Travelling by train with children
Discounts, facilities and conditions
Travelling by train is a comfortable and practical way to travel with children. With space to play, look outside and relax, the train is an ideal choice for family travel. Here you will find important information on child discounts, facilities and travel conditions by country and train operator.
Column 3
Column 4
Click to go to inforamtion per train operator
Column 4
General rules on travelling with children and unaccompanied children
Every train journey is a new adventure, especially for our youngest travellers. To ensure that the journey goes smoothly and comfortably, there are a few important conditions to keep in mind.
- Travelling at a discount: The age applies on the day of travel, not the day of booking, and the discount is valid only when accompanied by an adult.
- Travel with proper documents: All children must carry a valid passport, identity card and/or other required visas or immigration documents for the countries they are travelling in.
- Travel with permission: Minor children (up to the age of 17) travelling alone always need written permission from a parent or guardian. A sample form can be found on the Rijksoverheid website. Train managers may request to view it.
- Travelling unaccompanied: The child’s parents are always responsible for travelling for the child and there is no supervision on the train or at stations during the journey.
- Maximum of 4 children per adult: An adult may bring a maximum of 4 children. There are three exceptions: 1. Are you travelling to Germany with the Sparpreis group fare? Then there is no maximum number of children. 2. In Norway and Sweden, adults are only allowed to accompany one child. 3. In Denmark and the Czech Republic, two children.
In each country, the minimum ages for children travelling unaccompanied varies as well as the corresponding rules:
| Country | Minimum age of unaccompanied children | Header | Header | Header |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Netherlands and Belgium | No specific legal age limit set for from which age a child can travel unaccompanied. However, the carrier (e.g. Eurostar and Eurocity Direct) may have regulations. | Content | Content | Content |
| Germany, France, Switzerland | Children from 12 years of age are allowed to travel by train unaccompanied only if they have the necessary documentation such as parental consent form and a valid identity card. | Content | Content | Content |
| Austria | Children from 14 years of age are only allowed to travel by train unaccompanied if they have the necessary documentation such as parental consent form and a valid identity card. . | Content | Content | Content |
| England (London) | On the direct Eurostar between the Netherlands and London, young people aged 16 and over may travel unaccompanied. From 12 to 15, they may only travel between Brussel-Zuid/Midi and London if they meet the necessary requirements. Children under 12 are not allowed to travel unaccompanied. | Content | Content | Content |
Child discounts and facilities on the train
Children often travel at a discount. How much discount you get varies by train and/or country. Also, some trains have facilities especially for children on board. We have listed them below for you for each train carrier.
Eurostar to Belgium and France
Discount
- Children 0 to 3 years:
Travel free of charge on your lap or at the child fare with their own seat. Must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or an adult (aged 18 or older) with written consent. - Children 4 to 11 years:
Travel at the child fare and must always be accompanied by an adult. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or an adult with written permission from the parent/guardian. - Children or youth aged 12 to 25 years:
Travel at the youth fare, if available. If the youth fare is sold out, the adult fare applies. Children aged 12 to 18 may travel alone, but require permission from their parents or guardian.
Facilities
- Baby care:
There is a baby care room in carriages 6, 7, 16, 17, 26 and 27. - Stroller:
You may take the pram or stroller on board for free, when travelling with a child. You can store your stroller in the carriage you are sitting in, provided you fold it.
Eurostar to London
Discount
- Children up to 3 years old:
Children up to 3 years of age travel free of charge with their accompanying adult, provided they do not occupy a seat and do not have any luggage. If they do want their own seat, they travel at the Child fare. They travel with a parent or legal guardian or an accompanying adult aged at least 16 who has written permission from the parents or legal guardian. Each adult may take one child up to 3 years of age with them free of charge. - Children 4 to 11 years:
Travel at the Child fare. Children up to 11 years of age may not travel alone. They must travel with a parent or legal guardian or an accompanying person aged at least 16 who has written permission from the parents or legal guardian. - Children 12 to 15 years:
There is no discount fare for young people aged 12 to 15; they travel at regular fares. Young people aged 12 to 15 are not allowed to travel alone on the direct Eurostar between the Netherlands and London and vice versa. They must travel with a parent or legal guardian or an accompanying person aged at least 16 who has written permission from their parents or legal guardian. Only between Brussels-South and London v.v. may young people aged 12 to 15 travel alone with written permission from their parents or legal guardian. The young person must be accompanied to the station by their parents, legal guardian or an adult. - Children aged 16 and up:
Young people aged 16 and up may travel alone with Eurostar to London. They do not need a consent form. There is no discount fare for young people aged 16 and up: they travel for the standard fare.
Facilities
- Children's compartment:
In carriages 1 and 18 you will find several family tables where children can colour and play. - Baby care:
Facilities for baby care can be found in carriages 1, 2, 17 and 18. You cannot buy baby food on the train. However, the staff in the bar carriage will be happy to warm up any baby food you have with you. - Stroller:
In carriages 1, 3, 16 and 18, there is extra space to store your buggy or stroller. - Specifically for children:
For toddlers, a special 'mealbox' is on sale in bar carriage 6 and 13, containing a sandwich, drink, piece of fruit and a colouring book.
Eurocity Direct and EuroCity to Belgium
Discount
- Children 0 to 3 years:
Travel free of charge on your lap or at the child fare with their own seat. - Children 4 to 5 years:
Travel free of charge. Children must always be accompanied by a parent/guardian or an adult with written permission from the parent/guardian. - Children 6 to 11 years:
Travel free of charge. Children must always be accompanied by a parent/guardian or an adult with written permission from the parent/guardian. Children aged 6 and above may travel unaccompanied if they have written proof of permission from a parent or legal guardian. Unaccompanied children receive a 50% discount on the standard adult fare on the Dutch section of the journey and a 40% discount on the Belgian section. - Children and young people 12 to 25 years:
Travel at the youth fare.
Facilities
- Baby care:
There are no baby facilities on board. - Stroller:
You may take the pram or stroller on board for free, when travelling with a child. You can store your stroller in the carriage you are sitting in, provided you fold it.
ICE to Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Discount
- Children 3 years and younger: Travel for free when accompanied by an adult. They do not need a ticket.
- Children 4 to 14 years: Children from 4 to 14 years also travel for free when accompanied by a person aged 15 and over. However, they will need a ticket. You can specify this while making a booking and then the children will travel with you on your ticket. Please mention children immediately when booking, adding a child afterwards is not possible. An accompanying person under 18 does need a parental consent form. Children aged 12 to 14 travelling unaccompanied receive a 50% discount in Germany. Children up to 14 years do not travel free with Sparpreis Europa Gruppe and Supersparpreis Europa Gruppe fares.
- Children 15 years and over: No age discounts in ICE. They travel at regular fares.
- Exception in Swizerland: Here, children up to 15 years of age travel free when accompanied by a (grand/step) parent, or at 50% discount if travelling with another adult.
Facilities
- Baby care: Especially for travellers with babies and/or children up to 3 years old, there is a children's compartment. In most children's compartments, you will find a table to draw or play on, a power socket and fold-out baby changing table. You will also find a baby changing area near the children's compartment.
- Stroller: Feel free to bring your stroller. You pay nothing extra for this and there is plenty of space to store your stroller. This can be done in the children's compartment or nearby. Folded strollers fit in the train's regular luggage rack.
- Specifically for children: 'Little ICE' is a child-friendly train character to make train travel more fun for children. Together with his friends Benni IC Bus and Ida IC, 'Little ICE' provides entertainment during and after the journey. These figures are available free of charge on board ICE in Germany at the Bord Bistro. Bistro staff are happy to hand them out to children. In addition, the little ones will receive a magazine, LeseLok, with colouring pencils for the journey.
- Family zones in ICE: The Kindercoupé (Kleinkindabteil) and Family Zone on ICE trains are designed for families travelling with children. The Kindercoupé is specifically for families with babies and children 3 years and younger, while the Family Zone is suitable for families with older children, up to 14 years old. Both zones offer proximity to facilities such as exits, baggage areas and toilets, and reservations can be made online. You can indicate this preference when booking online.
TGV to France
Discount
- Children 0 to 3 years:
Travel free of charge on your lap or at the child fare with their own seat. - Children 4 to 11 years:
Travel at the child fare or reduced fare. Always travel accompanied by an adult. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or an adult with written permission from the parent/guardian. - Children 12 and up:
There is no special fare for young people aged 12 and over: they travel at the regular adult fare.
Facilities
- Baby care:
Carriage 7 or 17 has a baby care area. Bottles and meals for babies can be heated up at the TGV bar. - Stroller:
You may take the pram or stroller on board for free, when travelling with a child. You can store your stroller in the carriage you are sitting in, provided you fold it.
ÖBB Nightjet: Austria and Switzerland
Discount
- Children 5 years and younger:
Travel free on your lap or with the child rate with their own seat. Must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or an adult with written permission. - Children 6 to 14 years:
Travel at the child fare. Children must always be accompanied by a parent/guardian or an adult with written permission from the parent/guardian. They must always reserve their own seat or berth and travel with the child fare. Children aged 10 and above may book a Mini Cabin.
Facilities
- Family compartment:
A compartment with 6 berths intended for a maximum of 3 adults and 3 children up to 14 years of age. - Ladies compartment:
A compartment with 4 berths for women and girls only. Boys travelling with their mothers are not allowed in this compartment. In that case, a separate compartment or a berth in a regular (mixed) compartment must be booked. - Stroller:
You may take the pram or stroller on board for free, when travelling with a child. You can store your stroller in the carriage you are sitting in, provided you fold it.
Interrail
Discount
- No pass needed for children 3 years and younger: Children younger than 4 do not need an Interrail Pass. Children must sit on their parent’s lap when train is crowded, as children are not guaranteed their own seat.
- Free children pass 4 to 11 years: Travel at a child fare and always travel accompanied by an adult. Ticket price depends on class.
- Youth discount 12 to 17 years: Passengers aged 12 to 27 receive discounts on Interrail Passes.
- Reservations: Note that reservations are required for all travellers, including children, for certain train types, such as night and high-speed trains.
Column 3
Column 4
Facilities & Conditions
More information on Interrail Passes and facilities for children and young people can be found on the Interrail website.
European Sleeper
Discount
- Children to 3 years: Travel free when sharing a seat with a paying traveller. For a separate seat, book a ticket at the child fare.
- Discount for children 4 and 11 years: Children of this age travel with European Sleeper at a child rate.
- Accompanied travel up to 17 years: Children may travel with one adult, maximum four children per adult, with written permission from parents or guardian.
Facilities & Conditions
On thier support page, you can find more information on child facilities on European Sleeper's trains.
Weekend getaway with kids
By travelling by train, your weekend getaway will be a party for the while family from start to finish. On the way you can play a game or read a book.
City break with children
We share the best tips for the most fun outings at our top European destinations and give your family an unforgettable experience.
Going on holiday by train with kids
There's no greater pleasure for children than travelling by train! You have more freedom of movement than in a car.
South of France with kids
On holiday to the South of France with the kids. Very enjoyable and super-fast with Eurostar.
