train travel on seniors card

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Septa senior fare card.

Appointments are strongly encouraged to obtain and renew SEPTA Senior Fare cards. Appointments may be made by phone or online . Walk-ins are not guaranteed same-day service.

For Senior Citizens Ages 65 and Older

Seniors travel free on all SEPTA transit routes (bus, trolley, trackless trolley, and Market-Frankford, Broad Street, and Norristown High Speed lines). They also ride for free on Regional Rail as long as their departure and arrival stations are located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

For stations to or from New Jersey or Delaware, the cost is 50% of the weekday fare with a valid form of identification to verify age.  

About the Senior Photo ID Card

Free senior travel is funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Seniors living outside Pennsylvania must obtain a Senior Fare card upon arrival to be eligible for free or reduced fare travel.

See the related FAQ on the SEPTA Key site .

Extended Expiration Dates

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SEPTA extended the printed expiration date on its Senior Fare cards. Cards with printed expiration dates of 2020, 2021, or 2022 will expire the month that is shown on the card, but not until 2023. A card that shows an expiration date of December 2020 will not expire until December 2023.

Applications and Renewals

Appointments are strongly encouraged to obtain and renew SEPTA Senior Fare cards: 215-580-7145 (Press 6). Appointments may be made by phone or online.

Walk-in customers are not guaranteed same-day service.

SEPTA offers two options for Seniors to obtain or renew Senior Fare cards:

•  Legislative District Offices  – Seniors can apply for a new card or renew an existing SEPTA Key Senior Fare card at participating State Senate and State House district offices.  Legislative staff will process your renewal or new application – taking a picture, if necessary – and SEPTA will mail a new card directly to you in 3 – 4 weeks.
• Phone:  215-580-7145 (Press 6)
• Online:   https://go.oncehub.com/septacct

What to Bring:

• Those applying for the first time must be at least 65 and bring proof of age such as driver’s license, non-driver’s ID card, or birth certificate.
• Seniors renewing their SEPTA Key Senior Fare card should bring their current SEPTA Key Senior Fare card and proof of age such as driver’s license, non-driver’s ID card, or birth certificate.

Using the Senior Fare Card

To use the card on SEPTA, tap at the farebox or turnstile for free travel on buses, trolleys or to enter station areas, just as you would with a regular SEPTA Key card.

Tap on and off for travel on Regional Rail Trains. Train conductors may ask you to tap your card on their reader for validation.

Replacing Lost or Stolen Cards

Call the Key Customer Call Center at 855- 567-3782 immediately to report a lost or stolen card. The representative you speak to will provide information on how to replace the card.

The cost to replace your first card is $5. Any additional card after the first replacement is $25.

Our Customer Service Center answers common questions about fares, passes, rider discounts, routes, services, advisories, and more.

Senior Program Application

Seniors Ride Free Program Application, English (PDF)

Thank you for visiting our newly redesigned beta website. SEPTA is excited for the future launch of this project and improving your transit experience. We invite you to click around, plan a trip, and provide some feedback using this link. Survey participation helps us identify and fix areas of concern prior to the launch of the official website.

Please note, this site is still in the beta phase; continue to refer to SEPTA.org for the most up to date information, accurate schedules and active alerts & advisories.

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How to Save the Most on an Amtrak Trip If You're 65+

Retirement is the perfect time to see the U.S. by train — here's every Amtrak discount seniors can take advantage of.

Traveling by train around the United States is romantic, convenient, and comfortable — but it's not always cheap.

Booking one of Amtrak’s wide, plush seats or overnight cars can be an expensive proposition, but it doesn’t have to be if you just take a few minutes to dig around the Amtrak site to find every discount, sale, and savings option the train service offers. And Amtrak discounts can be especially huge for one select group: those aged 65 and over.

Amtrak Discounts for Seniors

Amtrak always offers specific discounts to seniors, including its regular 10 percent discount on most rail fares on most Amtrak trains. And, as Amtrak explained on its site, “On cross-border services operated jointly by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada, a 10 percent senior discount is applicable to travelers aged 60 and over.”

Amtrak Downeaster Line Discounts

Amtrak also offers even bigger savings on specific routes including a 50 percent discount on Downeaster line tickets.

“Catch the train to Portland, ME and explore the Old Port, or head to Boston for a day of shopping, museum visits or a walk along the Freedom Trail. Travel to any destination on the Downeaster and save 50 percent with this special offer available only to seniors (65 and up),” Amtrak explained.

Amtrak Early Bird Discounts

Combine that with Amtrak's ongoing sale for early birds — who can save 25 percent on their fare when they book a minimum of 7-21 days in advance — and you've got yourself quite the affordable train fare.

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Gold Opal Card for Seniors Card holders

Unlimited travel for $2.50 a day  - get around as much as you want on metro, trains, buses, ferries and light rail in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter and the Illawarra. (Excludes Sydney Airport Station Access Fee)

Senior Savers Card holders working more than 20 hours a week in paid employment are not eligible for Gold Opal transport concessions

You deserve the best transport discounts around

That's exactly what you get when you use the Gold Opal Card you're eligible for as a Seniors Card member. ( Please note:  Senior Savers Card holders working more than 20 hours a week in paid employment are not eligible for Gold Opal transport concessions).

Your Gold Opal gives you:

• Unlimited travel for $2.50 a day  - get around as much as you want on metro, trains, buses, ferries and light rail in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Hunter and the Illawarra. (Excludes Sydney Airport Station Access Fee). Find out more about  Opal  or plan a trip using  Trip Planner.
• Convenient, reusable smartcard  - so much easier than buying paper Excursion Tickets each time you travel. Just load and go - or set it up for auto top-up so you never have to reach for cash again.
• Protection -  even if your card is lost or stolen, your balance is safe and secure, and can be transferred to a new card.
• Transport concessions Australia-wide  - check the Seniors Card website for the state or territory you're visiting for details on how to qualify.

You must carry your Seniors Card when travelling on a concession fare as  proof of entitlement  or you may be fined.

INTERSTATE SENIORS CAN HAVE A GOLD OPAL TOO!

If you're an Australian resident and have a valid Seniors Card issued by an Australian State or Territory Government, you too can enjoy our best transport discounts with a Gold Opal Card.

Note:  You must have a  state or territory   government  Seniors Card. Other cards including the National Seniors Card, Queensland Seniors Business Discount Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card and New Zealand SuperGold Card do not qualify.

For more information, please visit the  website .

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Get 1/3 off train travel with a Senior Railcard

Buy now renew my railcard.

How much can I save?

People with a Senior Railcard  save on average £86 per year** , or  £5.26 per journey^ . If you’re travelling here’s an example of some of the savings you can make on train tickets:

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How does using a Railcard work?

Get your Railcard

Buy your discounted train tickets

Have your Railcard with you when you travel

Eligibility and terms of use

• Buy a Railcard and keep it with you when you travel (on your phone or wallet)
• Save on most tickets including Advance tickets
• Valid in London & SE after the morning Peak

Read full eligibility and usage terms

Need help getting or using your Railcard?

Need help? Can't figure out what card to buy? Or just have a question?

Can I use my Senior Railcard at any time of day?

Your Railcard is not valid during the morning peak period when travelling between two stations in the  Network Railcard area  of validity.  Check locally to confirm morning peak times as these do differ.  This restriction does not apply on public holidays.

How do I purchase my Railcard online?

Please click ‘’Buy Now’’ on the website homepage and follow the instructions on the screen. You will need to provide a valid passport or UK driving licence or National Identity number to verify your date of birth online and a digital passport-style photo if you have selected ‘Digital’ under ‘Choose the type of Railcard you would like’ section.

If you have ordered a plastic Senior Railcard, please allow 5 working days for delivery. You can choose to pay for ‘Special Delivery’, but you will have to place your order before 15:45pm to guarantee that your Railcard is delivered within two days (Monday to Thursday) or three days (Friday to Sunday).

If you have ordered a digital Railcard, a download code will be sent to your registered email address, along with instructions on how to download your Railcard. 

You will not be able to travel on discounted tickets until you have your Railcard.

What is a digital Railcard?

Digital Railcards are stored within the Railcard app on your smart phone or tablet, meaning there’s no need to carry the physical card around with you. They can be stored on up to two devices and used quicker than plastic Railcards as they do not need to be sent in the post.

Click here for more information on managing your Railcard

Can I buy a Senior Railcard in advance of my 60th birthday?

If you order online then yes, you can order one up to 14 days in advance of your 60th birthday. Please note that you cannot buy Railcards in advance of your 60th birthday from rail stations.

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Make the most of being over 60 with the Senior Railcard

Whether you want to make the most of your retirement, or just a weekend away, the Senior Railcard is a great way to save money if you’re over 60.

Do I qualify for a Senior Railcard?

Whether you want to make the most of your retirement or just a weekend away, the Senior Railcard is a great way to save money if you’re over 60.

What are the benefits of a Senior Railcard?

Over 60 railcard benefits include saving you 1/3 on off-peak tickets.

You can also save on special offers with your railcard, like 2FOR1 entry offers at many UK attractions and money off dining in London.

The Senior Railcard costs just £30 a year, or £70 for the three-year card - saving you £20.

People with a Senior Railcard save on average £76 per year.

How do I apply for a Senior Railcard?

You can apply online or download an application form and apply at a staffed station. You will require some proof of eligibility ((UK Driving Licence, Passport, EEA National Identity card).

A passport-size photo is required for digital railcards.

Can I get a Senior Railcard at the station?

Yes, you will need to complete the application form and provide some proof of eligibility. You can buy at the station from the day of your 60th Birthday

If you are renewing your Railcard, you will need to fill in the application form, and show your existing Railcard. This is automatically accepted as proof of your age.

How long does it take for my Senior Railcard to arrive?

If you are applying online for a physical railcard you should allow 5 working days for your application to be processed and have your railcard posted to you. You can also pay for Special Delivery service if you would like your railcard to be delivered within two days. Digital railcards and those bought at the station can be obtained on the same day.

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Travel & transport

Tips for seniors for reducing the cost of travel

On this page:

Free travel vouchers, metropolitan travel, travel in regional victoria, other ways to cut your travel costs, travelling outside of victoria, other money-saving travel tips.

• Find out about the transport benefits you receive as a Seniors Card holder, such as free travel vouchers and free weekend travel between two adjacent zones.
• Cut your travel costs within and outside Victoria with the various hints and tips given below.

Your Victorian Seniors Card means you can enjoy discounted travel in Victoria and Australia-wide.

• Every Seniors Card holder receives free off-peak travel vouchers to use on public transport in Victoria.
• Register for your free vouchers at the PTV website www.ptv.vic.gov.au/vouchers External Link
• Each voucher can be exchanged for either: a V/Line off-peak daily ticket (going out and back on the same day); two V/Line off-peak single tickets (going out on one day and back on another); a 1 Day Travel Pass for travel in Zones 1 and 2.

From 1 November 2022, the Department of Transport is introducing more booking options to make it easier to redeem your free travel and visiting a station during opening hours to redeem your voucher for a ticket is no longer the only option.

• From 1 November 2022 Vouchers will be held electronically so you can choose to redeem vouchers at a staffed station or V/Line agent, or over the phone via the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) call centre.
• You can choose to collect your ticket from a station or agent prior to travel or call 10 business days in advance and have your ticket posted to you.
• And in 2023, you will also be able to redeem your vouchers online.
• Phone 1800 800 007 or visit the PTV website www.ptv.vic.gov.au External Link for more information or to make V/Line reservations. V/Line tickets are subject to availability at off-peak times.
• With a seniors myki you travel free on the weekend within one or two consecutive zones on all metropolitan trains, trams and buses – this includes to outlying metropolitan areas as far as Sunbury and Melton.
• During the week, you can still access discounted rates at all times on all routes with your seniors myki.
• If you take a trip in non-consecutive zones, or a trip of more than two zones, a fare for the whole trip will be charged.

Consider travelling by public transport in off-peak periods. It's less crowded and you still get a great discount with your Seniors Card.

• Travel free on the weekends on V/Line commuter rail services when using myki for trips of one or two consecutive zones (for example, Woodend to Gisborne).
• At other times, V/Line offers concession rates for Seniors Card holders through regional Victoria.
• Take advantage of off-peak rates during quieter times.
• Phone 1800 800 007 for more information or to pre-book tickets.
• The V/Line website lists all its fares and routes www.vline.com.au External Link .
• You can also travel free on regional town bus networks over the weekend in major regional cities such as Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mildura and Warrnambool. On regional town buses where myki is not operating, show your Victorian Seniors Card to travel free on weekends.

Myki works like an electronic purse for public transport. You have to top up the card’s balance whenever it runs low on funds.

The seniors myki offers discounted rates at all times on all routes. You pay no more than the seniors daily cap (zones 1 & 2) when you travel on weekdays.

How do I get a seniors myki?

New Seniors Card program applicants receive a seniors myki for free with their Seniors Card posted with a Welcome pack.

Seniors Business Discount Card holders are not eligible to receive a free Seniors myki card upon joining the program.

Once you have your seniors myki, you should register it. There are many benefits to registering your myki, including free card replacement card if it's lost or stolen. For more information on how to register, visit the Public Transport Victoria website External Link

And you can top it up at:

• Hundreds of shops including all 7-Eleven stores.
• Premium Stations as listed on the PTV website External Link .
• From myki machines at selected train stations and stops.
• Mobile myki app using your Android smartphone. For more information visit the PTV website. External Link
• Online at PTV website External Link .
• By calling PTV on 1800 800 007.

Remember - it's a condition that you carry your Seniors Card at all times when travelling on public transport as proof of your concession entitlement.

Replacement myki

Like many other cards, myki cards do expire, so keep track of your card’s expiry date. If your myki is registered and you have an online account – find your card expiry date online. If your myki is not registered, check the expiry date at a myki machine, myki check, or by calling 1800 800 007.

Even if you're travelling for free on the weekend, on myki-enabled services you must touch on and off as normal - you won't be charged.

Support for people with a disability or health issues

• All metropolitan trains are wheelchair accessible and low-floor trams and buses are available on some routes. Most V/Line trains and coaches can be accessed by wheelchairs. More information on accessible transport is available from PTV on 1800 800 007 or www.ptv.vic.gov.au External Link .
• Travellers Aid Australia provides simple, practical travel-related support and aid that helps people travel independently and confidently. This support includes buggy and personal guidance services at Southern Cross Station, help getting to medical appointments in central Melbourne and mobility equipment hire. Centres are available at Flinders Street station (9610 2030) and Southern Cross station (9670 2072) or visit www.travellersaid.org.au External Link .
• Most V/Line trains and coaches can be accessed by wheelchair. Reservations are required for wheelchairs on V/Line coach services. Phone 1800 800 007 at least 24 hours before you travel to reserve a place.
• Victorians with severe and permanent disabilities who cannot access public transport independently may be eligible to join the Multi Purpose Taxi Program – a Victorian Government program that offers its members a 50 per cent subsidy on taxi fares of up to $60 per trip. Contact the Taxi Services Commission on 1800 638 802, or visit www.taxi.vic.gov.au External Link for more information.
• Car pool with a neighbour or friend when driving to the shops or running errands.
• The free City Circle tram service in the CBD takes in major tourist attractions, and links with other tram, train and bus routes in and around Melbourne. Trams run in both directions every 12 minutes between 10am and 6pm Sunday to Wednesday and extended hours, 10am to 9pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday (excludes Christmas Day and Good Friday). Contact Yarra Trams 1800 800 007 or visit www.yarratrams.com.au External Link to find out more.
• Cars can be expensive to maintain and keep on the road. If you’ve got easy access to public transport, why not sell your car?
• Many councils offer free or heavily discounted travel services (such as bus or shuttle services) to older residents. Contact your local council to find out what you are entitled to access.

Car not running well? Ask your local servo what discounts they offer before you purchase. Or visit Seniors Online to find discount auto services in your area. Visit the Discount Directory and scroll down to the 'Automotive Care' category.

You can even get a Seniors Card discount when washing your car. - Bill

• Take advantage of discounts from interstate Seniors Card participating businesses when you travel.
• Commonwealth offers to state and territory governments to provide reciprocal transport concessions for state seniors card holders will be withdrawn. While Victoria government at this stage will be continuing to provide interstate seniors with Victorian transport concessions, it is not clear whether other states will continue to do so. Please contact Seniors Card programs in each state and territory for information in this regard.
• You can use your Victorian Seniors Card with New Zealand retailers and traders. Visit the New Zealand SuperGold website at www.supergold.govt.nz External Link or call 0800 25 45 65 when in New Zealand.
• Take your Seniors Card when you travel overseas. Some overseas businesses will provide you with goodwill discounts if you ask.
• Check out the www.smartraveller.gov.au External Link website for useful travel information and advice.

We have used out Seniors Card when travelling at motels and other accommodation. We have always received a great discount. - Bill

• Check if your travel company offers discounts to Seniors Card holders.
• Travelling outside school holidays is always cheaper and travelling late at night or taking a longer route can be cheaper too – especially with flights. Consider going during the week instead of on the weekend or taking flights with stopovers.
• ‘Shoulder season’ – the time just before or after the peak holiday season – is a cheaper time to travel. The weather is still generally good in destination cities and there are fewer tourists.
• On most budget airlines you can avoid a baggage fee by only travelling with carry-on luggage.
• Cruise and tour companies often offer discounted rates close to the departure date. Try searching online for ‘cruises’ and ‘last-minute’ or ‘discount’.

Take a low-cost holiday with family or friends in regional Victoria or Melbourne by using your free travel vouchers and staying somewhere that offers a Seniors Card Discount. If you're on Seniors Online, choose the 'Accommodation' category in the Discount Directory .

Reviewed 01 March 2023

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Senior Train Travel Discounts in Europe

Although most senior travelers associate senior discounts with rail passes, some European countries offer mature travelers discounts on individual tickets. Typically, you will need to purchase some kind of annual membership card to qualify for the senior discount. Requirements vary by country and are subject to change. In some countries, non-European Union seniors are not eligible for discount cards.

If you plan to travel by train on just a few days over a one- or two-month period, you may find that a rail pass will save you money. BritRail and France's SNCF offer senior discounts on certain types of rail passes. Senior discounts also apply to the Eurail Ireland and Eurail Romania Passes.

Do not assume that a rail pass is the cheapest way to go. Depending on the countries you plan to visit, the number of train trips you plan to take, and the senior discount plans available, you may save more by purchasing a senior card and applying its discount to your tickets. It is worth spending some time at your computer to research the best deal.

Terms by Country

Let's take a look at senior train travel discounts by country.

Belgium offers seniors age 65 and older a great senior discount on non-peak train travel . Tickets are just 6.50 Euros each if you travel after 9:01 A.M. on weekdays. You can also get this senior fare on weekends during the school year. Restrictions apply; some "frontier" train stations do not offer the senior fare. This discount is unavailable on August 15, during holiday periods and summer weekends. Proof of age is required.

France gives seniors age 60 and older the opportunity to purchase a Carte Senior+  for 60 Euros. The Carte Senior+ entitles you to discounts of 25 to 50 percent on train travel. You can also change your train ticket for only 5 Euros; the normal change fee is 15 Euros.

Germany offers senior travelers over age 60 a discount on the BahnCard 50 . Seniors pay 255 Euros for the second class BahnCard50, which gives you a 50 percent discount on flexible fare train tickets as well as a 25 percent discount on certain saver fares in the German rail system. Carefully research each leg of your journey to see whether the BahnCard50 is a good option for you. If you are traveling with one or more companions, Germany's Weekend Tickets may be a better bet, depending on your travel dates.

Italy offers the Carta d'Argento ("Silver Card") to senior travelers over age 60. The card costs 30 Euros (free for travelers over 75) and is valid for one year. With the Carta d'Argento, you will save 15 percent on most Italian train tickets and 10 percent on couchette tickets (second-class sleeper berths). You will also be able to participate in the RailEurope system with its 25 percent discount on international travel. You have to show both your ticket and your Carta d'Argento to the conductor. Certain restrictions apply.

Portugal's CP rail system offers seniors age 65 and older discounts on several different types of trains, including regional, interregional and Coimbra Urban trains. The typical discount is 50 percent. Restrictions apply.

Spain's RENFE rail system offers senior travelers 60 and older the Tarjeta Dorada ("Gold Card"). With the Tarjeta Dorada, you will save 25 to 50 percent on train tickets, depending on the type of train, the day of the week you travel and how far in advance you buy your tickets. You can buy your Tarjeta Dorada at a RENFE station for 6 Euros; it will be valid for one year.

The UK's Senior Railcard gives you a one-third discount on a wide variety of standard and first-class tickets. Morning rush hour travel within the London and the South East area does not qualify for the Senior Railcard discount. The Senior Railcard costs £30 and is available to anyone age 60 or over. British train fares are quite high, so it is also worth investigating a BritRail pass if you plan to take several train trips.

Eurostar , which operates the Chunnel trains, no longer advertises a senior fare.

Disclaimer: Some train systems may restrict senior discounts to citizens of European Union communities, even though their websites do not indicate any such restrictions.

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Using your card

The regional seniors travel card is a non-reloadable, Visa card with $250 pre-loaded to pay for travel related expenses at retailers. 

A 4-digit PIN will be sent in a separate letter to your card for security purposes.

You'll need your PIN to complete some transactions at retail outlets. You cannot use your PIN for over the phone or online transactions.

Your regional seniors travel card can be used Australia-wide, including in metropolitan areas and when travelling interstate.

Before you use your card

When you receive your card sign the back of it and memorise your PIN.

You'll need to activate your card before you can use it by contacting card services by phone or online.

See Managing your card for more information.

You can use your card for:

• pre-booked NSW TrainLink Regional train and coach services
• fuel at service stations, convenience stores or mixed businesses that operate with a fuel merchant category code
• fuel for someone else’s vehicle to support your transport needs
• electric charging stations
• Opal card top up payments
• privately-operated coaches
• selected community transport services. 

You need to confirm that your card will be accepted by the retailer or service provider before you use it.

If the retailer or service provider accepts split payments, you can use:

• your regional seniors travel card and another card or cash, or
• both your 2023 and 2022 regional seniors travel cards provided the cards have sufficient funds and are operational.

You cannot use your card for: 

• cash withdrawals from ATMs, bank branches or via point-of-sale terminals 
• balance enquiries at ATMs or bank branches
• rideshare services including Uber
• local bus fares (the majority accept cash only)
• recurring transaction setups, such as Opal auto top up
• purchases that are not related to travel 
• transactions outside of Australia. 

Your regional seniors travel card cannot be transferred, sold or exchanged for other benefits. Your card will be declined if you try to use it for an unauthorised transaction.

Opal card payments

You can use your regional seniors travel card to top up an Opal card:

• via the Opal travel app
• at service stations operating as an Opal retailer
• via Opal top up machines available at selected stations, shops and wharves
• at selected Service NSW Centres
• at Transport Customer Service Centres.

You cannot use your regional seniors travel card for contactless payments on the Opal network.

Opal card retailers

You can use your regional seniors travel card at selected Opal retailers, including: 

• service stations or mixed businesses that sell fuel under the appropriate merchant category code
• selected Service NSW Centres (Batemans Bay, Bathurst, Cessnock, Erina, Gosford, Goulburn, Gunnedah, Kiama, Lithgow, Maitland, Mittagong, Mudgee, Muswellbrook, Nowra, Orange, Parkes, Queanbeyan, Raymond Terrace, Richmond, Singleton, Tamworth, Toronto, Toukley, Tuggerah, Wallsend, Warners Bay and Young)
• Transport Customer Service Centres.

Find your nearest Opal retailer .

Card misuse

The usage of regional seniors travel cards is monitored to prevent fraud. This includes checking: 

• if transactions are for travel-related items and/or at approved retail outlets
• the requested number of cards sent to the same address.

Upon notification, lost or stolen cards will be cancelled immediately to prevent misuse. 

If your card is cancelled due to misuse, fraud or other reasons, any remaining balance will be returned to the NSW Government.

Card services

You can contact card services 24/7 by:

• visiting nswregionalseniors.cards , or
• calling 1800 569 070 . 

On the card services website , you can register, activate and manage your card online, including tracking your balance and reviewing transactions. You can also access frequently asked questions or you can read the Get started with your regional seniors travel card guide .

Card sample

Regional seniors travel card – Front

Regional seniors travel card – Back

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Find the best credit card for you

The best credit cards to use for all your amtrak and international train travels, whether you’re riding the rails at home or abroad, these cards will reward you for your train trips..

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

There's nothing like watching the world pass you by from a train window, seeing the landscapes change, contemplating the vast scenery around you and passing the time curled up with a good book or chatting with your fellow travelers in the dining car. There's an old-school sort of wonder to it all, whether you're traveling around the U.S. on Amtrak — some journeys are more scenic than others — or riding the rails internationally.

Of course, the whole experience feels a lot more magical when it's a free (or nearly free) one — or if you're earning rewards points or cash-back that you can use to fund even more of your travels.

Below, Select details the best credit cards to use for train travel wherever you are, plus a few tips for saving money on U.S. and international train trips.

Best credit cards for train travel

• Best overall : Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Best for casual Amtrak travelers : Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard®
• Best for frequent Amtrak travelers : Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard®
• Best for international train travel : Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for earning cash-back rewards on travel : Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• Best for earning flexible travel rewards points : Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees )
• Best business card : Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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Best overall

Chase sapphire reserve®.

Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Regular APR

22.49% - 29.49% variable

Balance transfer fee

5%, minimum $5

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve® stands out for offering an up to $300 annual travel credit, which can be used to cover rail trips. Not only that, cardholders earn a generous 3X points per dollar on other travel, including train tickets.

Beyond that, cardholders can earn 5X points per dollar on flights and 10X points on hotels and rental cars when they're booked through Chase Travel℠ (after your first $300 in travel-related purchases), making it an ideal pick for frequent travelers. You'll also earn 10X points per dollar through Chase Dining, 10X points on Lyft rides through Mar. 31, 2025, 3X points per dollar for all other travel and dining purchases including takeout and delivery and 1X point per dollar for any other spending.

Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel℠, meaning the 60,000-point welcome bonus you can earn after spending $4,000 in the first three months is worth at least $900 in travel. 

While you can't use Ultimate Rewards® points to book train tickets, you can still transfer them to any of Chase's many airline and hotel partners such as Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, IHG, Marriott and Hyatt to enhance your travels, especially if you're flying to a particular country or locale to begin your rail adventure or need hotels to stay in — or a car rental — before or after your train trip.

There is a high $550 annual fee, but in turn, cardholders receive the $300 annual travel credit; a suite of travel and purchase protections; a  Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit ;  Priority Pass airport lounge access ; extra benefits when you book a rental car with Avis, National Car Rental or Silvercar;  VIP access  to events and experiences; and special perks such as free daily breakfast, late checkout and room upgrades when you book a stay through The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection.

Best for casual Amtrak travelers

Amtrak guest rewards® mastercard®.

2X points on travel booked with Amtrak (including purchases made onboard), 2X points on dining and 1X points for all other purchases.

Earn 12,000 bonus points after spending at least $1,000 within the first three billing cycles of account membership.

25.24% to 27.49% (variable)

5% of the amount being transferred or $10, whichever is greater

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees, terms apply.

Who's this for? If you're someone who plans the occasional rail journey with Amtrak, the new Amtrak Guest Rewards® Mastercard® issued by First National Bank of Omaha makes a great choice, as it lets you earn 2X points on travel with Amtrak (including purchases made onboard) and dining and 1X points for all additional purchases. You'll also receive a 10% rebate on food and beverage purchases made onboard the train (as a statement credit) and a 5% points rebate when your points are redeemed for travel on Amtrak.

The card has no annual fee, no transaction fees and new cardholders can pick up 12,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first three billing cycles after opening an account, giving you a great head start toward free (or nearly free) train rides considering that Amtrak reward travel starts at just 800 points.

Best for frequent Amtrak travelers

Amtrak guest rewards® preferred mastercard®.

3X points on travel booked with Amtrak (including purchases made onboard); 2X points on travel, dining, public transit and ride-share services; and 1X points for all other purchases.

Earn 30,000 bonus points after spending at least $1,000 within the first three billing cycles of account membership.

Who's this for? For those who travel frequently aboard Amtrak trains, the Amtrak Guest Rewards® Preferred Mastercard® offers similar benefits, but for a reasonable annual fee of $99 provides more perks. For starters, you'll be earning 3X points for Amtrak travel (including purchases made onboard); 2X points on travel, dining, public transit and ride-share services; and 1X points for all other purchases. You'll also score a 20% rebate on food and beverages purchased onboard, in the form of a statement credit, and a 5% points rebate whenever points are redeemed for travel on Amtrak.

As far as additional benefits, cardholders receive several special perks upon account opening as well as on their card's anniversary date, including a round-trip companion coupon, one-class upgrades and station lounge passes. You'll also earn 1,000 tier-qualifying points whenever you spend $5,000 in qualifying purchases with the card.

Now through Dec. 2, 2022, new card members can earn 30,000 bonus points (instead of the usual 20,000) after spending $1,000 within the first three billing cycles of account membership. If you've been a fan of U.S. train travel and are looking for a card that'll help you earn points towards more trips on the rails, this could be a great addition.

Best for international train travel

Chase sapphire preferred® card.

Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review .

Who's this for? If your primary goal is to earn bonus points on train rides abroad and you don't want to pay a high annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card might be a good choice.

The card has no foreign transaction fees and lets you earn 2X points per dollar on general travel purchases, including train tickets. It also offers 5X points per dollar on travel booked via  Chase Travel SM ; 5X points per dollar on Lyft rides now through Mar. 31, 2025; 3X points per dollar spent with certain streaming services, as well as on dining and online grocery shopping (except Target®, Walmart® and other wholesale clubs); and 1X point per dollar on all other purchases.

With a $95 annual fee, this card packs a punch, offering additional travel benefits such as a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, collision damage waivers for car rentals, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, a 10% points boost to celebrate each card anniversary and special discounts for shopping with  Instacart+ ,  DoorDash , and GoPuff, among other perks.

New cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, which is worth $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel SM .

Best for earning cash-back rewards on travel

Blue cash preferred® card from american express.

6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 3% cash back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months. 

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening

19.24% - 29.99% variable. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.

Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

See rates and fees , terms apply.

Who's this for? If you're interested in earning cash-back rewards for your travel purchases and having a 0% intro APR for the first 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening (after, 19.24% - 29.99% see rates and fees ; variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%), consider applying for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express .

This card lets you earn 6% cash back for shopping at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), 6% cash back on certain U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit (including trains) and U.S. gas station purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases, making it a great card to use during your travels and when you're using trains closer to home. Terms apply.

Three things to note about this card: While there is an $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, it'll be $95 after that ( see rates and fees ); the cash back you'll earn from using this card is offered to cardholders as Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed as statement credits; and unlike many cards on this list, you'll have to pay foreign transaction fees of 2.7% for using this card outside the U.S.

New cardholders also have an opportunity to earn a welcome bonus of a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 within the first six months of account membership.

Best for earning flexible travel rewards points

Capital one venture rewards credit card.

5 Miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

N/A for purchases and balance transfers

19.99% - 29.99% variable

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

See rates and fees , terms apply.

Who's this for? While most travel rewards cards focus heavily on earning points for flights and hotels, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees ) lets you earn 2X miles for every purchase — plus, 5X miles on hotels and rental cars when you book them directly with Capital One Travel — making it easier to rack up the rewards you'll need to book your train tickets by buying the things you need to buy anyway.

The welcome bonus is pretty decent, too — new cardholders can currently earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of card membership — and the card's annual fee of $95 is quite reasonable considering you're also getting a statement credit up to $100 to cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership and two complimentary visits per year to any Capital One Lounges (or any of the more than 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network)(see rates and fees ).

You'll also receive a range of travel-related benefits, including no foreign transaction fees, auto rental collision damage waivers for rental cars and travel accident insurance, as well as access to extra perks through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment .

While you can't transfer miles to Amtrak, you can use them to "erase" recent travel purchases, including those made with Amtrak, at a fixed value of one cent per point. You can also use the miles to cover hotels, flights, rental cars, and other parts of your trip either by booking through Capital One Travel or transferring and redeeming them through any of Capital One's airline or hotel partners, including Accor, Aeroplan, Qantas, Etihad and Singapore Airlines, among others.

Best business card

Ink business preferred® credit card.

Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in select categories each account anniversary year (travel; shipping purchases; internet, cable and phone services; and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines), 1X point per $1 on all other purchases

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

21.24% - 26.24% variable

Good/Excellent

Read our Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card review.

Who's this for? Similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card can be used to rack up Ultimate Rewards® points — 3X points per dollar on your first $150,000 worth of spending in business categories such as travel; shipping; cable, phone and internet services; and advertising expenses, then an unlimited 1X points per dollar for all other purchases.

You can then use those points to cover additional elements of your trip, such as flights, hotel stays or rental cars by booking travel directly through the Chase Travel SM — your points will be worth 25% more that way — or by transferring and redeeming them with any of Chase's many airline and hotel travel partners, including World of Hyatt, IHG, JetBlue and British Airways, among others.

New cardholders can currently earn a welcome bonus of 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first three months of account opening, which translates to about $1,250 in travel when redeemed through Chase Travel SM . There is a modest annual fee of $95, but there are no foreign transaction fees for using it abroad. The card also offers fraud and purchase protections and additional employee cards to help you stay on top of all your business needs.

More ways to save money with Amtrak

In general, the earlier you can book your ticket, the better, especially on Amtrak, which releases its schedule 11 months in advance so you'll have plenty of time to plan. You can also save more by making some obvious choices, such as traveling in coach instead of business or first class, or toughing it out long-distance in a regular seat rather than splurging on private Roomette or Bedroom accommodations. Otherwise, here are some more things to be aware of if you're trying to stick to a budget-friendly ride.

Choose your fare class wisely

Amtrak offers several ticketing options depending on your route and what's available when you're booking (which is why buying your tickets early is so important), and each of them offers different perks and policies regarding changes and cancellations.

• Saver: Non-refundable fares, usually the cheapest, with fees that may apply for changing or canceling your ticket
• Value: Fares with refund options and no change fees; often second-cheapest
• Flexible: Fully refundable fares before departure, with no fees for changes or cancellations; typically the most expensive option

Depending on your travel needs and financial situation, it might be worth splurging for a more refundable ticket if you think there might be a need to change or cancel it. On the other hand, budget-conscious travelers might be more apt to risk it all for a cheaper, non-refundable Saver fare.

Take advantage of Amtrak Guest Rewards perks

Don't forget to sign up for Amtrak Guest Rewards , the train company's free loyalty program, which gives you access to perks such as a 25% points bonus on business class travel and Acela business class travel, a 50% points bonus on travel in Acela first class, the ability to earn 2X points per dollar on Amtrak purchases and points-earning opportunities through its partners.

From there, if you travel on Amtrak often and earn enough tier-qualifying points, you can earn status :

• Select: Starting at 5,000 tier-qualifying points, you'll score all the perks of being a regular member, plus a 25% bonus on Amtrak travel, two one-class upgrades, two 10% discount coupons, exclusive offers, priority call handling and two single-visit passes to Amtrak Lounges
• Select Plus: Starting at 10,000 tier-qualifying points, you'll get the same perks as the previous tier, with a few differences — a 50% points bonus on Amtrak travel, four one-class upgrades and two companion coupons.
• Select Executive: Starting at 20,000 tier-qualifying points, you'll have the same perks as the previous tier, but with a 100% points bonus on Amtrak travel, four one-class upgrades (plus another one every time you hit the 3,000 tier-qualifying points mark) and one coupon for Auto Train Priority Vehicle Offloading.

Unfortunately, most loyalty programs no longer let you transfer points to Amtrak Guest Rewards , so your only real option is to call 1-866-313-9635 and transfer Audience Rewards ShowPoints at a 1:1 ratio in 1,000-point increments.

Otherwise, you can earn more points by shopping through the Amtrak Guest Rewards shopping portal or booking hotels and rental cars through Amtrak's partners and, of course, booking Amtrak tickets or signing up for one of its co-branded credit cards. You can also pick up more points by shopping with a litany of retail partners including 1-800-Flowers, Teleflora, Apple, Survey Points Club, QVC, The Home Depot, eBags, NRG Home, Vinesse Wines, Audience Rewards or the Rail Passengers Association.

Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our  credit card marketplace  or get personalized offers via  CardMatch™ .

Keep an eye on Amtrak's deals and promotions

Amtrak is known for having sales, so it's a good idea to check its deals page from time to time, which lets you search for specials by region. Amtrak recently offered a double points promo on fall travel , for instance, while other deals are related to newly launched routes, buy-one-get-one-free specials on certain segments or 30% off Acela bookings made at least 14 days in advance, among others. In general, though, you'll typically save 20% by booking your tickets at least a week or two ahead.

Save with group or multi-ride rail passes

If you're going to be traveling in a group —with family members, friends or co-workers — you might be able to save by booking your tickets with Amtrak's Share Fares feature, which offers discounts ranging from 17% off for groups of three to 60% off for groups of eight when you book at least two days ahead.

Another option, if you're going to be doing several trips back and forth to the same place within a certain timeframe, is to opt for multi-ride passes — monthly, 10-ride or 6-ride — which allow you to pay a discounted fare and commute more often between two cities.

For those who want to go big or go home with Amtrak, the USA Rail Pass allows you to ride 10 segments over the course of 30 days on many of its most scenic routes for $499 per person. Use the pass to plan a few weekend getaways from your hometown or plan an epic rail journey from coast to coast with a few stops in between — it's up to you.

Another option, the California Rail Pass , offers access to The Golden State's most beautiful train rides for a flat rate of $159 per adult and $79.50 per child, letting you travel anytime for 7 days within a consecutive 21-day period.

How to save more on international train travel

When booking train rides abroad, remember to be flexible. In some places, rail lines frequented by locals might be slower-paced but can save you a few bucks compared to faster trains along popular tourist routes. Try to book in advance whenever you can and consider investing in a rail pass — it's worth checking websites such as Eurail or Rail Europe if you'll be visiting multiple European countries, for instance — if you know you're going to be spending a lot of time on trains during your trip.

Check for deals and discounts, especially if you're a student, senior or traveling with children, and see if regional passes are available if you're sticking to one country or a particular area within a country. Start by checking the tourism websites of the places you're going to see what is recommended since every destination is different.

Bottom line

Though not every travel rewards card allows you to transfer your points directly to Amtrak — except of course for the two Amtrak co-branded credit cards on this list — you can still use flexible rewards-earning cards to rack up enough points to pay for other portions of your trip, such as flights, hotel stays or rental cars. By using certain cards to pay for your Amtrak tickets, you'll be able to earn even more points to help fund future travels.

Before signing up for a new credit card, it's a good idea to check your credit score so you can identify any issues and get a better idea of what your chances are for approval. Make sure you're able to spend within your budget, especially if the card you're interested in has a steep annual fee and think about whether or not you'll be able to use all of its benefits enough to justify adding it.

Our methodology

To determine which cards offer the best value for train travel,  Select  analyzed 234 of the most popular credit cards available in the U.S. We compared each card on a range of features, including: rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is for the consumer to redeem points.

Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of  personal finance ,  tech and tools ,  wellness  and more, and follow us on  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here .

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Tickets for Seniors on European Trains

There are no pan-European rules for how Seniors can and can't travel at cheaper prices on European trains. How young you have to be to qualify, how to obtain the saving and the percentage of the typical cost you will save, varies depending on the country in which you will be travelling.

Similar to how policies and rules around travelling with children and with bicycles , there is a lack of consistency to how Seniors can and can't travel at reduced rates on European trains.

Though a somewhat odd aspect of how Seniors can typically obtain train ticket discounts is that the provision of the cheaper rates are always national policies, designed to primarily benefit those are resident in those countries. However, visitors to the countries typically aren't prevented from accessing the same reduced rates, with passports providing the proof of age. Though Seniors can't access discounted rates when visiting Bosnia, Bulgaria and Croatia. There are also no discounted rates available for Seniors, resident or non-resident, when travelling by train in Ireland.

The age limits

The age at which discounts become available for Seniors on European rail tickets when visiting a country ranges from 60 to 67:

• 60 = France, Great Britain, Italy,The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Turkey
• 62 = Slovakia
• 65 = Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland (women = 64)
• 67 = Denmark and Norway
• 70 = Lithuania So the fact that 'Global' pan-European Eurail and InterRail passes are discounted for those aged 60 and over by around 10%, regardless of which country will be travelled through, can help tip the balance towards those passes being money savers.

No cards/passes required

Discounts or special tickets are available to Seniors, without additional card/passes being required. when taking a train in Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary (free travel E.U. citizens only), Lithuania Norway (only on the more expensive tickets), Poland, Portugal (50% discount), Slovakia, Sweden and Turkey.

Discounts which also need a card/pass

In other countries discounted prices can only be accessed by Seniors with the prior purchase of railcards or passes - this is the situation when taking the train in Austria, France, Great Britain, *Italy, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. *= The CartaFreccia 'card' in Italy doesn't require a purchase.

What to look out for when booking

Though something to watch out for is that some booking services, such as SNCF Connect in France, will offer the ability to select a senior age range when making a booking, but the discount won't then be applied, because the ticket purchaser also needs a railcard.

Also when looking up journeys with a specialist multi-national booking agent , they will often give the option to add an age range prior to looking up any journey, regardless of whether the journey will or won't be occurring in a country which automatically applies to discounts for Seniors.

Though what can be confusing is that these independent ticketing services, which are not managed by the national train operators, then tend not to make it clear that a saving hasn't actually been applied. This can lead to assumptions that the savings for Seniors are more widely available than actually is the case.

The reasons for this discrepancy can be because the journey being looked up can be one on which Seniors don't automatically receive a discount. Another scenario is that the discount is only available at a higher age limit than the default age, used by the booking service in its journey search tool.

Discounts for Seniors aren't automatically applied to Austrian rail tickets .

A Vorteilscard Senior card for those aged 65 and over costs €29 and can be purchased at station ticket counters. It then gives a 50% discount on most Austrian rail tickets.

The Senior Ticket can be used by those aged 65 and over on any Belgian train departing after 09:00 on Monday to Friday and at any time on a weekend or national holidays. It can be used for a single or return journey anywhere in Belgium , on the day it is purchased at a station ticket counter. It costs only €7.20 for travel in 2nd class and €15.30 in 1st class, so you haven't got to go far to save money.

Those aged 65 and over can travel at a 50% reduction for journeys within Czechia , but you may be asked to prove your age when tickets are checked by the train conductor, so travel with your passports, even though you won't be crossing the border.

When booking online with the website of CD , the Czech national rail operator, click on the passengers option on the home page and choose the Adult 65 years and over option.

In Denmark travellers aged 67 and over receive a variable discount depending on the length of the journey and the region in which the journey will be taken. Though having compared prices for the discounted Orange tickets for longer-distance journeys by IC and express trains, the typical discount for these trips seems to be around 12%.

Railcards, which are branded as Carte Avantage by the French national rail operator SNCF, are available for those aged 60 and over for €49. They are valid for a year, but the benefits they offer to the card holders aren't available on any train. For one way journeys you can only access the benefits when travelling on Saturdays and Sundays. For two way journeys (a round trip) you need to be staying overnight on a Saturday and Sunday, or travelling in at least one direction on a Saturday or Sunday.

Travel at those times and the benefits to the card holder are:

• a 30% reduction on tickets for travel by TGV (TGV InOui) and Intercités; in effect these are the standard French long-distance express trains .
• There are also maximum price caps, so on certain journeys by the TGVs, the discount can be more than 30%; The maximum price of journeys of up to 1hr 30mins = €39; up to three hours = €59 and over three hours = €79.
• A 25-50% discount when travelling by regional TER train services in most regions; with Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Provence Cote d'Azure and Ile de France being the three regions where no discounts apply on the TER trains.
• A 30% discount on the high speed trains from France to Germany (not Thalys); to Italy (not Frecce), Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland.
• Those discounts also apply to one other person travelling with you, so you can purchase pairs of tickets at the discounted rates.

When booking tickets with the German national rail operator DB's ticket booking service , it is possible to select an age 65 and over as option- and this can then apply a discount, depending on the route and departure time etc.

Seniors aged 60 and over do not automatically receive a discount on rail tickets but Senior Railcards which are valid for one year cost £30. Holders of these cards can obtain a 1/3 off all Standard and First Class tickets at the adult rates, plus a 1/3 off when using Oyster cards in London off-peak.

When travelling long-distance it's possible to book the cheaper Advance tickets online up to 12 weeks ahead of travel to Britain at the Senior Railcard rate, and then purchase the card at the station prior to boarding the first train. The cards require a passport style of photo.

There are no 'rules' around whether rail passes will or won't be money savers, but if a holiday to Britain includes just two long-distance rail journeys, it's likely that a railcard + tickets will enable a discount.

On national rail journeys within Hungary those aged 65 and over who are resident in an E.U. country travel for free, you just need to have your passport with you, which in effect becomes your ticket. However, those aged 65 and over who reside outside the E.U. have to buy tickets at the adult rate.

Becoming a CartaFreccia member

The Italian national rail company, Trenitalia, offers free membership of the CartaFreccia program which enables discounts of up to 50% on the price of 'Base' tickets for journeys by Frecce , Intercity and Intercity Notte trains. The only exceptions are tickets to travel in:

• Executive class on the Frecce trains, Excelsior carriages and private compartments;
• in the Excelsior carriages on the Intercity Notte trains;
• booking a private sleeping compartment for sole use the Intercity Notte trains.

For those aged 60 and over it doesn't cost anything to join the scheme and it is open to non-Italian residents, so it is highly recommended for anyone who meets the age criteria and will be taking one or more long distance train journeys in Italy .

When looking up journeys to book tickets on the Trenitalia website , you can select the Senior price. Though limited numbers of Senior tickets are available per departure and they can sell out more than a month in advance on particularly popular trains. Note that Senior prices are not available when looking up journeys with ItaliaRail .

The Silver Card

The Italian national rail company, Trenitalia, offers a Silver Card for seniors, for those aged 65-74 it costs €30, but there is no charge for those aged over 75 and over. The cards can be purchased / obtained at station ticket desks but have your passport with you, you'll also need to take it with on journeys by Frecce and Intercity trains, which are Trenitalia's express trains .

However, when booking tickets online or at stations for journeys by these express train services, the Silver Card holder can only obtain a discount when booking 'Base tickets' and these are the most expensive type of tickets to travel by these trains. The Silver Cards enable a 15% discount on Base, tickets, so if you will be making a few long-distance journeys, joining the the CartaFreccia program instead will almost certainly be the cheaper option, particularly if you are aged 60-74.

However, the CartaFreccia program doesn't enable a discount on the journeys by the R and RV regional train services . So where the Silver Card can pay off is for these journeys. as they are only sold at a base price. Though with tickets for travel for fairly long-distances by these trains costing less than €30, if you're aged 60 -74, you're going to need to be taking more than seven such journeys for the initial investment in the card to pay off.

The Dutch national rail operator NS offers a somewhat convoluted method of enabling those aged 60 and over to save money on rail travel. It offers ' Keuzedagen ' which enable 7 days of travel public transport across The Netherlands for a total price of €27.50 for travel in 2nd class and €53.70 for travel in 1st class.

However, in order to obtain the Keuzedagen you need(ed) to be in possession of a type of Dutch season ticket named a 'Dal Voordel' which costs €67.20. Among other benefits it offers a 40% discount on journeys at weekends, national holidays and during off-peak hours on Mondays to Fridays. The idea being that if you if you are 60 and over and will be making journeys on 7 days of travel which have a total cost of more than €27.50 / €53.70 with the Dal Voordel card, you can save by using the Keuzedagen instead.

There is also a Flex version of the Dal Voordel card, which costs €5.70 per month, but Keuzedagen cannot be added to these Flex cards.

The Dal Voordel and the Keuzedagen need to be loaded on to a card which opens the ticket gates etc at Dutch stations, known as a OV-chipkaart. These cards, which require a photo, cost €7.50, the Dal Voordel costs €67.20 and then the Keuzedagen have a price of €27.50 / €53.70. So for an expenditure of €102.20 those aged 60 and over have access to 7 days of rail travel to any location in the country, plus the public transport connections to/from the stations. In comparison an InterRail / Eurail pass for seniors valid for travel of 6 days in The Netherlands costs €180, so if you will be travelling solely in The Netherlands , these Keuzedagen are a good deal. Though those Eurail and InterRail passes for The Netherlands also allow for travel in Belgium and Luxembourg, in addition to The Netherlands.

There are currently three main rail operators in Norway :

Vy operates the routes between Oslo and Bergen,and the route between Olso and the Swedish border at Halden. Vy also operates most of Norway's regional train services, including all such services to/from Oslo. Those aged 67 years and older receive a 50% discount on Flexible tickets and 'Single' tickets, but these are the most expensive type of tickets. Though the cheaper Non-Flexible tickets, which are available to all, are often discounted by more than 50%.

SJ NORD operates:

• 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

Seniors aged 67 and over receive a 50% discount on Flexible tickets when travelling in Standard Class and a 25% discount on Flexible tickets for travel in Premium Class.

• 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 Seniors receive on the Go Ahead Norway website. Journeys for those aged 67 were looked up on the Entur website, the national rail ticket service, 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%.

PKP is the operator of the long-distance express trains in Poland and it overs those aged 60 and over a 30% discount on all of its tickets.

Those aged 60 and over can buy Tarjeta Dorada discount card at staffed station desks. It costs only €6 and will typically give a 20% discount on tickets for journeys by the long-distance express trains and 40% off the Media-Distancia trains in Spain .

The national rail operator SJ offers tickets for 'Pensioners' which typically give a 10% discount on journeys by SJ trains and the pensionable age in Sweden is 65. But if you're 65 and over you don't have to be a Swedish resident to obtain this discount, you can select the 'Pensionar' category when booking and then demonstrate your eligible age by showing your passport to the train conductor.

Seniors don't receive a discount on the nationwide network of trains operated by SBB and BLS, but if you will be making multiple journeys, there is an alternative method of saving money. SBB offers what it describes as a subscription for women aged 64 and over and men aged 65 and over. Once purchased they will be added to a Swiss Pass, which can be obtained at stations by showing a passport, you'll also need to have a passport sized photo with you.

The subscriptions cost a flat rate of 260 CHF per month for travel in 2nd class and 430 CHF to travel in 1st class and enable the holders to hop on virtually all trains in Switzerland, including the Swiss mountain railways , in effect they match the travel element of using Swiss Travel Passes However,

• you can only cancel a subscription after a minimum of 6 months
• SBB will automatically take the payment until you proactively unsubscribe.

Therefore the minimum outlay is 1560 CHF for travel in 2nd class and 2580 CHF for travel in 1st Class.

In contrast, the most expensive type of Swiss Travel Pass is the Flex type of pass valid for travel on any 15 days within a 1 month period, and it has a price of CHF 449 in 2nd class and 706 CHF for travel in 1st class.

International trains

More often than not discounted Senior tickets aren't an option on Europe's international express trains, despite Eurail and InterRail passes being available at a cheaper rate for those aged 60 and over.

When traveling on non-specific services such as EC trains or international ICE trains; three scenarios typically apply:

• The discount will be applied to the section of the journey in the country managed by the provider of the ticket (journeys from Czechia and Poland)
• If the appropriate Railcard has been purchased, the discount will apply to the national part of the journey, or the entire journey; this latter scenario applies when traveling on some routes from Germany and France.
• No discount is available: Journeys between countries when this is the situation include: Italy <> Austria Italy <> Switzerland Switzerland <> Austria Eurostar Lyria (unless you have a Senior Carte Avantage card)

Thalys trains are available three international routes:

(1) Paris Nord - Bruxelles Midi/Zuid - Antwerpen Centraal - Rotterdam Centraal - Schiphol Airport - Amsterdam Centraal

(2) Paris Nord - Bruxelles Midi/Zuid - Liege-Guiilemmens - Aachen - Koln/Cologne Hbf - Dusseldorf - Essen - Dortmund

(3) Marne La Valléé - Aeroport CDG - Bruxelles Midi/Zuid - Antwerpen Centraal - Rotterdam Centraal - Schiphol Airport - Amsterdam Centraal

It offers those aged 60 and over a max price policy of Standard:

• Brussels - Paris : €74
• Brussels – Amsterdam : €62
• Brussels – Cologne : €50
• Brussels - Paris : €93
• Brussels – Amsterdam : €76
• Brussels – Cologne : €59
• Brussels - Paris : €113
• Brussels – Amsterdam : €91
• Brussels – Cologne : €67

But the cheapest advance tickets will be money savers compared to these fares.

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.

Please support ShowMeTheJourney

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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 consider saying thank you.

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Travel in regional NSW for seniors, pensioners and concessions

We’ve created this guide especially for seniors, pensioners and concession card holders living in regional NSW and rely on public transport to get around, and who may need extra information and support navigating travel due to age, limited mobility or disability.

Public transport in regional NSW

There are many transport options in regional NSW.

bus Bus services

Bus services run within and between most regional centres and towns throughout NSW. These are operated by local bus companies and are different to NSW TrainLink coach services, but are all part of the same statewide public transport network.

In most areas you can hail buses from dedicated bus stops, but in some rural areas bus stops may not be signposted and you will need to contact the local operator to find out where buses pick up and drop off passengers.

Finding bus services near you

The best way to find details about bus services in your region is using the Trip Planner to plan a specific trip. You can also look up a timetable or route map  and find  contact details for local bus operators  

Bus fares and tickets

Eligible seniors, pensioners and concession card holders travelling on local bus services in regional areas of NSW are entitled to:

• half-price fares for individual bus trips
• $2.50 unlimited daily travel with a Regional Excursion Daily ticket

Find out more about regional bus fares and the Regional Excursion Daily ticket .

regional-train coach NSW TrainLink Regional trains and coaches

NSW TrainLink run train and coach services between more than 365 regional and remote destinations across NSW, and across the borders into Victoria, Queensland and the ACT.

Small regional communities in NSW now have more travel options and better connections to nearby centres with many new coach services gradually being introduced around the state.

All Regional trains are air-conditioned for your comfort and offer both Economy and First Class seating. Every train has a buffet car which serves food and drinks including snacks, hot meals and alcoholic beverages (subject to operating hours).

All Regional coaches are air-conditioned and offer allocated Economy seating, large windows, reclining seats with headrests and lap sash seatbelts. NSW TrainLink fares and bookings

Eligible seniors, pensioners and concession card holders are entitled to:

• 50% off ordinary Adult peak season Economy and First Class fares
• $2.50 unlimited daily travel on Regional train and coach services with a pre-booked Country Pensioner Excursion ticket

Pensioner Travel Vouchers are available for:

• NSW and ACT Pensioner Concession Card holders
• NSW War Widow/er Transport Concession Card holders

You can book tickets:

• online at transportnsw.info/regional
• over the phone on 13 22 32 (7am to 10pm daily)
• in person with an accredited NSW TrainLink sales agent or at selected train stations

For more information about NSW TrainLink fares, bookings, and terms and conditions of travel, visit  transportnsw.info/regional

on-demand On Demand public transport

On Demand is a safe, reliable and affordable new public transport option available in some regional areas designed to improve connections to transport hubs and popular destinations like shopping centres or hospitals.

The cost of an On Demand trip is similar to the cost of a local bus trip, with discounted fares available to seniors, pensioners and concession card holders.

Trips are usually booked and paid for via an app or over the phone.

On Demand services can pick you up from home or an easy to access location, and take you where you need to go.

In some areas On Demand services provide door-to-door connections. In other areas pick-up and drop-off points may be nearby location such as shopping areas, healthcare precincts, public transport hubs and convenient meeting points in residential areas.

To find out if On Demand public transport services are available in your area, visit  transportnsw.info/on-demand .

Supported transport options

If you need assistance, there are supported transport options for you. 

getting-around Community transport

Community Transport is a government-subsidised scheme available in many regional areas that supports people with limited transport options to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives by making it easier to get around and stay socially connected.

It is especially designed to help eligible members of the community get to medical appointments, participate in social activities, do shopping and maintain independent living at home.

Find out more about Community Transport You can search for Community Transport in your area and find contact details for your local operator online. See  transportnsw.info/operators , then under ‘Filter by mode’ select ‘Community Transport’.

taxi Subsidised taxi travel

If you are physically unable to use regular public transport services because of a severe and permanent disability you may qualify for discounted taxi travel under the the  Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme . 

The scheme provides discounts of up to half the metered fare to a maximum $60 subsidy per trip, for travel in regular and wheelchair accessible taxis.

Find out more about Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme

Fares, concessions and discounts

To make travel easier and more affordable, eligible Australian seniors, pensioners and people with certain disabilities are entitled to discounted or free travel on public transport in NSW.

Regional seniors travel card

People with vision impairment

Ex-members of Defence Force with disabilities

Carers or companions of people with disabilities

Travelling with assistance animals

Guide to concessions

Accessible services and facilities

Public transport is there for everyone, so we’re making it easier to for people with all types of needs and abilities to use.

Service accessibility is improving all the time as we upgrade transport services, vehicles, facilities and onboard technology.

Accessible travel on NSW TrainLink services

Accessible bus travel

Mobility aid specifications

Planning your trip

We provide a number of tools that allow you to plan your trip. You can use the Trip Planner to plan a trip and get fare estimates and accessibility information. Or download the Opal travel app or real-time transport apps to help you get around. For a handy collection of travel planning instructions and guides all in one place, see our Help with planning page.

trip-planner Plan an accessible trip with the Trip Planner

Use the Trip Planner to plan your journey from A to B and it will automatically calculate the best way to complete the trip between location A and location B including the latest real time data, if available.

You can find accessible service information with the Trip Planner

• Enter your departure location, destination and travel date/time, then select ‘Go’ to see all available trip options
• Refine your results by choosing ‘Options’ then select ‘Accessible services only’

You can further refine your results to show trips with, for example, the fewest changes, the least walking, the earliest departure times and your preferred mode of travel.

With the Trip Planner, you can also:

• view public transport options on a map
• save your favourite trips for next time
• print out your trip plan or share it with someone via a link
• get fare estimates
• be notified about planned travel disruptions

See  Trip Planner help for further instructions.

trip-planner Departures

If you just want to see all the services departing from a particular stop, you can use the Departures tool, and then add filters to only include certain routes or lines along with other options.

How to use the Departures tool

timetable Routes and timetables

To look up the details of a route including a map and download a PDF timetable of the scheduled routes times, you can look up your route on the Routes and timetables page.

How to use Routes and timetables

mobile-tablets Download a travel app

If you’re tech savvy, try using a travel planning app

Download a Transport for NSW endorsed app to your phone or device so you can plan trips on the go. Buses in some regional areas now have real-time location tracking, so with the right app you’ll always know how far away your bus is.

FinanceBuzz

15 Discounts Seniors Can Use to Cut Travel Costs

Posted: May 2, 2023 | Last updated: July 1, 2023

Seniors can get discounts on many items and services, from restaurants to transit tickets to national parks. Retirees with wanderlust can use these discounts to reduce the overall cost of vacations. 

Those traveling on a budget should also  choose the best travel credit card to earn miles, extra perks, or upgrades. This can help maximize the total amount you save to see the world. 

Here are 15 senior discounts you may not know about that can cut your travel costs — and make vacation budgeting much more enjoyable.

• Best travel credit cards for nearly free travel
• 13 legit ways to earn extra cash
• 7 nearly secret things to do if you fly Southwest

Hotels and accommodations

Many hotels offer discounted rates for seniors, but the offers vary a great deal in total savings and qualifying age. Some hotels let qualifying customers book with a senior discount right on their website, while others require guests to go through AARP.

Notably, some large hotel chains make discounted rates available to people under 65. Best Western begins at age 55, for instance, and Marriott at age 62.

Want to learn how to build wealth like the 1%? Sign up for Worthy to get ideas and advice delivered to your inbox.

Car rentals

If you need to rent a car while you’re away, look into which services in the area offer discounts for seniors. Major car rental companies — like Avis, Budget, and Hertz — all offer senior discounts. Certain customers may even be able to score up to 30% off.

Just make sure you understand what age qualifies as “senior” and which vehicles the discounts apply to before booking.

Several major airlines offer discounted ticket prices for travelers in their late 50s and beyond, including United, British Airways, and Delta. Savvy travelers can end up saving on their flights, rental cars, hotels, and more if they keep their eyes peeled for senior savings.

Those looking into booking these flights may find they need to contact the airlines directly rather than booking online to get access to senior discounts.

7 Nearly Secret Things to Do If You Fly Southwest

Amtrak tickets

Do you enjoy traveling by train? If so, Amtrak offers a 10% discount for travelers aged 65 and over for most trips. The age is reduced to 60 for those traveling between the U.S. and Canada on cross-border services operated by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada.

Other transit tickets

Those aged 60 and over should check their local rail and bus systems to see if they can get discounted fares. For example, seniors (65+) in major cities like New York and Chicago can get discounted rates when traveling on the subway. New Jersey Transit offers half-off rail tickets for people over 62.

Seniors should look for discounts on local buses, trains, light rail, and other modes of transportation at their destinations. You may even save on transportation to and from the airport.

Concert or show tickets

Seniors can also save cash when booking tickets to concerts or shows. AARP members, in particular, can land discounts through Ticketmaster for select events.

If live entertainment is part of your travel plans, look into senior discounts before buying tickets for events at local theaters or concert halls.

9 things you need to know before retiring with $500,000

Museum admissions

Many of the attractions in major cities offer discounts for seniors, including museums. If you’re visiting an area that has a thriving arts scene, definitely look into discounts that may be available.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, for example, offers $8 off standard ticket prices for visitors aged 65 and over. The Art Institute of Chicago offers $6 off.

The North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Program offers free admission to hundreds of museums in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico if you’re a member of any of their member museums.

Cruises are a great option for retirees as they tend to offer bargain vacation packages even without a specific senior discount.

Major cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival, also offer special discount packages specifically for customers aged 55 and older.

Restaurants

Many restaurants offer senior discounts, which is another great way to cut vacation costs if you plan to dine out during your trip.

National chains like Denny’s and Chili’s offer discounts to any diners over age 55, but discounts may be available at local eateries as well, so it’s always worth it to ask.

Earn up to 5% cash back when you shop with these leading credit cards

National parks pass

Retirees looking to take some road trips across the U.S. should consider the America the Beautiful senior national parks pass. 

Those aged 62 and over can apply for either an annual pass for $20 or a lifetime pass for $80. It covers admission to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas. In many hot spots, pass holders can get discounts on amenity fees (like camping or guided tours) as well.

Grocery stores

If you’re planning to stock your hotel or Airbnb fridge, another way to save is to shop for groceries using a senior discount. Some stores offer discounts for seniors on certain days of the week. Hy-Vee, for example, offers 5% off for shoppers aged 55 and older every Thursday.

Pro Tip: Doing a Costco haul is a great way to stock up before vacation. Non-members can even use Costco Travel to save money on flights, hotels, and vacation experiences.

Ski resorts all across the U.S. and Canada offer discounts for senior skiers and snowboarders. Some even offer free day passes for those over a certain age.

Shawnee Mountain in Pennsylvania, for example, offers discounts for skiers aged 65 and up and free skiing for those 70 and over.

8 ways seniors are throwing away money

Movie tickets

If you have a few rainy days during your vacation, senior discounts can also be found at many movie theaters. Like all moviegoers, seniors can save by taking in matinee shows, but many theaters also offer a percentage off for viewers in their 60s and beyond.

AMC Theaters, for example, offers discounts for viewers aged 60 and over for most films. Showcase Cinemas offers discounted prices for the 60+ crowd every Wednesday.

If you need to stock up on essentials before you go or during your vacation, several major pharmacies offer senior discounts on specific days.

For example, Rite Aid offers 5X the points for Rite Aid Rewards members aged 65 and over on the first Wednesday of every month (plus a free consultation with a pharmacist). Walgreens has “Seniors Day” promotions on the first Tuesday of every month when 55+ shoppers can score additional discounts.

Goodwill can be a great place to shop for your vacation wardrobe on a budget — and shoppers aged 55 and over can nab a 15% discount off their total purchase every Tuesday through the organization’s “Terrific Senior Tuesdays” program.

Whether you’re looking for a new beach outfit for an island getaway or a winter wardrobe to hit up the ski resort, Goodwill stores tend to have an eclectic mix of clothing and goods at already discounted prices.

7 savvy moves when you have $1,000 in the bank

Bottom line

Many retirees worry that they need to make extra money to satisfy their wanderlust, but there are so many senior discounts that can cut vacation costs significantly, even beyond what is listed here.

Financially-savvy vacationers should look into senior discounts on travel tickets, resorts, restaurants, stores, and other popular attractions. Don’t ever be afraid to ask if you can get a discount because if you don't then you might end up costing yourself some money.

More from FinanceBuzz:

• 6 genius hacks Costco shoppers should know
• 9 things you must do before the next recession.
• Can you retire early? Take this quiz and find out.
• 9 simple ways to make up to an extra $200/day

We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies .

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Taking the train in Spain - all you need to know

Apr 3, 2024 • 15 min read

The vintage train from Sóller to Palma de Mallorca is one of the most scenic rail routes in Spain © Shutterstock

Spain boasts Europe’s longest high-speed rail network, second only to China globally, and its trains are exceptional and far-reaching. In one day, you could gawp at Gaudí’s architectural genius in Barcelona , be whisked by rail to Madrid ’s museums, and still arrive in Seville for a sunset flamenco show.

Not that it’s all A to B whirlwind rail routes. There are some outstanding scenic train journeys to slow down and enjoy the Spanish pace of life, whether trundling along the northern coast’s narrow-gauge tracks or meandering into the mountains. And with some new low-cost operators now on the scene, exploring Spain by train has never been more affordable.

With over a thousand stations and thousands more daily departures, getting around Spain by train is a straightforward joy rather than a stressful necessity. Seat reservations on most services guarantee uncrowded carriages, Rioja-serving cafe cars provide perfectly wine-paired panoramic views, and electric-powered trains make journeys even more sustainable. What’s not to love? Here’s everything you need to know to plan a train trip in Spain like a pro.

Train services are generally excellent in mainland Spain

You can traverse all four corners of Spain by train, usually on swift, reliable, well-maintained carriages. Few areas aren’t covered by at least a regional service. And where there are coverage gaps, buses will usually take you the final stretch to that pretty medieval village. While strikes can occur, they are rare, and minimum service levels are generally guaranteed. Compensation payments are offered for delays over one hour, which helps keep timetables on track. 

Renfe is Spain’s national railway company, operating everything from non-stop regional capital connections to short-hop commuter services. Iryo and Ouigo provide low-cost competition on the main high-speed intercity lines, with the latter’s double-decker trains being a welcome addition.

While the numerous names for differing service and train types can be confusing, the trains in Spain can generally be divided into three categories:

• High-speed, mainly long-distance (larga distancia) services link many major cities, mainly via Madrid. These full-service trains can reach 310km/h (193mph) and include Renfe’s AVE (Alta Velocidad Española), its new no-frills Avlo counterpart, and Iryo and Ouigo. There’s an ever-growing network of high-speed routes , including the popular Barcelona–Madrid, Madrid–Seville, and Madrid–Valencia lines.
• Mid-distance services – although they can sometimes cover long distances and reach speeds of 250km/h (155mph) – make up the majority of other major routes. Renfe services these under names including Media Distancia, Avant and Alvia. Intercity and Regional Exprés services are somewhat slower but only call at major stations. Popular routes include Madrid– Toledo , Granada–Seville, and the Euromed coastal service between Barcelona and Alicante . Nearly all long and mid-distance services use sleek, modern carriages.
• Slower trains , including Regional, Proximidad, and Cercanías commuter services (Rodalies in Catalonia), complete the network. The older Cercanías AM trains, previously FEVE, mainly operate on the northern coast’s picturesque narrow-gauge tracks.

Nearly all large and medium-sized train stations are staffed and contain shops or cafes. High-speed train stations operate similarly to airports, with luggage security scanners and boarding gates. It’s advisable to arrive 20–30 minutes early, especially as boarding can close five minutes before departure. The bonus is you’ll have time to admire the stations. Some, like Toledo’s Mudejar-style ticket hall and art nouveau Bilbao Concordia , are attractions in their own right.

There are tourist trains and unique rail services too

In addition to standard train services, Spain has an exceptional selection of specialist rail routes known as “ tourist trains .” These range from seasonal, short routes, such as the scenic Tren dels Llacs in the Pre-Pyrenees, to indulgent, multiday sojourns like the luxury Transcantábrico train hotel. There are currently no standard domestic night trains.

International and island rail routes are limited

Away from the mainland, the rail situation is starkly different. The Canary Islands have no train services, and only Mallorca in the Balearic Islands has limited rail connections . These consist of three short, modern lines and the vintage Sóller train. 

Traveling to and from France by train is possible on France’s TGVs (from Paris) and Renfe’s International AVE services to Marseille and Lyon . Fares start from €29. You can also cross via Hendaye in the Basque Country or take the slower, scenic sleeper service via the Pyrenees . The Trenhotel (night service) between Madrid and Lisbon has been discontinued, leaving the Tren Celta between Vigo and Porto and the slow route to Lisbon via Badajoz as the only connections with Portugal . Work continues on improving the tracks to accommodate a direct, high-speed link between the two Iberian capitals.

Book ahead to save money and guarantee your seat

Spain’s rail operators all use dynamic pricing for high-speed and long-distance services. Therefore, early booking is advised, especially as seat reservations are mandatory. Advanced Avlo tickets between Madrid and Barcelona start from €7, with Ouigo and Iryo also offering competitive pricing on primary routes. A same-day ticket can sometimes cost more than 10 times more than booking in advance. Prices are less competitive on routes solely operated by Renfe. 

When booking tickets online to or from major cities, use the dropdown city name followed by todos (all) to check for direct and affordable tickets from all stations. Provide the Passport or ID number of the photo document you’ll be traveling with, as tickets are personal. The second surname can be left blank – Spanish people take both their father's and mother’s surnames. Tickets can be printed, collected at self-service machines, or displayed as QR codes on mobile devices. Overall, Ouigo and Iryo's websites are easier to navigate than Renfe's, which can be glitchy. While most people would recommend using a third-party booking service – handy for comparing prices between all operators – direct reservations avoid booking fees.

Even short-distance, popular services with fixed fares (some mid-distance and regional trains) can fill up. I’ve previously struggled to get last-minute weekend tickets on the Madrid to Toledo route. Secure all tickets ahead if your vacation coincides with a major holiday such as Easter (Semana Santa) or Christmas, including around Three Kings Day on January 6.

Iryo and Ouigo release tickets many months ahead. Renfe’s tickets should be available at least 60 days ahead, but this isn’t always true. Check regularly in the months leading up to your departure and sign up for newsletters on the three websites to receive ticket availability and discount updates.

Occasionally, two single fares (ida) can be cheaper than a return (vuelta) . Reservations can also be made at station ticket machines (in English) or staffed desks. Larger stations may have separate sales points for particular types of tickets. 

You’ll always be assigned a mandatory seat reservation. However, if you’d prefer to select your own to guarantee a window, you can change it for a nominal fee. Confusingly, Renfe’s website has this step after choosing a payment method. 

Cercanías and Cercanías AM tickets can’t be purchased in advance and should be purchased at the ticket office, self-service machine, or onboard from the conductor when traveling from the tiniest unstaffed stations. This is the only time you’re allowed to board a train without a ticket. 

If you wish to upgrade from basic class (básico) on high-speed routes, you can choose from Elige, Elige Confort and Prêmium on Renfe, or similar options on Iryo. Upgrades can include access to premium station lounges, at-seat food service, and more spacious seats. Solo travelers may want to upgrade to enjoy an individual seat in the 2+1 configured carriages. Ouigo allows these seats as a paid add-on without upgrading.

Discounts and offers: know your benefits and bring ID

Much noise was made about the launch of Spain’s fixed-price travel pass . Yet this system, established to offer discounted fares on repeat return trips, is primarily aimed at locals and commuters.

Renfe does offer a Spain Rail Pass for travelers , covering between four and ten journeys. However, depending on the routes you plan to take, pre-booking discounted, advanced fares can be cheaper. Some region-specific options exist, such as the better value three-day Galica Rail Pass .

Other discounts available on Renfe include:

• Small group discount when booking four or more travelers together.
• Seniors discount, up to 40%, for over 60s. However, this requires purchasing a card ( La Tarjeta Dorada ) in person before making the reservation. Advanced, discounted fares can be better value.
• Youth Discounts for under 25s with a European Youth Card or suitable International Student Card. A digital card can be purchased online by citizens of most countries.  
• Babies travel for free, as do children, although the age cap varies between operators.

Considering an Interrail or Eurail pass? Check on any savings first. All high-speed trains in Spain require seat reservations, an additional cost not included in these passes. Avlo, Iryo, and Ouigo are likewise excluded, and these cheaper advanced tickets may be better value than using the pass, though there is less flexibility.

Money-saving tip: high-speed trains include a free local ticket

If you’re traveling on a high-speed AVE or long-distance service operated by Renfe or Iryo, Combinado Cercanías is included. This allows for free use of local Cercanías trains to reach your departure station and again on arrival. Scan the QR code at barriers, or use the PDF code to get a zero-priced ticket at Cercanías’ self-service machines.

Seat reservations ensure most train journeys don’t feel crowded

Traveling by train in Spain is so enjoyable because all long and mid-distance services require a seat reservation. With no congested corridors or jostling vestibules, these trains never feel crowded, even when full. However, some regional and Cercanías services can be packed, particularly around commuter hours and Friday and Sunday evenings. You might want to avoid peak times or, when available, pay for a regional service seat reservation.

Plan around major events and regional holidays during your trip, such as Semana Santa, when ticket demand and crammed suburban trains are common. Trains in Spain operate every day of the year, though some services may finish earlier on public holidays. If you’re traveling on weekends or during holidays, check onward public transport in advance as small, rural stations may have a reduced weekend bus service.

Train can be the fastest, most affordable transport method

Using the train in Spain can be quicker and cheaper than flying. For example, a flight from Madrid to Barcelona takes 1¼ hours compared with 2½ hours by high-speed rail. But once you factor in security checks, out-of-city airport transfers, and runway taxi times, the overall journey length by plane becomes longer.

Driving distances are considerable. The same journey by car will take closer to seven hours. It’s unquestionably worth renting a car if you’re planning a road trip , but generally, long-distance jaunts are best by rail. 

Most train terminuses are connected to city buses and, in larger metropolises, commuter rail or metro systems. Barcelona-El Prat Airport and Madrid–Barajas Airport are on the train network. If you wish to visit smaller towns or villages that are not on the train network, consider other ways to get around Spain .

Onboard facilities differ between service types

All of Spain’s high-speed train services are spacious, comfortable, clean and well cared for. Carry-on luggage can be placed in overhead racks, while storage areas at either end of the carriage accommodate bulkier luggage. Popular services (especially on Friday and Sunday evenings) can quickly fill, and train staff will usually assist in rearranging suitcases to fit. Cercanías services can be more dated and crowded and often lack enough dedicated luggage space.

If you’re traveling by bicycle, check the luggage policies of Renfe and Iryo . In some instances, bikes must be disassembled or an additional fee paid.

The dining carts on Spain’s trains are typically stand-up, cafe-style rather than seated dining carriages. They’re good for stretching your legs or getting an alternative window view, but dining at your seat table is often more comfortable. A selection of hot meals, snacks and drinks – usually all of decent quality – are available, and certain ticket types offer pre-ordered meals served at your seat. Iryo has particularly impressive dining options .

On some routes, a trolley service may be provided in addition or as an alternative. Mid-distance and Avlo services have vending machines rather than dining carts. Bringing your own food and even alcohol onboard Renfe’s services isn’t a problem.

Complimentary (sometimes patchy) wi-fi is provided on Iryo and Renfe’s high-speed services, alongside entertainment portals accessible on your device. Ouigo charges per connection. Plug sockets (F-type) are available at seats on high-speed and mid-distance trains. Nearly all trains, except commuter services, have toilets.

Plan the perfect train trip with these scenic routes and tips

The most popular train routes for travelers in Spain are the high-speed connections that rocket between Seville, Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. But riding the rails in Spain isn’t only about barrelling between urban sprawl. These are some of our favorite scenic rail routes worth planning into your trip. 

• Santander to Oviedo :  Cross the lush landscapes of Northern Spain on this slow, scenic rail route using Cercanías AM’s narrow-gauge tracks. This six-hour journey provides some of the expensive Transcantábrico Train’s panoramas for a bargain €16.55. There are no seat reservations, which is handy, as you can switch sides to marvel at both the sparkling Bay of Biscay and the mighty Cantabrian Mountains , Spain’s answer to the Dolomites. 
• Barcelona to A Coruña :  Once served by the discontinued sleeper Trenhotel, this is one of Spain’s longest rail routes, taking nearly 14 hours. The 9:05am Alvia departure can be affordable to cross seven of Spain’s autonomous communities. Pack snacks and pay for a window seat (ideally on the right) to see the full scope of Spain’s landscapes, from arid pastures and fertile farmlands to the verdant Galician Massif . Consider hopping off a few stops early in Ourense to use the town’s free-to-access thermal pools the following morning.
• Granada to Almería : Leaving the magnificent Moorish Alhambra behind, set off across western Andalucía towards the coastal city of Almería. It’s a showstopping three-hour journey traversing the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, snow-capped peaks looming beyond, before cutting through carpets of cork trees. Book a late afternoon departure for ethereal golden light, or take two single tickets to plan a lunch pause at Guadix, best known for its cave houses. 
• Palma de Mallorca to Sóller:  Step onboard the rickety, wooden carriage of Ferrocarril de Sóller , constructed in 1912, for a one-hour-long trundle from Mallorca's capital to the pretty port town of Sóller. En route, you’ll wend through the Tramuntana Mountains, unlit tunnels, and citrus groves close enough to touch. All seats are excellent, but you might want to stand in the open-air platforms between carriages. 
• Zaragoza to Canfranc :  A one-way ticket on this twice-a-day, 2½-hour regional train costs just €16.90, and you’ll get plenty of panoramas for your money, especially after Huesca when the tracks slowly climb up into the ​​Pyrenees. Our resident rail expert, Tom Hall, calls it one of Europe’s best train routes , partly because the landmark Canfranc Station has recently been reborn as a grandiose hotel .

Station tips when traveling Spain by train

Most large cities have multiple train stations, so always confirm departure points. When traveling to dedicated AVE stations outside major cities, check the station’s distance from the city center and pre-plan your connecting travel. Some stations, such as Antequera ’s Santa Ana, can be as far as 15km (9 miles) from the Old Town. 

Spain’s largest stations, such as Madrid Atocha and Barcelona Sants, can be confusing due to split-level and separated boarding areas for different services. Don’t be afraid to ask for help navigating the station. A quick flash of your ticket will soon have you pointed in the right direction.

All major stations have cafes and kiosks where you can pick up food, although preparing a train picnic from a delicatessen might be preferable. Still, a quick tapas in Atocha's Tropical Garden, even if the pond-residing turtles have now been rehomed, is a solid start to any journey. If you’re on a connecting service with time to explore beyond the station, most larger terminals have lockers or left luggage desks (​​consigna) .

Many stations are accessible, but there’s room for improvement on older services

Adif, the agency in charge of Spain’s rail infrastructure, provides in-station and boarding assistance for travelers with accessibility needs via the Acerca service, offered at 145 stations.

When booking tickets online, H seats – accessible spaces that can anchor a wheelchair – can be requested on the opening screen, and Acerca assistance can be requested later in the booking process. A minimum of 12–48 hours' notice is stipulated, depending on the operator. However, in larger stations, staffed service centers can usually provide support without pre-booking if you arrive and register at the desk ahead of travel. Check which facilities are available at each station on Adif’s website .

In addition to offering boarding support (many train types require a stair-climber lift, not just a ramp, while others like Avlo have level boarding), Acerca can provide technical aids for hearing and a guided sight service. Contact Adif Acerca for information on induction loop systems or to discuss alternative routes should your planned journey include a non-accessible station without in-person assistance. Tactile paving, step-free access, and elevators are installed at most major stations, and nearly every train has a conductor or staff member onboard who can assist. 

On high-speed, long-distance, and most other services, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms are located in carriages with H seats. Ouigo trains have a call button on adapted seats to provide food and drink service, as the cafe is located on the top deck. Cercanías AM carriages have no H seats but offer a dedicated space for wheelchair users with tie-downs. However, many older, narrow-gauge trains lack accessible bathrooms.

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Local News | Metro Transit to use 2-car trains for Blue,…

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Local News | Metro Transit to use 2-car trains for Blue, Green lines on weekends

The goal is to both reduce unnecessary wear-and-tear on vehicles during lower-demand periods.

Metro Transit light-rail passengers will see some changes on the Blue and Green lines this weekend — namely, two-car trains. It’s a taste of what’s to come this summer.

Beginning Saturday, the metro’s public transit authority is switching from three cars down to two on weekends only, unless higher ridership is expected for special events. The goal is to both reduce unnecessary wear-and-tear on vehicles during lower-demand periods and to cut down on maintenance needs at a time when Metro Transit is still hard-pressed to fill open maintenance positions.

An ancillary benefit?

Officials and passengers alike have long bemoaned the so-called “center car problem,” where smokers and others engaged in behavior that violates the Passenger Code of Conduct tend to gather to avoid drivers who operate, alternately, at either end of a three-car train. Transit officials said the two-car trains will be easier to clean between trips and increase the visibility of Metro Transit police, trainees, Transit Rider Investment Program agents and other outreach workers.

Beginning June 15, Metro Transit will use both two-car and three-car trains interchangeably seven days per week, based on demand. The goal, by August, is to run trains every 12 minutes most of the day, up from the current 15-minute service schedule, with the hope of growing service.

Shorter trains pull deeper into the departing ends of stations, so passengers will be advised through recorded announcements and signage to position themselves accordingly on platforms. Priority seating is reserved for seniors and customers with disabilities.

Other changes

Other changes are lining up.

Metro Transit has begun posting bus and train car numbers in larger letters inside vehicles, making it easier for passengers to identify where they are when they text Metro Transit to silently report concerns at the non-emergency line: 612-900-0411.

The transit authority is working with Cubic Transportation Systems of San Diego to upgrade all of its farecard readers for contactless debit and credit card payments. New York City, Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area and other transit authorities have already adopted the technology, which allows passengers to download their credit card onto Apple Wallet or Google Wallet and pay their fare with a quick tap of their smartphone, without having to buy a ticket or even a physical farecard.

“The easier it is to use something, the better chance you’ll use it,” said Matt Newsome, a vice president with Cubic, on Tuesday.

The software upgrade for what’s known in the transit industry as an “open payment” system could be complete by late 2026, though no firm schedule has been established.

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