CrossCountry Trains
Family & Friends Railcard
Save 1/3 on most rail fares with a Family & Friends Railcard
Buy train tickets for any journey in Great Britain
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E-mail me when tickets become available Back to calendarWhat is the Family & Friends Railcard?
If you’re travelling with kids, taking the train is a great option for your transport. The Family and Friends Railcard is a great way to get cheap family train tickets and explore more of the UK. In need of some family travel inspiration? Check out the ‘Travelling with Kids’ section on our blog.
Who is it for?
- Up to 4 adults and 4 children aged 5-15 - plus, you don't need to be related.
- The whole group can travel together on just one Family & Friends Railcard.
How much does a Family and Friends Railcard cost?
- £30 for one year
- £70 for three years
This railcard is arguably the best value of all the National Railcards thanks to the number of users who can enjoy the discount on a single card. Apart from discounted train fares, you can also benefit from Family & Friends Railcard offers, including trips to popular attractions and hospitality packages.
How can I get the Family and Friends Railcard?
In order to get a Family and Friends Railcard, we will need the following information from you:
- Your address and email address
- The name of the second cardholder (as it can’t be added later)
- A debit or credit card
You can buy a Family & Friends Railcard at any staffed station ticket office or National Rail-licensed Travel Agent. The main advantage of this is that you can do it on the day you are travelling. You can download the application form and bring it with you.
Once you've bought your Railcard at a station, you can then register it online. This will make it easier for you to renew or buy other cards online.
How does a Family & Friends Railcard work?
The Family & Friends Railcard works by getting you and up to seven other people (a total of four adults and four children) discounts on train travel across the UK.
The minimum number of tickets you need to buy to apply the Family & Friends Railcard discount is two, that’s one adult (whose name is on the Railcard) accompanying one child. If you do buy more than two tickets, make sure all of your group is sitting together in the same area of the carriage when travelling, so that ticket inspectors can easily verify your discounted tickets.
Don’t need a Railcard for that many people? A Two Together Railcard could be what you’re looking for. Travel with a friend, partner or family member, and get a 1/3 off.
Where and when can I use my Railcard?
The Family & Friends Railcard gets you 1/3 off Standard Anytime and Off-Peak fares, as well as Standard Advance and First Class Advance fares. For more information on when you can use your railcard, read our the full list of applicable fares.
When buying your train tickets through the CrossCountry mobile app, follow these simple steps to claim your discount.
- Put in your origin and destination as normal
- Click on the drop-down menu on the tab that says '1 adult, no railcards or promotions'
- From here, click on 'Add railcard' followed by 'Select a railcard'
- Scroll down to ‘Family and Friends Railcard’, select this then click on the 'Done' button and after that, the 'Get times & tickets' prompt
At this stage, you should see the discount applied, and you should be able to follow the booking flow to the checkout page.