 4) per adult. If you are travelling with more than one child under 4 years old per accompanying adult, you need to book an additional bed or couchette.

Children aged between 4 and 14

Children between the ages of 4 and 14 must have their own couchette or bed and must be included in your reservation.

Trenitalia’s child discounts differ depending on the type of train and route. On national trains, children aged 4 and under (on the day of departure) travel free, without a seat reservation. They are expected to sit on the lap of an accompanying adult for the duration of the journey. Children aged 4-14 receive a 50% discount. Anyone above the age of 14 is given adult fare on national trains.

On all regional trains, except in the regions of Campania, Abruzzo, Lombardia, Sardinia and in the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano (see below for details), children under the age of 4 (on the day of departure) travel free, without a seat. They are expected to sit on the lap of an accompanying adult for the duration of the journey. Children aged 4-11 receive a 50% discount. Children aged 12 and above pay full price on regional trains.

Tickets for children in the regions of Abruzzo, Bolzano, Lombardia, Trento, and Sardinia

Abruzzo: children under one metre in height, accompanied by an adult, travel for free, without a seat.

Bolzano: children under the age of 6, accompanied by an adult, travel for free, without a seat. Child of the age of 6, as long as they are living in the province of Bolzano and are not yet attending school also travel for free, without a seat.

Campania: children under the age of 6 accompanied by an adult, travel for free, without a seat.  

Lombardia: children under the age of 4 (on the day of departure) accompanied by an adult travel for free, without a seat. Children aged 4-14 (on the day of departure) receive a 50% discount. Children aged 14 and above pay full price on regional trains. 

Trento: children under the age of 6 years accompanied by an adult (paying or with a free ticket or ticket pass) travel free, and can have a seat. An adult is allowed to travel with up to 5 children of under the age of 6 at a time.

Sardinia: children under the age of 6 accompanied by an adult, travel for free, without a seat (proof of age has to be supplied upon demand). If an adult is travelling with more than one child under the age 6, they must purchase a travel ticket at the appropriate full fare for every two children (e.g. one child travels for free, two children - one full fare ticket, three children - one full fare ticket, four children - two full fare tickets, and so on).