When planning a journey with a child, first determine their age on the date of departure and whether they require a separate seat. Do not choose an adult or concessionary fare at random: accurate details are required both for calculating the fare and for boarding.
Age and seat — two checks
Ukrainian regulations distinguish between a young child travelling without a separate seat and a child holding a travel document. For children under 14, proof of age is required. Enter the date of birth correctly and check the calculation result in the system. If there are several children travelling together, do not apply the conditions for one child to all of them without checking.
Comfort is more important than formal savings
Consider the length of the night, the size of the berth and the child’s routine. Just because a particular arrangement is permitted by the rules does not necessarily make it convenient for your family. Check the neighbouring seats, prepare water, a change of clothes and a compact bag for the night. Check the international fare and documents required for border control separately.
See also: Student discount on trains: how to check fares and confirmations; Travelling by train with a dog or cat: what to arrange before buying a ticket.
Official sources
Rules for the carriage of passengers by rail. Please check current services, prices and conditions for your travel dates; the photographs are illustrative of rail travel and do not confirm the specific configuration of any particular service.
Image details
- Trainset EJ675-01 2016 G1.jpg — George Chernilevsky; CC BY-SA 4.0. The image has been resized and converted to WebP. Licence terms can be found on the original page.
- EJ675-02, Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Zaporizhzhia-I station (Trainpix 48469).jpg — Alexey Kalinin; CC0. The image has been resized and converted to WebP. Licence terms can be found on the original page.
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Questions and Answers
What date should be used to calculate age?
On the date of the relevant journey; please enter your date of birth carefully.
Is proof of age required?
Under Ukrainian regulations, a document proving age must be presented for children under 14.
Should I book a separate seat?
Consider the journey duration and comfort, even if another option is available in your situation.
Are the international conditions the same?
Not necessarily: check the fare, age requirements and documents for each carrier.