Yes, you’ll need a valid ticket (or permit to travel) to travel on our trains. If you travel on a train without a ticket, you’ll be asked to pay the full single or return fare or, may be given a penalty fare.

As well as our regular fares and season tickets, we have railcard discounts too.

Find out more about types of tickets

Find out more about railcards

You can buy rail tickets with our online ticket booking system, from a ticket vending machine or at a ticket office at your local station. If you buy online you won’t pay a booking fee and delivery is free.

Check what facilities are available at your station:

London Victoria

Gatwick Airport

Other stations

Up to two children under five can travel with you free of charge if you have a valid ticket. But please note that they can only sit in a seat if it's not needed by another passenger with a ticket.

Child fares are available up to the child's 16th birthday. After then, they must buy an adult ticket. Anyone travelling on a child fare may be asked for proof of age by our inspectors.

The 16-25 Railcard can save money for young people in full time education.

Find out more about 16-25 Railcard

You can use Oyster Travelcard season tickets on our trains for journeys within the valid zones. You can also use Oyster pay as you go (PAYG) within the travelcard zone area.

Find out more about using Oyster cards on our network

Railcards are a great way get discounted rail travel throughout Great Britain - saving you at least a third on the standard fare. You can buy railcards online at www.railcard.co.uk or from any of our ticket offices. Just choose the one that suits you best.

Find out more about the range of railcards

Freedom pass holders can travel free on National Rail routes within the valid zones after 09:30 on weekdays or at any time on weekends and public holidays.

You can travel free at all times on most Transport for London (TfL) services.

If you are planning a trip that takes you out of the London zones and the service you are using stops within the London area, you will need to buy the additional appropriate ticket at the start of your journey.

You can show your pass and you will only have to pay the excess fare starting from the last boundary of the London zone up to your final destination.

Freedom passes are issued to older and disabled Londoners by your local council.

Find out more about the freedom pass

If the train you planned to catch is delayed or cancelled and you decide not to travel, you can return your unused ticket (except Season tickets) to any National Rail ticket office for a full refund, no administration fee will be charged.

If the train service is running normally and you decide not to travel you can apply for a refund at any National Rail ticket office by completing a refund application form within 28 days of the ticket's validity. Our staff will tell you if your ticket is eligible for a refund. You may have to pay an administration charge of up to £10.

If you bought your ticket from anyone other than Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern or Thameslink please contact them for a refund.

The National Rail Conditions of Travel are the contract between us and you.

Find out more