Child and family fares and bookings
NSW TrainLink provides great value fares all year round to make travelling with children more affordable.
These child and family fares apply to children aged 4 to 15 years old and eligible secondary school students when booking seats in both Economy and First class. Eligible NSW secondary school students aged 16 to 18 years inclusive must hold the ‘Transport Concession Entitlement Card’. Victorian secondary school students aged 17 to 18 years inclusive must hold the ‘Victorian Public Transport Concession Card’ endorsed ‘S’.
Children aged three years and under travel free. Their seat must be booked and conditions apply.
The Child $1 fare is available to children aged 15 years and under and entitles travel anywhere on the NSW TrainLink Regional network for $1 each way.
The $1 fare can be booked for up to four children in any group when travelling with one or more adults who pay full (Adult Peak or Standard) fare.
Adults and children need to be from the same household. Seats for additional children are charged at the current Child fare.
This fare is not available for travel in sleeping berths. This fare does not apply with any concessions, Discovery Passes or group travel discounts.
See terms and conditions for Child $1 fares
The Family Fare is an affordable way for families to travel on NSW TrainLink Regional services.
Family Fare applies to one or more Adults travelling with two or more children. The first two children are charged the current Child fare and any additional children travel free.
Adults and children need to be from the same household. Each seat must be booked.
This fare does not apply with Discovery Passes, sleeping berths or group travel discounts. However, it does apply with concession entitlements.
See terms and conditions for Family fares
To access these fares, seats need to be booked at the same time and family groups need to be taking the same trip.
However, if you are travelling with small children, to ensure you are all seated together, you should book over the phone on 13 22 32 (+61 2 3814 0210 if calling from overseas) or book through one of the NSW TrainLink sales agents. Find out more about ways to book your ticket.
If you book online, select the 'All passengers are from the same family/household' check box when completing the booking form. The booking system will calculate the total, based on the number of Adult and Child seats booked. It will give you the lowest overall fare.
Travelling with children
Read through the safety guidelines for using public transport when travelling with prams and young children.
Baby strollers, prams and capsules will need to be placed in the luggage compartment under the coach.
Baby strollers, prams and capsules are classed as hand luggage and can be brought on board the train.
There will be a fold down baby change table available. Onboard staff can show you where it is.
Sleeping berths
Each sleeper compartment is designed to accommodate two adults, one in each berth. However, if an infant occupies the same sleeping berth as their parent or guardian, the infant travels free.
The parent or guardian pays an Adult First Class fare plus the sleeping berth fee. This scenario is likely to occur when two parents travel with one or two infants and pay for two adult first class fares and sleeping berths in the one cabin.
An adult with an infant cannot share a sleeper compartment with a stranger. If the adult is travelling alone with the infant, they must book both berths in the cabin and pay the appropriate Child and Adult fare, plus berth charges.
Similarly, if an infant occupies a sleeping berth on their own, the other sleeping berth in the sleeper compartment must be occupied by a parent or guardian, and the appropriate Adult and Child fare must be paid plus berth charges.
In the interests of safety, children under the age of 12 cannot travel alone and must be accompanied by an adult aged 16 years or older, except where they are accompanied by a parent under the age of 16 years.
How to book an Unaccompanied Child
Book over the phone on 13 22 32 (+61 2 3814 0210 if calling from overseas) or book through one of the NSW TrainLink sales agents.
When the bookings is made, please provide:
- Child’s name and age.
- Name and contact number of parent or guardian.
- Contact number of the guardian or the person meeting the child at the destination.
- Any special requirements or needs.
On day of travel, the unaccompanied child should make themselves known to staff before or soon after boarding.