Official Railcard Retailer
Save 1/3 on Rail Fares
Ideal for Large Groups
What is a Family and 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 do I Get a Family & Friends Railcard?
You can purchase your Railcard (1-year or 3-year) through the Trip.com app, as shown below.
What do I need on-hand when buying my Railcard?
Your home address and a valid email address
Second cardholder's name (cannot be added later)
A 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: Provide your personal details (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$41.99US$27.71Save US$14.28 with a Family & Friends RailcardLiverpool to London
US$18.38US$12.13Save US$6.25 with a Family & Friends RailcardLondon to Sheffield
US$16.67US$11.00Save US$5.67 with a Family & Friends RailcardNewcastle to London
US$22.31US$14.72Save US$7.59 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 your 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 to 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 FAQ
How does a Family and Friends Railcard work?
A Family & Friends Railcard offers discounted fares for families and small groups traveling 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 either Northern Ireland or 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 traveling 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?
Once you purchase the Railcard on the Trip.com app, you'll be able to use it immediately. Make sure you prepare your proof of age, a high-quality digital passport-style photo of yourself, and debit or credit card when purchasing the Railcard to make the process as easy as possible.
How many can travel using a Family & Friends Railcard?
The Family and Friends Railcard allows 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 and Friends Railcard?
The Railcard can be used by the named cardholder (must be an adult), who must be aged 16 or over, and up to three additional adults and four children. You can have up to two adults as named cardholders. The adults and children traveling with the cardholder do not need to be family - they can simply be 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 Northern Ireland or 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 traveler need to have a Railcard?
No, not every traveler 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 traveling with at least one child and one adult). The Railcard holder can purchase discounted tickets for the other travelers in their group.Can I get a refund if I don't use my Family & Friends Railcard?
No, Railcards are non-refundable once they have been issued.Does everyone registered to the Family & Friends Railcard need to be traveling for it to be valid?
No, it isn't necessary for everyone registered on the Railcard to be present on every journey. However, there must be one Railcard holder traveling throughout the entire journey, accompanied by at least one child (aged 5 to 15).
How do you renew a Family and Friends Railcard?
You can only renew your Railcard online when it’s within 30 days of its expiration date. Simply follow these easy steps:
Tap "My Railcards" on the Trip.com app
Tap "Renew" under your expired or soon-to-expired Railcard
Select the best plan for you
Can you get a 3-year Family and Friends Railcard?
Yes. You can get a 3-year Family and Friends Railcard on Trip.com app for £70 which is £20 cheaper than three 1-year Railcards.