Rail industry offers free travel to Remembrance services for serving personnel, veterans and bereaved families

The rail industry is offering free travel to help serving military personnel, veterans and bereaved families attend Services of Remembrance this November.

Like in previous years, serving personnel and veterans attending the Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph can travel free to any London Terminal station on Saturday 7 or Sunday, November 8, returning on Sunday, November 8 only.  

Free return travel to Services of Remembrance elsewhere in Great Britain will be available on Sunday, November 8 only. 

This year, the offer has also been extended to one nominated next of kin of a service person who died while serving in the Armed Forces. Eligible family members who have received a Bereaved Travel for Remembrance 2026 complimentary ticket can travel on the same dates to attend a Remembrance service. Applications for these tickets close at 12pm on October 16, 2026. 

Serving personnel and veterans attending the Submariners’ Remembrance Service events can travel free to any London Terminal station on Saturday, October 31 or Sunday, November 1, returning on Sunday, November 1. 

Free travel will also be available for Royal British Legion volunteers and collectors travelling to and from London Poppy Day on Thursday, October 29. Free travel is valid on Thursday, October 29 plus one day either side of the event, either Wednesday, October 28 or Friday, October 30, to any London Terminal, with presentation of a Royal British Legion-issued collector’s ID card. 

Ola Ogun, co-CEO of Rail Delivery Group, said: “Remembrance gives us a chance to honour those who served and to stand alongside the people who remember them. 

“The railway is proud to help serving personnel and veterans attend services across the country. Extending free travel to bereaved next of kin this year will help more families be there to pay tribute to their loved ones.” 

The Rail Minister, Lord Hendy said: “Remembrance is a time for the nation to come together to honour the courage, service and sacrifice of those who have served our country. I am proud that the railway continues its long-standing tradition of supporting serving personnel and veterans travelling to services and commemorations across Great Britain. 

"This year, extending free rail travel to bereaved next of kin is an important step that will help more families pay tribute to loved ones who died while serving, so no one is priced out of paying their respects." 

The rail industry is also supporting Scotty's Little Soldiers by offering free travel to and from the Remembrance Service events in London for children and young people who have lost a parent from the British Armed Forces and reserves. 

Serving personnel can travel in uniform or show a current MOD90 Ministry of Defence-issued identity card. Veterans can show a Veterans Railcard, Veterans Oyster card, Ministry of Defence-issued Veterans ID or other appropriate proof of veteran status. 

Bereaved family members must carry their named complimentary ticket and photographic ID to show staff if asked. The ticket allows one Standard Class return journey on participating National Rail services. Companions travelling with serving personnel, veterans or bereaved ticket holders will need their own tickets. 

Passengers are encouraged to check their journey in advance on National Rail before they travel as planned engineering works may affect some routes over the Remembrance period.