Travelling with children
For the youngest travellers, there are several fares possible in international trains, so your children can travel as safe as possible.
What do children pay?
In most European countries, children who are under the age of 12 on the date of their journey benefit from special child rates. The child fare is approximately 50% of the normal adult rate. However, this percentage can vary according to the type of train. For many connections, you can see the prices under the "Destinations" heading on our site.
Children under 4 years old* can travel FREE OF CHARGE, on condition that separate seats are not booked for them.
*In Belgium, children under 6 years old can travel free of charge in traditional trains until the last Belgian station before the border where the train calls, provided no separate seats are booked for them (this rule is also applied in Germany).
Accompanying children
There is no service specialising in accompanying children on journeys departing from Belgium. This is why we recommend that parents accompany their children themselves or have them accompanied by a relation or close friend.
Documents
Passengers aged 12 years and over must always have their identity card with them.
For the under-12s, it is recommended that they are able to present an identity certificate with photography (available from the local authority). Most European Union member States accept this document when the child is accompanied by a parent.
There are no set procedures in Belgium or abroad to attest to parental authorisation for the journeys of minors travelling alone or accompanied by adults other than their parents.
However, parents are strongly recommended to draw up a declaration, authenticated by the local authority, in which they authorise their child to travel (stating the date and length of the journey, the destination and, where relevant, the names of the accompanying persons).
For further information, visit the federal authorities site.
Children under the age of 12 years accompanied by at least 1 parent must have an identity certificate with photography.
In addition, children under the age of 12 years accompanied by an adult other than his or her parents must have parental authorisation authenticated by the local authority. Children aged under 12 must always be accompanied by an adult.