Most advance train tickets in the UK are transferable. You can pass the travel entitlement to another person — they travel on the same ticket you originally purchased. The buyer''s name does not need to match the booking, and there is no formal process to register a transfer with the train operator.
What makes a train ticket transferable
Under the National Rail Conditions of Travel, advance tickets are treated as bearer documents. Whoever holds the valid ticket can use it for the journey it covers. If you pass the ticket to someone else, they travel in your place without needing to re-book or amend anything with the operator.
- Advance tickets purchased through National Rail, train operators, or booking platforms are typically transferable.
- The ticket must be unused — a ticket that has been scanned or partially used cannot be transferred.
- The travel date must still be in the future at the time of transfer.
- The barcode or QR code must be intact and unaltered.
Which tickets cannot be transferred
Some tickets have restrictions that prevent transfer. These are less common but worth checking before you pass a ticket on. The most common restriction involves railcard discounts — if the original fare was priced with a railcard, the new traveller may need to carry that same railcard type during the journey to make the ticket valid.
- Tickets tied to a railcard discount may require the holder to carry that card during travel.
- Tickets linked to a loyalty account or personalised fare scheme may be non-transferable under that scheme''s terms.
- Season tickets are personal to the holder and cannot be transferred.
- Tickets that have already been used or partially scanned are not valid for transfer.
If you are unsure whether your ticket has restrictions, check the original booking terms. The simplest test: if the ticket is held as a PDF, e-ticket email, or collection reference, it is almost always a bearer document and can be passed on without issue.
How to transfer a train ticket to someone else
Transferring a ticket means passing the ticket document itself — you are not re-booking through the operator or amending a reservation. The new traveller needs the same complete document that would be accepted at the barrier, in whatever format the ticket was issued.
- Forward the original booking confirmation email directly to the new traveller.
- Share the PDF or e-ticket file in full, with the barcode visible and unaltered.
- Provide the collection reference if the ticket has not yet been printed at a machine.
- If the booking includes a seat reservation, pass that detail along at the same time.
Do not crop, blur, or alter any part of the ticket before sharing it. Any modification to the barcode renders the ticket invalid. The person travelling needs exactly what you would use yourself.
What to do with a transferable ticket you can no longer use
If you have an advance ticket you cannot use and it is still valid for a future date, you can sell it to someone who needs that journey. SaveMyFare is a marketplace for unused advance train tickets — you list your ticket, set a price below the original face value, and a buyer purchases it from you.
- List your ticket on SaveMyFare — it takes a few minutes.
- Set a price below the face value — a 20 to 50 per cent discount tends to attract buyers.
- Transfer the ticket to the buyer once the sale completes.
- Payment is released 48 hours after the travel date, once the journey has passed without a dispute.