Travelling by train: passes, discounts and sleeper trains explained

Add up the door-to-door time for a flight properly — arriving early, the queues, the journey in from the airport at the other end — and a train of five to eight hours often competes. You arrive in the centre, with your bag, having watched the country go past. After 50 there is a further argument: almost every railway gives you a discount for your age.

Prices and conditions change often, so treat the figures below as a starting point and read the official page before you buy. This is part of our complete guide to travel after 50.

Europe: Interrail and Eurail

The Global Pass covers 33 European countries and comes in two versions. Interrail is for people who live in one of those countries (the UK included); Eurail, sold through the same network’s international site, is for people who live elsewhere, such as the US.

• Senior passes. To travel on a discounted Senior Pass you must be aged 60 or older on the date you choose to start your trip. (Youth passes run from 12 to 27; children aged 4 to 11 travel free with a child pass.)
• Reservations cost extra. In the pass’s own words, “most high-speed and night trains require a reservation at an additional cost.” The pass gets you on the network; it does not guarantee a seat on the fast trains. Budget for reservations and book early.
• Your own country. If you live in one of the 33 countries, the pass is valid at home for one outbound and one inbound journey only.

A pass suits a trip with several long legs. If your plan is one town for a month with a couple of day trips, advance point-to-point tickets are often cheaper and simpler. Do the sums for your itinerary.

UK: the Senior Railcard

If you are 60 or over, the Senior Railcard gives a third off most rail fares in Britain. It costs £35 for a year or £80 for three years. The main restriction is that it is not valid in the morning peak between two stations in the Network Railcard area — broadly London and the south-east — except on public holidays. Railcard’s own figure is that holders save around £114 a year on average (combined Railcard holders, April 2025 to March 2026, excluding the card’s price). One long return journey can cover the cost.

If you need help at stations or on the train, Passenger Assist is a single national service across operators. Book by phone on 08000 223 720, through the Passenger Assistance app, or online; it also works on a “turn up and go” basis, though booking ahead is recommended. Staff can help you on and off the train, find your seat, and sort out wheelchair spaces.

US: Amtrak

Amtrak’s senior discount is 10% off most rail fares for travellers aged 65 and over; on jointly operated Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada cross-border services the threshold drops to 60. Two things to know. The discount does not apply to sleeping-accommodation charges, and it may not be combinable with other offers. You need proof of age when you book and when you board.

Sleeper trains: a travel day becomes a night’s sleep

Overnight trains are made for slow travel: you go to bed in one city and wake up in another, having saved a hotel night and a whole day. A few examples, from the operators’ own pages.

Caledonian Sleeper runs from London Euston to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Fort William, Glasgow and Inverness. Options range from a seated coach to a Classic room, a Club en-suite room and a Caledonian Double with private facilities, plus dedicated accessible double and twin rooms. Luggage is included in the ticket.

ÖBB Nightjet is the largest European network, linking Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium and more, with cities such as Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Rome, Venice, Amsterdam and Budapest. You can choose a seat, a couchette (a shared compartment with bunks, for one to four or up to six people), a mini cabin for one, or a sleeping car with one to three berths. There is a barrier-free compartment for passengers who need it, and booking opens up to 360 days ahead.

Amtrak long-distance trains have roomettes — two seats by day that become upper and lower beds at night — and larger bedrooms, in double-deck Superliner or single-level Viewliner cars. A roomette includes meals, bedding, a dedicated attendant who helps with luggage, lounge access and priority boarding. An Accessible Bedroom is a separate option.

Book sleepers early, because berths are limited. Ask for a lower berth if steps are an issue. And if the price makes you wince, remember it replaces a hotel night as well as a daytime ticket.

Looking after yourself on long journeys

The NHS lists a journey of more than four hours by train (or plane or car) as a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis, and being over 60 as another. Its advice is loose clothing, plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and walking around when possible. On a train that is easy: a walk to the café car every hour does it. If you have a condition, or have had a clot before, ask your GP (family doctor) what else is sensible.

AARP’s guide to solo train travel adds a social point: dining cars seat people at communal tables, which makes meeting other passengers unusually easy, and a sleeper means there is an attendant who knows you are there.

The rail-or-air test, the pass-or-tickets sums and a budget template are all in the Slow Travel After 50 planning workbook. For the kind of trip that starts where the railway ends, see walking holidays for beginners.

This week

• Price your next journey with the relevant senior discount applied.
• Read one sleeper page and note the booking window.
• If you need assistance, save the Passenger Assist number or download the app.
• Sketch one three-stop rail trip with a week in each place.