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• Tickets & Savings

School Group Train Tickets

Travelling as a school group save money on your train travel by using a school group travel ticket, and we'll even help you book and sit together., it’s time to leave the classroom.

Planning a school trip? Travelling with University? Part of a language school looking to test out your newly learnt skills? We offer heavily discounted School Group train tickets which allow schools and other groups such as scouts, universities or sports teams to travel with us for less, even on peak time services. Save on train tickets for school trips when you book as a group.

First time on a train? No worries - our team are on hand to help and if you're travelling to Euston we have an onboarding team who can assist with getting your group onboard comfortably with no hassle.

Make some memories - getting out of the classroom not only makes learning fun it also makes lifelong memories for students and teachers, so get on the train and explore.

Book in advance - beat the rush

You can book a group journey with us up to 52 weeks before you travel, meaning you will have plenty of time to prepare and plan your fun field trip.

We have a dedicated team who deal with group bookings 10 or more people. They also know that keeping tabs on your group is made easier by booking an exclusive carriage.

Travelling from London Euston? We can help your School Group by getting them safely onboard before departure.

Contact us direct for school group bookings

10 or more people in your group? Complete our group bookings form or if you'd prefer - give us a call on 03455 280253 (Option 4 then Option 1).

We're open: Mon - Fri 8.30am - 6.00pm.

School Group train destinations

Take a class on that overdue school trip. You can travel anywhere on our network. Choose from some of the UK’s biggest cities including: London, The Lake District, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Get in touch with our groups travel team who will help you get the best deal possible.

Have some fun

Make new friends and memories

Enjoy the journey

Cheap prices.

Prices start from £16.25 for a child return ticket and £32.50 for an adult return ticket (ts and cs apply). That’s the kind of simple maths we can get on board with. Additionally, with School Group tickets, children aged up to and including 17 years old can travel with a child ticket.  T&Cs apply .

Book group travel

• One item of hand luggage that can fit on a lap
• One larger item of luggage, not exceeding 30 x 70 x 90 cm in size
• 29 or more day's before travel: 90% of the ticket value will be refunded.
• 28 - 21 day's prior to travel: 50% of the ticket value will be refunded.
• 20 - 15 day's prior to travel: 25% of the ticket value will be refunded.
• 14 day's or less prior to travel: No refund will be given.
• On or after the date of travel: No refund will be given.
• Underground Travelcards are non-refundable. £10.00 admin fee will also be applied to all refunds. Exclusive Carriage Hire: If a refund is required, please contact us as soon as possible and the Group Travel Department will advise appropriate procedures accordingly. Please find refund percentages as below:
• 29 or more days prior travel. 90% of the ticket value will be refunded
• 28 - 21 days prior to travel. 50% of the ticket value will be refunded
• 20 - 15 days prior to travel. 25% of the ticket value will be refunded
• 14 days or less prior to travel. NIL REFUND   For Exclusive Carriage Hire, all seats are booked; refunds for reduced passenger numbers are not possible below the carriage size. For amendments, a £10 admin fee per carriage seat will be applied.   Flexible Non-Group Fares: If tickets are unused a refund can be processed up to a maximum of 28 days of ticket expiry date. Groups Travel Team must be in possession of the tickets before the ticket expiry to process the refund. Postage to us for refund is at the customers expense. Non receipt of the tickets by the groups team or any missing coupons means a refund will not be possible. £10.00 admin fee will be applied per ticket.   Advanced Non-Group Fares: Once payment is made tickets are non-refundable. Terms & conditions of sale Contract First Trenitalia West Coast Rail Limited (“the Company”) agrees to supply the services (“the Services”) to the Customer named overleaf (“the Customer”) subject to the following terms and conditions. Force Majeure and Frustration Whilst the Company will use all reasonable endeavours to fulfil its contractual obligations here under, it shall not be liable for any delay brought by events which are beyond the control (for any reason) of the Company. Payment Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Customer shall make payment for the goods within 7 days of the date of invoice, or 7 full days before travel if this occurs first. Liability The Company shall under no circumstances be liable for any indirect, special or consequential loss (including loss of anticipated profit or third party claims) howsoever arising either from breach or non-performance of any if its obligations under the contract or from the supply of or intended use of the Services, even if the Company has been advised of the possibility of such potential loss, except that the Company shall be liable for loss arising from death or personal injury resulting from proven negligence of the Company. The Company’s liability in respect of each group booking shall be limited to the value of any tickets purchased.  

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At a glance: See train locations, direction of travel (red arrow) and service type by color (gray, yellow, red). Stations are in white boxes.

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It seemed like an exciting, novel way to kick off our family ski trip: taking the train from New Orleans to Denver via Chicago , before renting a car for the last leg to the resort. In reality, the journey went down in family lore for all the wrong reasons: trains packed with rowdy spring breakers, extensive delays, and a chilly night huddled in a frigid upstairs viewing car because it was the only place we could get seats together amidst the chaos and crowds.

About three decades later, the delights of train travel with my own family—my husband and our almost-five-year-old son—thankfully far outweigh the mishaps. We’re lucky to live in Europe, the holy grail of rail networks, and although train travel in the U.S. might not be as extensive, having the right gear and strategy helps make it as seamless as possible.

Along the way, I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for how well-suited rail travel can be for families—a view shared by parents like Karen Zimet, a Charlottesville, Virginia-based accountant and avid traveler who has explored many train routes with her husband and two daughters.

“You’re strapped into a seat with most other kinds of transportation, but on a train you have this extra freedom kids are always looking for,” Zimet says. “You can move around, go sit in the dining car, or just walk the length of the train. And it’s almost like a little voyeuristic view of parts of cities and towns you wouldn't get to see otherwise, like walled-in backyards along the route, or spotting animals out the window. I think we once sang ‘Old McDonald’ for two hours because my youngest would see some animal and we’d sing about it.”

Not that every trip will be all cheerful sing-alongs, of course: Traveling with kids, no matter how you do it, is rarely stress-free. But armed with insider tips, tricks, and hacks from train aficionados like Zimet and other industry experts, you can make your family’s train adventure as much fun as the destination itself (i.e., no frostbitten fingers in the frozen viewing deck).

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First, do your research

Parents new to train travel with kids can often be overwhelmed by the idea. Where should they go? How long should the trip be? What kind of tickets should they book?

Katie Brown, an independent affiliate of Ciao Bambino , Inc., a boutique agency that specializes in family travel, recommends Google Maps as a helpful starting point. After choosing two (or more) destinations and selecting the train icon for directions, users can see in a few seconds which operators offer service, how many transfers are involved, and how long the trip is estimated to take, plus other key intel.

“That’s the easiest way to get a general overview,” Brown explains. “It will also give you the names of the train companies and the train stations, so you can look at that to plan things further.”

Dig into the operator’s schedules and deals

In destinations with extensive train networks, some providers offer specific perks for passengers with kids, including free or discounted tickets for younger children, but usually, reservations must be made in order to hold the seat, especially on popular routes. The difference between coach and business fare can be minimal, but many parents say they often prefer non-business class cars because of their more kid-friendly environments.

Private or sleeping rooms that include their own bathroom are also a popular option for families both domestically and abroad, especially as the pandemic lingers. In the U.S., Amtrak’s Family Bedroom , available on all of its overnight routes west of Chicago, is a great choice for up to two adults and two children, according to a company spokesperson.

And don’t forget about regional carriers such as Metrolink, which connects downtown Los Angeles with beach towns and desert destinations across Southern California via its 500-plus-mile network. Spokesperson Paul Gonzales says that during the pandemic, Metrolink’s weekend service has been a “standout success,” thanks in part to a promotion that lets up to three kids 17 and under ride for free with each $10 adult Weekend Day Pass—an excellent, affordable option for a quick family getaway.

“There’s no parking, no sitting in traffic, no breathing exhaust, somebody else is driving and taking you right where you want to go,” Gonzales says, noting that Metrolink’s double-decker cars are especially popular with families. “Kids love it, and their parents love it, too. You go up the stairs and look down on the world. It’s just a good time.”

Whenever possible, book directly through the operator’s website or use a travel agent, which will give you more leverage in making changes. And always reserve seats in advance if you can to avoid the dreaded boarding scramble—many parents prefer groups of four seats facing each other, often with a table in between them. Finally, don’t forget to download your carrier’s mobile app for real-time access to schedules, tickets, and boarding information.

Pack as light as possible

Forget that ever-so-convenient airline luggage drop-off and pick-up: On a train, you’re in charge of schlepping suitcases and strollers on board and through stations, while keeping track of your kiddos, too. Use the smallest wheeled suitcases you can manage so you can store them directly above your seats instead of trying to fit them into a dedicated storage area; this also makes for much quicker exits.

Zimet is a huge proponent of backpacks for easy mobility. She and her husband both love their trekking packs by Kelty , a popular outdoor brand, while her daughters each have their own kid-sized packs, which she helps them pack beforehand.

If your little one is still in a stroller, you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of bringing a travel-friendly model (easier to navigate on the train, but maybe not ideal for napping). “Know yourself and your kid situation,” Brown advises. “If the convenience of getting on the train fast is worth the inconvenience of having a lighter stroller, go for it. If for the rest of your trip, you need the convenience of a bigger stroller, you just find a way to make it work on the train.”

Whatever wheels you choose, here’s a pro tip from Amtrak: Board strollers backward; that is, get onto the train and pull it onboard, instead of trying to push it from outside in. Some operators offer specific storage for strollers; just look for the stroller symbol on the outside of the car (and, if you’re not required to collapse it, don’t forget to set the brake).

Arrive early and stay organized

One of the perks of train travel is that you don’t need to arrive hours in advance like you would at the airport. However, be sure to allow ample time—an hour is a fairly safe bet—for crowded stations and last-minute kiddo bathroom breaks. At large Amtrak stations, you can also look out for complimentary Red Cap Baggage Assistance (don’t forget to tip).

Zimet likes to arrive in enough time to snag provisions of cheeses, meats, bread, and fruit (some large train stations have grocery stores) for an on-board picnic, which is both cheaper than dining-car fare and “takes up a big chunk of time on the train,” she says.

Once you’re finally rolling (hallelujah!), keep your mobile device or printed tickets easily accessible for conductor checks. Though e-tickets are increasingly the norm, it’s way more fun for younger kids to watch the conductor punch paper tickets the old-school way. Less fun, however, is scrambling for said paper tickets every time the conductor walks through, so appointing one person in charge of them and one place as the dedicated holding spot—like an easily accessible interior backpack pocket—is helpful. On international routes, the same goes for passports and other important documents like vaccine documentation .

Don’t forget the essentials

Looking out the window and listening for the train whistle won’t keep even the most train-enthralled tykes occupied forever. Many carriers offer free Wi-Fi, but it’s always a good idea to download plenty of shows or movies in advance (bonus if they’re train-themed!), as well as bringing age-appropriate distractions like toys and coloring books (new ones and old favorites).

A supply of snacks is also crucial to keeping hangriness at bay. As with air travel, it’s fine to bend the rules and allow for treats, but don’t overdo it (unless you enjoy chasing a sugar-amped toddler down the train aisles). Keep all your goodies perfectly stashed with Stojo Jr ., a newly launched, kid-sized line of collapsible, eco-friendly food containers and water bottles. (Bonus: When empty, these nifty products also double as excellent toys—my son can spend hours collapsing and expanding them.)

Zimet also recommends reusable stickers —“great for sticking on the windows”—and triangular crayons (no rolling runaways!). Be sure to stash a deck of cards , too: A rousing family match of gin rummy might be just the ticket to tearing teens away from their devices for a while.

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Want to see the best of Turkey? Try one of these 7 incredible train journeys

Turkey’s rail network remains one of its best-kept travel secrets, offering everything from scenic day trips to long-distance sleepers.

Turkey’s rail network remains one of the country’s best-kept tourism secrets, still rarely utilised by foreign travellers. A fast YHT (high-speed) network connects Istanbul with Eskişehir, Konya, Ankara and Sivas, but it’s the network’s older routes, cutting through rural Turkey, where it really shines for scenic, slow-travel journeys. Most routes open for bookings 30 or 15 days in advance.

1. Roses Express: İzmir to Isparta

This daily train is the prime route for classical history lovers. In total, it’s a 10-hour chug across the coastal Aegean plains and into the hill country of western Anatoli — but the joy is in hopping off periodically to explore the region’s ancient ruins. The train calls into Selçuk station, three miles east of the   UNESCO-listed Ephesus ruins, and Denizli station, jumping-off point for Pamukkale’s travertine terraces and Hierapolis ruins. Its final destination, Isparta, is the gateway to the   mountaintop ruins of Sagalassos. Tickets 320 TRY (£7.60).

2. Eastern Express: Ankara to Kars

The daily Eastern Express runs for 814 miles across high plateaus and the mountainous countryside of northeast Anatolia. During winter, when snow blankets the peaks and plains, this is one of Turkey’s most beautiful journeys. Most travellers board with their own picnic rather than using the basic dining car, settling in for the 26-hour journey in either Pullman seating or four-berth, shared-couchette sleeper compartments. From December to March, there are also three pricier Touristic Eastern Express departures a week, which only have two-berth private sleeper compartments and include stops for excursions in historic cities. Eastern Express tickets 400 TRY (£9.50), Touristic Eastern Express tickets from 6,000 TRY (£143).

3. Taurus Express: Konya to Adana

This passenger train uses the historic railway line blasted through the Taurus Mountains between 1904 and 1918, which scythes across the Cilician Gates mountain pass once crossed by Alexander the Great. Laid out originally to be the northern section of the Baghdad Railway, the line is rimmed by steep, forested slopes and deep gorges, via multiple tunnels, and travels over the 320ft-high stone Varda Viaduct, which featured in the 2012 Bond film Skyfall. The seven-hour, daily Taurus Express connects Konya with Adana, a good springboard for the castles and ruins of Turkey’s eastern Mediterranean. Tickets 200 TRY (£4.80).

3. Pamukkale Express: Eskişehir to Denizli

Connecting the vibrant arts-hub city of Eskişehir with Denizli for Pamukkale and Hierapolis, the nine-hour Pamukkale Express is a ringside seat for the rural heartland of northwest Anatolia. The northern section trails through valleys once ruled by the Iron Age Phrygian kings, while continuing south the landscape unfurls into wide areas of farmland backed by fir-forested hills. There are daily morning departures in both directions. Tickets 280 TRY (£6.70).

5. Lake Van Express: Ankara to Tatvan

There are two long-distance routes that make the most of southeast Anatolia’s vistas of raw, rock-pitted plateaus, rolling hills, vast lakes and sprawling orchards and farmland. Both cross the Karakaya Dam section of the Euphrates River via the 2,030-metre-long Euphrates Railway Bridge and are at their most scenic in spring and autumn. As on the Eastern Express, the dining car is basic, so most passengers pack their own food supplies for onboard picnics.

The twice-weekly Lake Van Express rolls for 775 miles on its 26-hour journey between Ankara and Tatvan, on the western edge of Lake Van. The lake (Turkey’s largest) sprawls for 1,435sq miles. Head to the city of Van, the springboard to exploring the country’s southeastern corner, and visit Lake Van’s prime attraction, the Armenian artistic masterpiece that is Akdamar Church. Travellers can choose between Pullman seating, four-berth shared couchette compartments and two-bed private sleeper cabins. Tickets from 420-1,590 TRY (£10-38).

6. South Express: Ankara to Diyarbakır

Meanwhile, the South Express meanders for 653 miles between Ankara and the walled city of Diyarbakır, which, with its ancient monuments, Kurdish culture and historic bridges spanning the Tigris River, serves as an excellent introduction to the rich heritage of the south east. The regular 22-hour version, which runs five times a week, costs a fraction of the price of the Touristic Diyarbakır Express — a 24-hour train running the same route, which departs once a month and includes stops for excursions — in the city of Malatya when heading east; and at Yolçatı (to visit Harput Castle), and the city of Kayseri when heading west. South Express seat tickets 355 TRY (£8.45), or 1,525 TRY (£36) for a two-bed private sleeper compartment; Touristic Diyarbakır Express tickets from 8,000 TRY (£191) for a two-bed private sleeper compartment.  

7. Sivas-Samsun Railway

This eight-hour route connects the city of Sivas — studded with some of Turkey’s most glorious examples of 13th-century Seljuk-era architecture, with the Black Sea port of Samsun, where the Pontic tomb-haul of golden artifacts known as the Amisos Treasures are finally on display, in the new Samsun Museum. Running three times a week in both directions, the train lazily traverses hills patchworked with farms before winding its way past the Canık Mountains. Slow down and complete it in two stages, stopping in Amasya, where a cliff face dimpled with the tombs of Pontic kings watches over Ottoman houses lining the Yeşilırmak River below. Tickets 275 TRY (£6.50).

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8 great rail journeys to take across the USA

Jan 29, 2024 • 7 min read

Considerably more relaxing than driving or flying, the best train rides in the US offer a leisurely sightseeing experience.© Alex Potemkin/Getty Images

There’s no getting around the sheer size and scale of the USA – it’s an absolute, supersized whopper – and the best way to see it all is via train.

The US has close to 3.8 million sq miles (10 million sq km) of sublime mountain ranges, parched desert, entire states engulfed in deep snow, you-gotta-go-see-it-to-believe-it cities, endless prairie land, six whole time zones and lakes so large you could lose whole countries down there. So while traveling around by plane might make sense from a convenience point of view – it’s not quite six hours to dart directly from New York to LA – there really is no better way to experience the sheer grandeur of the country than by taking one of these train vacations.

Considerably more relaxing than driving or flying, the best train rides in the US offer a leisurely, nostalgic sightseeing experience, often passing through pristine landscapes inaccessible by other means. The US is rich with amazing train journeys, but the routes listed below are the cream of the crop. From California to New England ,  here are eight epic US train trips our editors have selected, taken from Lonely Planet's  Amazing Train Journeys .

1. The Sunset Limited

Route: New Orleans – San Antonio – Tucson – Phoenix – Los Angeles Distance and duration: 1995 miles (3211 km); 2 days

Amtrak's Sunset Limited is the ultimate American railroad ride and one of its most famous train journeys: east to west, coast to coast, clean through from the bars of New Orleans to the breakers of the Pacific Ocean. If you’ve always dreamed of taking a journey across the USA, but don’t much relish the prospect of two weeks spent cooped up in an automobile, then a ride on the Sunset Limited is the answer.

Sit back and let America’s landscapes buzz by: from Louisiana ’s bayous, past the high-rises of Houston , across the deserts of Texas and Arizona , over the Californian hills all the way to LA’s golden beaches. Saddle up, pardner: it’s gonna be quite a ride.

2. The Coast Starlight

Route: Seattle – Portland – Sacramento – Los Angeles Distance and duration: 1377 miles (2216 km); 35 hours

Trace America’s “left coast” in all its varied splendor. The 35-hour (OK, it’s Amtrak, so maybe more) trip between Seattle and Los Angeles curves alongside crashing Pacific waves, cuts through America’s lushest agricultural land and passes below snowcapped mountains and towering redwoods. Of all the Amtrak routes, the Coast Starlight offers the most scenic variety in the fewest hours.

It’s also the only Amtrak service with a dedicated parlor car, open only to passengers who book sleepers. The parlor conjures old-time rail romance, with wood paneling and soft lighting, plus a special menu and wine-and-cheese tastings. Highlights of this train ride include dramatic sunrise perspectives on 14,179ft (4322m)  Mt Shasta , and a gorgeous midday traverse of Oregon's Cascade Range.

3. Metro-North Hudson Line

Route: New York City – Poughkeepsie Distance and duration: 69 miles (111 km); 1½ hours

Depart from New York City ’s iconic beaux arts Grand Central Terminal , stopping to admire the ornate astronomical ceiling painting in the vaulted main concourse and to slurp up oysters and a martini at the famous Oyster Bar.

Then roll through Manhattan and the Bronx and into the glorious green Hudson River Valley. Hugging the eastern banks of the river, New York’s Metro-North's Hudson line travels deep into American history. The names of the stops along the way speak to the area’s origins: Native American (Ossining, Poughkeepsie); Dutch (Spuyten Duyvil, Yonkers, Cortlandt, Peekskill); English (Hastings-on-Hudson, Scarborough). It’s a land so famously beautiful an entire art movement – the Hudson River School – was once dedicated to capturing its glory. For the cost of a burger and a beer, this view can be yours for almost two hours.

4. The California Zephyr

Route: Chicago – Omaha – Denver – Salt Lake City – San Francisco Distance and duration: 2438 miles (3924km), 51 hours 20 minutes

For soaking up the scenic grandeur of the North American continent, nothing compares with Amtrak’s California Zephyr train. This classic three-day journey travels nearly 2500 miles (4000km) across prairies, deserts, the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada on its way from Chicago to San Francisco. The scenery is magnificent throughout – especially when seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the lounge car – but if you can only do one section, opt for the riveting 185-mile (298km) stretch between Denver and Glenwood Springs, where the train travels through an often roadless wilderness of deep, narrow gorges near the Colorado River’s headwaters.

Near sunset, the train emerges into the majestic red rock desert of eastern Utah , then crosses overnight into the forbidding vastness of Nevada's sagebrush country, with salt flats and stark, arid mountains as far as the eye can see. Sunrise on day three reveals an entirely different desert: the blinding-white alkali flats and ghostly grey mountains near Winnemucca, Nevada. Just beyond the gambling-happy little city of Reno, the Zephyr climbs into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, then enters California’s imposing granite high country beyond the photogenic frontier town of Truckee.

5. Amtrak Downeaster

Route: Boston – Portland – Brunswick Distance and duration: 145 miles (233 km); 3 hours 25 minutes

As car-free city breaks go, this train escape is hard to beat, chugging from the downtown main streets of urban Boston to Maine ’s rural greens in under four hours. That’s from the seventh most densely populated city in the US to the state with the highest percentage of forest coverage, all in less time than it takes to cook an old-style Yankee plum pudding.

Even better, every stop on the Amtrak Downeaster features historic New England cities and towns, parks and seascapes, cottage arts and crafts, world-class shopping and stellar foods fashioned from farm-and-sea-fresh ingredients.

6. The New Mexico Rail Runner

Route: Albuquerque – Santa Fe Distance and duration: 97 miles (156 km); 90 minutes

One of America’s great unsung commuter railways, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express is a regional train that runs down the Rio Grande Valley , connecting the state’s largest city, Albuquerque, with its cultural and political capital, Santa Fe.

On the way it crosses the wide, high desert, giving views of arid mountains in all directions, and even passes through several of the state’s Native American tribal lands. A no-nonsense, clean and quick journey, its highlights are the sweeping views from the upper seats of the double-decker carriages. Taken as a day trip or a scenic but practical form of intra-state transport, the Rail Runner is a wonderful introduction to New Mexico ’s epic landscapes.

7. The Empire Builder

Route: Chicago – St Paul or Minneapolis – Spokane – Portland or Seattle Distance and duration: 2764 miles (4448 km); 46 hours

The Amtrak Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle glides through Wisconsin 's woodlands, Minnesota's lake country and the North Dakota prairies en route to a western horizon swarming with snow-capped Rocky Mountain peaks.

From Browning , Montana, an unforgettable 60-mile run along the southern edge of Glacier National Park leads to the park entrance at West Glacier, where nature lovers will want to break their journey before continuing to Seattle.

8. The Vermonter

Route: Washington, DC – New York City– Springfield – Essex Junction ( Burlington ) – St Albans Distance and duration: 611 miles (983 km); 13 hours 45 minutes

The Amtrak Vermonter runs once daily from Washington, DC to St Albans, VT. This is the most scenic route east of the Mississippi, especially in its northern reaches, where it snakes for four hours through the bucolic green hills and photogenic villages of rural Vermont.

Starting from the nation's capital, Washington, DC, the train runs north through one of the USA's greatest metropolises, New York City, before bowling out through Connecticut , Massachusetts and New Hampshire en route to the bucolic Vermont countryside and St Albans.

This article was first published Dec 4, 2020 and updated Jan 29, 2024.

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10 unmissable day trips from London to see historic wonders — all less an hour by train

From Tudor era stately homes to the site where the Magna Carta, Londoners just need to hop on the train for a historic adventure says historian Alice Loxley

Every corner of the UK is packed with incredible history . Whether it’s towering castles with drawbridges and deep moats, magnificent cathedrals with worn medieval effigies, or market squares with quirky alleyways and lanes, there is heaps to discover in every village and town.

What’s more, the countryside is criss-crossed with over 10,000 miles of railway lines, many of which pass through our most idyllic historic towns. So, if you’re looking to set out on a historic day trip this summer, the options are plentiful.

Londoners just need to hop on the train for a historic adventure: but perhaps it’s time we brushed up on our history knowledge! In new research from Trainline, it turns out only half of Londoners know when the Great Fire of London took place, the lowest awareness in the whole of the UK. It was also revealed that only 52 per cent of those living in the capital visited a historic site last year, and 7 per cent have never done so.

That’s not to say we aren’t a historically curious bunch: in the polling, two-thirds of Brits expressed a desire to get more historical sites on their bucket list.

So, if you are curious to learn more about Britain’s past, pack your sandwiches (and suncream) jump on the train, and zoom out into the countryside. There are plenty of wonderful locations to explore.

St Albans and its Roman and Norman relics

Verulamium, now known as St Albans, was the third largest city of Roman Britain. Here are some of the most incredible Roman ruins in the UK, all in the shadow of St Albans Cathedral, the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain. There’s so much history here: a Norman tower, the longest nave in England, medieval wall paintings, the Shrines of Alban and Amphibalus, and the Abbot’s Kitchen (a café). All just 30 mins on the train from London.

Hatfield and its Tudor wonders

Just under an hour from London is Hatfield in Hertfordshire, a must see for any Tudor history fan. A short walk from the station, Hatfield House was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth I. Here you can wander through the rooms young where Elizabeth grew up in alongside her half-siblings Edward and Mary. There are beautiful gardens, too, as well as a tree located where Elizabeth is said to have been told the news she was to be queen.

Sevenoaks and Knole house

Less than an hour train ride from London brings you to Sevenoaks, in Kent. A short walk from the station, and you’ll arrive at one of the grandest houses in the country: Knole. The footprint of this house itself covers four acres, and it is surrounded by a vast medieval deer park. Packed with sumptuous interiors and glossy Tudor paintings, this house was later the childhood home of the famous writer, Vita Sackville-West. Look out for the leopard motif as you walk around – this is the Sackville coat of arms.

Brighton and the royal pavilion

In Brighton – only an hour away from London by train – is a remarkable royal pavilion. Though an English seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales (later King George IV), the architecture – with its domes and minarets – was inspired by Indian tastes. It was a royal residence until it was sold to the city of Brighton in 1850 (Queen Victoria took a preference to holidaying at Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight).

Windsor and its castle

You’ve probably heard of Windsor Castle, but did you know it to be the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world? Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has since been the home of 40 monarchs, and is open to visitors today. Regular trains run from Waterloo to Windsor in just under an hour.

Egham and Runnymede

Runnymede, near Egham, is the historic site where Magna Carta was sealed in 1215. As well as exploring this remarkable history, it’s not a bad place for a picnic spot. It’s easy to get there too. Just hop on the train to Egham station and it’s about a 25-minute walk away.

Bletchley Park and its WWII secrets

Bletchley Park is one of the most fascinating modern historical sites in the UK, once the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers – including famous names such as Alan Turing. The park provides deep insights into wartime history and cryptography, all under an hour away on the train.

Guildford and the Watts Gallery artists’ village

The Watts Gallery Artists' Village in Guildford, is dedicated to the work of the Victorian-era painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts. It’s a short train journey to Guildford, Farncombe or Godalming, and from there it’s a short walk to the village.

Rochester and its castle

There’s plenty of history in Rochester, too (an hour on the train from London Victoria). A highlight is the magnificent cathedral – England’s second oldest, and a place of Christian worship since AD 604. This was also a favourite spot of Charles Dickens: nearby is Gads Hill Place, where Dickens lived, and he based many of his novels on the area.

Waltham Cross and The Royal Gunpowder Mills

Finally, The Royal Gunpowder Mills in Waltham Cross. Gunpowder production began on the site in the 1660s, and after the Crown acquired it in 1787 it became one of the world’s most important centres for the understanding and manufacture of gunpowder. Today, there’s a museum and science centre to explore – all under 30 mins on the train from London.

That gives you a taste of the wonderful history to explore, not far from the capital. Hopefully that whets your appetite for some historical day trips – have a wonderful time!

Alice Loxton is a historian with an interest in British history. Find her on Instagram at @history_alice

Book trains around the UK at thetrainline.com

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Boy hit and killed by transit train in New Jersey

• Updated: Aug. 09, 2024, 8:03 a.m.
• | Published: Aug. 09, 2024, 8:01 a.m.
• Jeff Goldman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A boy was struck and killed by an NJ Transit River Line train Thursday morning in Palmyra, N.J., officials said.

The northbound light rail train hit the boy at 8:19 a.m. at the Chestnut Street crossing in the Burlington County borough, NJ Transit said. The boy’s age wasn’t immediately available.

According to abc6 in Philadelphia , he was a Palmyra High School student-athlete, but his name has not been released. He was a rising sophomore, interim district Superintendent Mark Pease said.

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Amtrak Guide

By train travelers for train travelers, 5 great amtrak superliner trips for families.

Most kids love train rides, making an Amtrak trip a great option for a family vacation. Not only is the experience fun, but there are also amazing sights and educational opportunities along the way.

If you’re looking for family train trip ideas, the Superliner Amtrak routes are especially great options because they have family bedrooms, which have four beds (two adult-sized and two child-sized). Plus, family bedrooms have windows on both sides of the train and all meals are included in the ticket price, so you don’t have to worry about packing meals.

There are currently 11 Amtrak Superliner routes that you can choose from. Here are our top recommendations for families based on route length and kid-friendly destinations along the way.

This website is reader supported and not affiliated with Amtrak. We may earn a small commission from links on this page . For current schedules and ticket prices, visit Amtrak.com.

For a vacation with your family and your car, book tickets on the Auto Train . It’s a great way to avoid a long road trip if the two stations on the route are convenient for you: Lorton, VA and Sanford, FL. Trains at both stations depart early evening and arrive the next day in mid-morning after a 17-hour trip.

If you’re heading south to Florida, the Sanford Amtrak station is an hour or less drive from Disney World , Universal Studios Florida , New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach .

In the opposite direction, if you are traveling north to Virginia, and you can drive to destinations including Mt. Vernon , Alexandria , Washington D.C. and Shenandoah National Park after you arrive.

Capitol Limited

Less than 18 hours of travel time if no delays, the Capitol Limited is another short Superliner route that’s great for families. The best scenery is the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern half of the route (plan to ride in the summer for the most scenery, especially when traveling westbound). Plus, if you live in the Midwest, you can travel to Washington D.C. to explore the monuments and museums. In the opposite direction, a trip to Chicago is full of kid-friendly things to do .

If you don’t want to travel the entire route, Harpers Ferry and Cumberland, Maryland are two stops to plan a trip around. Both have great hiking trails and historic sites, and the train trip is especially short from Washington D.C., making it a good option for toddlers and younger children. Plan to stay at least one night in these cities.

Empire Builder

Summer is the perfect time to ride the Empire Builder while the kids are out of school and there’s lots of daylight for viewing the scenery. It is one of Amtrak’s longer routes with a travel time of 46 hours — you’ll spend two nights on the train and see the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest forests and rivers. However, there are several options for shorter (but still epic) family trips.

In the Rocky Mountains, Whitefish and Glacier National Park are both exciting destinations with outdoor activities and options to tour the national park. For the shortest train trip, start on the West Coast in cities including Portland and Seattle.

Wisconsin Dells is also a great destination full of fun for kids and adults all year round. There are many indoor and outdoor water parks, amusement parks, boat rides and other activities. Travel time from Chicago is about 3.5 hours and four hours from Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Southwest Chief

For a trip through the desert and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, book tickets on the Southwest Chief . You’ll spend two nights on the train if you travel the entire route between Los Angeles and Chicago. Older kids might enjoy the Old West history along the way, including a stop in Dodge City , which features a recreated 1870s cowboy town.

Plus, trains stop at Flagstaff , which is the gateway to the Grand Canyon National Park. You can book a day tour or rent a car and drive there and to other area attractions . Another potential stop is in Albuquerque, especially for the International Balloon Fiesta in October.

Tip : The Sunset Limited is another desert train option with departures from cities including New Orleans, Houston and Los Angeles. San Antonio is an especially fun kid destination on the route with Fiesta Texas Six Flags, SeaWorld and Natural Bridge Caverns .

California Zephyr

The California Zephyr is one of the most popular and scenic Amtrak routes. Trains travel through two mountain ranges, over the Mississippi River and along the Colorado River. Summer is a popular time to ride when there is a lot of daylight for viewing scenery and exploring stops along the route . However, a winter break trip can be great fun, especially for skiing, snowboarding, sledding and snow tubing in Winter Park or at Lake Tahoe (via car rental in Reno).

Total travel time is over 50 hours, but you can ride the western half of the route for a shorter ride and great scenery. Northern California to Reno is a 7-hour day trip, and Northern California to Fraser-Winter Park Station is just one night on the train. Starting the trip in Denver or Omaha and traveling west will also shorten travel time.

More Information

• 5 best Amtrak sleeper car routes
• 5 best fall train rides on Amtrak
• 10 best Amtrak routes to ride in summer

Top photo credit: Brett Kiger

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14 Best Train Trips to Take Across America for Breathtaking Scenery

Vacation in a new way to see some beautiful sights.

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While traveling by train can certainly be a more inexpensive option for a family getaway when compared to air travel or a boat cruise, that doesn't mean you'll be cramped and crowded. Many of the trips we have listed include luxury sleeper trains, amazing dining and, of course, unbeatable views. There are routes like the Surfliner, which runs along the Pacific Ocean (and would be an unforgettable destination for spring break ), the Grand Canyon Railway, a two-hour ride of bliss and tons more that are sure to pique your interest.

Let the best train rides in America also inspire you to make locomotives your transportation of choice even when you head to international destinations (we recommend you hop aboard Norway’s famous Flåm Railway ).

Still need help deciding where to go and what to pack? Check out Good Housekeepin g 's 2023 Family Travel Awards for expert advice, top-tested gear and more.

Amtrak Auto Train

If you’re traveling to a destination that requires use of a vehicle, Amtrak’s Auto Train allows you to pack it with you! It transports your car (or other recreational vehicles) as well as you and your family on a route from Washington, DC to Sanford, Florida.

Good Housekeeping’s Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab executive director, Lexi Sachs boarded the train with her family for a trip to Orlando, which she described as “just as fun of an experience for my two kids” as their trip to Disney World.

Sachs also pointed out that the train trip featured a range of seating options, from coach to bedrooms with pull down beds, lovely views of the East Coast, delicious dinner and breakfast, and allowed her to feel like she wasn’t losing a day of vacation due to travel. Plus, Amtrak offers priority offloading, “which means your car comes off first,” Sachs said, adding that “It was definitely worth it in my opinion!”

America's National Parks with Rocky Mountaineer

See eight destinations over 11 days when you embark on this incredible journey through canyons and mountains. You’ll have the chance to explore Arches National Park with its many sandstone arches, Canyonlands National Park, which is full of rock columns and original Native American cave paintings and Yellowstone National Park, where you will see its majestic hot springs and geysers. Not only does this package include multiple sightseeing tours, but it also covers 10 nights of hotel stays and three meals.

Grand Rail Experience

Visit great American cities, including Washington, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and New Orleans, on this 14-day cross-country journey. Included in the package is six nights of hotel accommodations, seven nights onboard one of Amtrak’s sleeper trains, sightseeing tours and priceless landscape views.

You also get to take your pick from attractions such as the Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Woodland Park Zoo and Chihuly Garden and Glass for no additional cost.

Northern Rail Experience

Get your fill of adventure when you embark on this nine-day train vacation with stops in Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco and Muir Woods.

Amtrak offers an all-inclusive package with a hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour, and breathtaking views of the great plains and the Pacific Coast. Plus you and your family will enjoy three nights of hotel accommodations and five nights on board Amtrak in private sleeping rooms. One meal is also included.

Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic

Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic departs from Anchorage and winds along the Turnagain Arm before turning off into the backcountry wilderness and eventually ending in Seward.

Look for views of the steep Chugach Range mountains plummeting right into the ocean, and the stunning shores of Resurrection Bay; wildlife sightings along the way could include beluga whales, sheep, bear and moose. Daily service is available seasonally, from mid-May through mid-September. Take a variety of tours in Seward — like glacier treks or sled dog rides — before heading back to Anchorage.

Amtrak’s famous Surfliner route runs between San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego, with multiple daily departures.

The route runs along the Pacific Ocean — almost close enough to catch a wave — for gorgeous views throughout the journey. And yes, you can bring along your surfboard; special racks are designed to hold travelers’ outdoor gear.

Napa Valley Wine Train

If you love wine and vintage aesthetics, you absolutely must experience the Napa Valley Wine Train. Century-old railcars traverse a 150-year-old rail corridor on this 36-mile round-trip journey. The railroad once transported guests to a spa resort in Calistoga and now winds its way across the pastoral California landscape from Napa to St. Helena and back, stopping at the famed region’s wineries all along the route. Four on-board kitchens provide locally sourced, top-end cuisine for a full luxury dining experience.

Grand Canyon Railway

This trip re-creates the historic voyage to the Grand Canyon by rail, which opened to its very first passengers in 1901. Passengers aboard the Grand Canyon Railway depart from Williams Depot and make their way to the Grand Canyon Depot, which is the last operating log depot in the country. The depot is located right in the middle of the National Park’s historic district, near the storied El Tovar Hotel, and merely 200 yards from the edge of the canyon’s South Rim. In all, the trip covers 65 miles of scenic terrain, with unmatched views and photo opps.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad takes passengers on a scenic rail journey through this beautiful mountain range. Choose from two versions of the trip, named for standout attractions: the Nantahala Gorge Excursion (44 miles) or the Tuckasegee River Excursion (32 miles). Both offer a range of seating classes, including an open-air gondola and first-class dining car. Specialty versions of the trip include wine and dine, fall foliage spotting, and even a Peanuts-theme Easter ride.

Cass Scenic Railroad

The steam-driven Cass Scenic Railroad takes passengers through the mountains of West Virginia on revamped flat cars that hauled lumber to the Cass mill more than a century ago. The 11-mile heritage railroad runs from May through October, offering a trip through both history and scenery. Ride to the overlook at Bald Knob, the third highest point in West Virginia, for unforgettable views and picture-taking spots.

Cape Cod Central Railroad

Cape Cod Central is a heritage railroad that operates on 27 miles of former New Haven Railroad tracks on Cape Cod. It takes passengers through marshes, cranberry bogs, dunes — places you can only access by rail. Come for a historic narrated daytime ride, Sunday brunch, sunset dinner, or a special festive holiday ride.

Sunset Limited

Travel between Louisiana and California on Sunset Limited, Amtrak’s Southernmost route. On the way from New Orleans through San Antonio, Tucson, Phoenix and Los Angeles, see diverse scenery including the bayou country, Southwestern deserts, and California mountains. Three trains depart weekly in each direction.

Coast Starlight

The Coast Starlight works its way along the west coast from Los Angeles to Seattle. On the route, pass Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Portland. Catch scenery from verdant valleys and forests to the snow-topped mountains of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta and the Pacific Ocean shoreline to boot. This striking route runs daily.

Empire Builder

Amtrak’s famous Empire Builder route runs daily between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest. It covers portions of the Lewis and Clark trail, following the route of the pioneers. Urban views include the twinkling skyline of Minneapolis and St. Paul; natural landscapes include the North Dakota plains, Big Sky country in Montana and Glacier National Park. The route runs daily.

Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY, and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.

Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping , where she covers everything from holidays to food. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a B.A. in magazine journalism. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping.

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Olympian Noah Lyles leaves track in wheelchair after COVID diagnosis. Here's what we know

Lyles' mother said her son has covid-19 but opted to compete anyway., by holley ford • published august 8, 2024 • updated on august 8, 2024 at 7:38 pm.

"Fastest man in the world" Noah Lyles was taken from the track in a wheelchair Thursday after winning a bronze medal in the men's 200-meter final at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Lyles was diagnosed with COVID-19 two days prior, but opted to run anyway.

What happened to Noah Lyles at the 2024 Olympics?

24/7 New York news stream: Watch NBC 4 free wherever you are

After securing a bronze medal, the sprinter was struggling to walk so he laid down on the track where he appeared to be breathing heavily. He left the arena in a wheelchair and received medical attention before returning the track and speaking with reporters.

Does Noah Lyles have COVID?

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According to Lyles' mother, he was diagnosed with COVID on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

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NBC Olympics' Lewis Johnson reported on the track broadcast that Lyles' mother confirmed the COVID diagnosis.

“I ran into his mom Keisha Caine Bishop who was distraught trying to find him as well,” Johnson said. “We found Noah Lyles in medical, they're being tended to and she did confirm that Noah had been diagnosed with COVID two days ago.”

Lewis Johnson provides an update on Noah Lyles’ condition after he received medical attention following the 200m final. #ParisOlympics 📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/3qRHsNe4JE — NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2024

Several minutes later, Lyles spoke to Johnson during his broadcast.

"Yeah, I woke up early, about 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning and I just was feeling really horrible. I knew it was more than just being sore from the [100m race]. Woke up the doctor's, and we tested, and unfortunately, it came up that I was positive for COVID. My first thought was not to panic, thinking, 'I've been in worse situations, I've run with worse conditions,'" he said.

Lyles previously said he has asthma, which the CDC has said can put people "at increased risk for getting very sick from COVID-19.

Will Noah Lyles compete in the rest of the 2024 Olympics?

Lyles was slated to run in the men's 4x100m relay race on Friday; he won a gold medal in the men’s 100-meter dash last Sunday. But late Thursday, he said he was done at the Paris Olympics.

Noah Lyles has announced that he will not be competing for the remainder of the #ParisOlympics . pic.twitter.com/whkGOImuEF — NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2024

How many Olympians have tested positive for COVID-19 at the 2024 Olympics?

So far, at least 40 athletes have tested positive for COVID at the Paris Olympics, according to a report from the TODAY Show .

What are the COVID protocols at the 2024 Olympics?

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee told TODAY.com that it has the following protocols in place to reduce the risk of COVID among Team USA athletes:

"We implemented an infection prevention program prior to the Games ('Don’t let a cold keep you from the gold') that encouraged athletes to wash their hands, wear face masks when indoors during their travel from the US to Paris, etc.

"If they have an infectious disease, we will set them up with the indicated treatment/medications, and provide them with a private room so they don’t have to worry about getting their roommate sick.

"We will help with transportation so they aren’t in a bus with other athletes, and we will deliver their meals. 

"We will have them wear a mask anytime they are inside and around other people.

"We will allow them to train and compete as long as they feel up to it."

The CDC issued the  following statement  on its website regarding the 2024 Olympics: 

"Mass gatherings are associated with unique health risks, including an increased risk for respiratory illnesses. If you plan to travel to Paris for these events, make sure you are up to date on routine and recommended vaccines, including for COVID-19."

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Travelling With Children on European Trains

All that's good to know including tips for enhancing journeys and practical ticket and rail pass info.

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.

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.

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.

(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 [ SNCF Connect ] https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/ ) 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.

Children aged 3 and under are entitled to travel free of when accompanied by an adult, though they must travel in the adult's lap. Children aged 4 to 12 receive a 50% discount and they can travel in their own seat Those aged 13 to 25 inclusive qualify for a 25% discount on ticket prices, but you must have proof of your age with you when taking the journey. Proof of the entitlement to these discounts, such as a passport, must be taken on the journey.

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.

Simon Harper

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

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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• School student travel
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• School students

Apply for a school travel pass or School Opal card

School travel passes can be used for free travel to and from school or TAFE. Depending on where you are travelling, you may receive a free school travel pass, School Opal card or both.

If you have applied for a student travel pass before you will need a different page:

• If your pass has expired or your details or travel requirements have changed, go to re-apply or update details on a current pass .
• If your application was unsuccessful, find out about requesting a review .
• If your card is damaged, lost or stolen, go to replace a damaged, lost or stolen pass .

Things to know before applying

Applications for next year open at the start of Term 4 this year.

You can apply for free school travel for different modes of transport including train, bus, ferry and light rail using the online form.

You only need to apply:

• if applying for a school travel pass for the first time.
• if requesting an extra pass due to parents living separately.

The student must:

• be a resident of NSW, or an overseas student eligible for free government education.
• be aged 4 years 6 months or older. Pre-school children are not eligible.
• live a minimum distance from your school. The minimum distance varies according to the year or grade the student is enrolled in that calendar year.

Who can get a school travel pass

Kindergarten to year 2 (infants).

• There is no minimum walking distance for these students.

Year 3 to Year 6

• The straight line distance from the student's home address to school is more than 1.6km.
• The walking distance from home to school is 2.3km or further.

Year 7 to Year 12

• The straight line distance from the student's home address to school is more than 2km, or
• The walking distance from home to school is 2.9km or further.

TAFE students

• They are under 18 years of age at 1 January of the year of application.
• They are enrolled in a full-time TAFE course for a minimum of 16 hours per week.
• They are not employed.
• The walking distance from home to TAFE is 3.2km or further.
• They attend the closest TAFE where enrolment is available.

Who can’t get it

Free school travel is available to students who live outside of the following distances from their school. If you live within these distances, the student may still qualify for a School Term Bus Pass .

Before you start the online form

• Confirm the mode of transport and the transport operators the student will need for travel between home and school.

Completing the form

• The form needs to be completed in one session, you will not be able to save a partly completed form.
• You will need a valid email address.
• Note down your N or UN number.
• Applications must be made by a parent or legal guardian if the student is under 16 years of age.
• The student needs to complete and submit the application form if they are 16 years or older.

Apply for a school travel pass

Paper forms

If you don't have access to the internet, you can download and print a paper application form (pdf 1.7MB) . Once the paper form is completed and signed, please hand the form to the student's school or TAFE for validation.

Things to know after applying

• After you have submitted your application, the student's school needs to verify it.
• Transport for NSW will process the application, which may take several weeks.
• You will be informed of the outcome of your application by email.
• You’ll be able to track the status of the application .
• If the application is unsuccessful, you can request a review. Find out more about unsuccessful applications .
• See the full terms and conditions for school travel passes and School Opal cards.

What a school travel pass will look like

School Opal Card

School Opal cards are issued by Transport for NSW for free school travel or as a School Term Bus Pass inside Sydney and surrounds. School Opal cards can be accepted on metro, train, bus, ferry and light rail services.

Rural and regional students

School Travel Pass

Free school travel passes and School Term Bus Passes are issued by operators to students travelling on buses in rural and regional areas. Some operators in rural and regional areas may choose not to issue passes to students. Please contact the operator directly to find out when and where the student pass will be sent.

Using your school travel pass or School Opal card

The School Opal card is only valid for use between home and school on the transport operators specified in your original application. If you try to use your School Opal card for unapproved travel the Opal card reader will show an error message .

The School Opal card can be used for only one forward and one return Approved Journey per school or college day (as applicable). This does not include school holidays. Transport for NSW uses the official NSW Government website to determine school term dates.

The School Opal card can only be used between the hours of 6.30am and 7pm for school students, and 6.30am and 9.30pm for TAFE students.

Trying to tap on or off outside of the above days and times will results in an error message on the Opal reader.

For personal travel, children aged 16 years and under should use a Child/Youth Opal card .

How one Philadelphia woman turned travel vouchers from American Airlines into an Italian staycation

PHILADELPHIA -- One Philadelphia woman made the most of a lucrative airline hack when she collected thousands of dollars in travel vouchers, all while living a life of luxury in Italy, by agreeing to get bumped from her flights home.

And she chronicled the entire experience on TikTok.

Susan Berry's flight home from Italy was oversold and she says the American Airlines gate agents were offering $1,200 travel vouchers to fly out the next day.

Except the next day's flight was also oversold - and the day after that too.

"When I found out that there was potentially a two week opportunity to do this, that's when I started being, like, cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching!" she told Good Morning America.

And she wasn't just stacking travel vouchers. She says American also set her up with a free hotel and her meals were paid for. They even arranged a car service from the airport.

So, again and again, Susan returned to the airport, fully intending not to get on her flight.

"I'm at $3,600 and counting. I'm trying to get up to $10,000 and then travel the world," she says in a TikTok video.

And while you don't have to be as ambitious or outgoing as Susan, experts say flights are oversold a lot and if you have the flexibility, you can make thousands of dollars, plus extras - especially if you negotiate.

"Airlines have a secret menu as well. This can be things like lounge passes or even a business class seat on your replacement flight," said Scott Keyes, founder and chief flight expert at Going.com.

Susan did eventually make it back home to Philadelphia, as her fourth flight finally had enough room for her on board.

"I was just getting started, so I was mentally prepared to stay for two weeks," she said.

Related Topics

• AMERICAN AIRLINES
• PHILADELPHIA
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Why I Love Traveling By Train

To me, the singular most fascinating aspect of train travel is watching the world pass you by.

Unlike flying, when I travel by train I can see the individual villages, the farmers working in their fields, and people going about their daily lives from ground level. In the few seconds that I have to watch their world pass me by, I can develop an understanding of where they come from. Maybe it’s the school children you see leaving school on their bicycles, the joy on their faces as they’re free for another afternoon, or the farmer, working his rice paddy on a cliff high above a gorge, the small stream next to him cascading over the ledge and crashing into the river hundreds of feet below.

Each of the villages that I see are people’s homes. They all have their owns thoughts and concerns, their own joys and tribulations. If they were to leave these towns, they would miss them with the same fervor that I miss my own home.

It’s a truly amazing way to capture the spirit of a people and a country.

As my regular readers know, I’m now about 2/3 of the way finished with a 6-month trip that will take me from Singapore to Istanbul, Turkey, traveling only by land. I’ve taken trains, buses, and even a few boats, but trains remain my favorite. Unlike highways or rivers, trains often crisscross through villages, allowing you to see the real heart of a country.

In fact, I would argue that you can more easily learn about a culture by taking a one-day train trip across the country than spending weeks in its largest city.

However, it’s not just to external views that allow me to see the true lives of locals. When on a train, I am typically surrounded by locals traveling between cities in the daily course of their lives. Even if I don’t interact with my fellow passengers, I see them at their rawest, the good and the bad. I might get offered food by one fellow traveler, or I might watch a child relieve themselves all over a bunk bed because their mom thought a paper bag would hold urine. No matter what though, train travel is never boring.

So, on your next trip, don’t just take a plane or car, relish the trip as much as the destination and take a train. Whether you’re speeding across Japan on a high-speed train, putzing through Siberia, or crossing through Europe , you’ll never regret getting on a train.

Jim Cheney is the creator of Tripologist.com. Having traveled extensively in North America, Europe, and Asia, Jim enjoys sharing his love of travel and some of his favorite places to visit around the world. He lives in Pennsylvania, USA, with his wife and two kids.

See more great places to visit!

My amsterdam bucket list.

Photo of the Week: Traditional Fisherman at the 2011 Daegaya Experience Festival

Is Singapore Worth Visiting on a Backpacker’s Budget?

Getting Utterly Lost in Yangshuo, China’s Yulong River Valley

7 thoughts on “why i love traveling by train”.

i also like trains:)

I’m not fond of train travel in the least, except when in Japan. That country IMO knows how to make any train ride memorable- in the pejorative sense, during rush hour, or in the positive sense, whizzing by rice paddies or in awe of how close houses are in urban areas- and if it weren’t for the advent of LCCs (low-cost carriers), I might’ve taken a few more around.

Even with the rail pass it’s not exactly cheap to get moving around Japan, but sampling ekiben and local treats helps lessen the blow (even if that inevitably translates to spending more!).

I couldn’t agree with you more. There’s just nothing like train travel for comfort, pace, and sensations. Classy stuff.

We are doing almost the same trip overland from Kuala Lumpur to Cork in Ireland starting in February. It has been fun planning and we are lookong forward to actually going. Safe travels

Sounds like a great trip. I finished mine about 9 months ago, so if you need any help or advice, let me know.

I also enjoy going from one place to another by train. The local sceneries are really fascinating. You’ll learn more about the real character of the place you’re visiting. Thanks for sharing.

• Pingback: The Fantastic Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania - UncoveringPA.com

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'Active Shooter Safety Exercise' trains SROs at Siegel High School

Training held 2 days before school year starts.

Officers blocked two roads during Monday's training at Siegel High

• Rutherford County leaders tout presence of SROs for 31 years
• Each of Rutherford County Schools has at least one SRO
• James Evans: School safety has improved

The "Active Shooter Safety Exercise" at Siegel High Monday prepared first responders for potential tragedies like The Covenant School 2023 killings .

People continue to mourn the deaths of three children and three adults from The Covenant School shootings in Nashville.

The Rutherford County training involved over 500 people two days before Rutherford County Schools started the new 2024-25 year for students Wednesday on a two-hour orientation day. The first full day will be Thursday.

As part of the training Monday at Siegel High in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh read out loud a script to tell reporters that his school resource officers (SROs) led the exercise that involved the simulation of "several injuries and two suspects that are now deceased."

'If kids aren't safe, they don't learn': School resource officer staffing remains top priority

The sheriff read scripted words in response to the simulation as if the tragedy had occurred, during the media gathering.

Wisdom for new school year: Retiring Rutherford school board Chairwoman Bratton shares 8 goals in farewell advice

The sheriff's SROs, Fitzhugh said, teamed with other sheriff's deputies and police officers from Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University, Smyrna, La Vergne, Nashville and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Local paramedics, firefighters and emergency management officials also participated in the training.

Law enforcement blocked Siegel Road and Thompson Lane in front of Siegel High for part of the training and directed the stacked, slow-moving traffic away from responding patrol cars, Emergency Medical Service ambulances and city fire trucks.

"While this is an exercise, this training shows our countywide commitment to protect our precious children and school staffs," said Fitzhugh, who has served as sheriff since January 2017 .

Rutherford County Schools has two safety weeks to focus on being prepared for emergencies in the fall and spring, and has drills throughout the year, district spokesman James Evans said.

Monday's event was one of the largest, Evans said.

Rutherford County Schools leadership: Board extends Schools Director James 'Jimmy' Sullivan's contract through April 4, 2028

SROs present for 31 years

Evans also spoke to reporters from behind a portable lectern as if speaking about a real shooting as part of the training. Other local public information officers participated, including sheriff's spokeswoman Lisa Marchesoni.

The gathering took place under a picnic pavilion on the grounds of Northside Baptist Church, which is across Siegel Road from the high school that serves about 1,800 students on Murfreesboro's north side. Evans after the training event said that a press conference following a real school shooting would have occurred farther from the campus.

Planned days off from school: Rutherford County Schools 2024-25 calendar sets full Thanksgiving week break

Evans mentioned how SROs in Rutherford County have been protecting students, teachers and other employees since 1993.

The county has at least one SRO assigned to each of the district's 51 schools, and the larger campuses have at least two, said Marchesoni, the sheriff's spokeswoman.

School board election: Vaught, Vaughn, Tidwell and Maxwell win to join all GOP Rutherford County school board

Evans: School safety has improved

Evans suggested that part of responding to violence will include communicating with parents throughout the day, including any plan to reunify them with their children at reunification sites under the direction of law enforcement.

A school following a shooting would be closed the next day during the law enforcement investigation, Evans said.

The reenactors for the training included drama students, Evans said.

"We're going to learn a lot from this," Evans said. "We're already talking about areas where we can improve, areas we do great at. It's just going to be really beneficial. The ultimate goal is to help students stay safe and to keep our learning environment secure."

The school shootings throughout the country in recent years have led to greater efforts, including buzzard systems, window film, controlled access and security cameras throughout campus buildings, Evans said.

"Our schools are so much better secured than they were 10, 15 years ago," Evans said. "Everyone has really got an eye toward safety because of the tragedies that we've seen locally with what happened in Nashville and then also in other states."

'We want to inspire them': 3 future Rutherford schools named after historic people, places

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at [email protected]. To support his work with The Daily News Journal ,   sign up for a digital subscription.

Kay dates for students and parents in 2024-25 calendar

• Aug. 7 (Wednesday): school year starts with abbreviated registration day
• Aug. 8 (Thursday): first full-day of school
• Sept. 2 (Monday): Labor Day break from school
• Sept. 17 (Tuesday): Students off during teacher administrative day
• Oct. 7 (Monday) through Oct. 11 (Friday): Fall Break
• Oct. 22 (Tuesday): Parent teacher conferences 3-6 p.m.
• Nov. 5 (Tuesday): Students off for Election Day and a teacher administrative day
• Nov. 25 (Monday) through Nov. 29 (Friday): Thanksgiving break
• Dec. 20 (Friday): Two-hour day for students on final day of semester
• Dec. 23 (Monday) through Jan. 7 (Tuesday), 2025: Winter Break for students
• Jan. 8 (Wednesday): Students return from Winter Break
• Jan. 20 (Monday): Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday from school
• Jan. 28 (Tuesday): Students off during teacher administrative day
• Feb. 17 (Monday): Presidents' Day holiday from school
• March 13 (Thursday): Students off during teacher administrative day
• March 18 (Tuesday): Parent teacher conferences 3-6 p.m.
• March 31 (Monday) through April 4 (Friday): Spring Break
• April 18 (Friday): Good Friday break from school
• May 26 (Monday): Memorial Day holiday from school
• May 29 (Thursday): Students off during teacher workday
• May 30 (Friday): Last abbreviated two-hour day of school year

Other days that teachers work

• Aug. 1 (Thursday): Administrative Day (Discretionary Day 1)
• Aug. 2 (Friday): Districtwide in-service day
• Aug. 5 (Monday): Teacher workday
• Jan. 6 (Monday): In-service Day 3
• Jan. 7 (Tuesday): In-service Day 4

Source: Rutherford County Schools