Free London train travel for kids- what you MUST do before you travel to avoid getting fined!

​Free London train travel for kids- what you MUST do before you travel to avoid getting fined!

From 2nd January children aged 5-10 will be able to travel for FREE on National rail services in London.  You've seen the headlines- but have you read the small print?
You can't just hop on the train with the kids in the same way you would a bus or the tube..... you will get fined!

Previously it was free for children to travel on buses and on the tube (provided they travelled with an adult), the DLR, trams and some rail services were free depending on the rail operator. These will all continue to be free for kids to hop on ticketless so it is all rather confusing that the same doesn't apply to the new free train travel.  

In order to get the free train travel you need to apply for a 5-10 Zip Oyster card  for each child - which costs £10.  Without it you will be fined on South London train operators

You can apply for the Zip Oyster card here