London to:
A beginner's guide to...
Train travel in Britain . . ..
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London to: |
A beginner's guide to...Train travel in Britain . . .. |
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Since 1995, Britain's rail network has been run by over 20 different private companies. However, the government makes sure they work together as National Rail, with co-ordinated fares, ticketing & information. You can find timetables & fares for all operators all on one website, and you can buy a ticket between any two stations, with tickets normally valid on any operator's trains. This page is a quick guide to train travel within Britain.
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How to check train times & fares...The best place to check train times & fares for any train journey in Britain is www.nationalrail.co.uk. To check train times & fares by phone, call National Rail Enquiries on 0845 7 48 49 50 (or if you are overseas call +44 20 7278 5240). Lines are open 24 hours a day and calls are charged at local rates. www.nationalrail.co.uk & National Rail Enquiries are provided by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) on behalf of all train operators. See below for a quick guide to the 3 types of train ticket. What train operator & routes can I use with my ticket? How to buy train tickets online...You can buy train tickets online using any one of several websites: The RailEasy online form above, www.thetrainline.com or www.nationalrail.co.uk. www.nationalrail.co.uk doesn't sell tickets itself, but after answering your enquiry it will offer you a choice of all the ticket selling websites, including all the train companies' own websites. See below for a quick guide to the 3 types of ticket. All the train company sites are powered by TheTrainline.com for ticket sales, except for National Express East Coast which has its own system. All the ticket retailing websites (including RailEasy & TheTrainline) sell the same tickets at the same prices, so choose any of them. The only difference is in the booking fees: www.thetrainline.com charges £1 for debit cards or £3.50 for credit cards, RailEasy charges £1.50 for debit cards or £2.61 for credit cards (but offsets the CO2 produced by your journey), and the train companies' own websites don't charge any fee at all, even the postage is free. Tickets will be posted to any UK address, or you can collect them on departure from major railway stations, useful if you are booking at short notice or from overseas. Alternatively, you can book by phone, there are a number of train operator telesales lines to choose from, all selling the same tickets at the same prices. For example, call Virgin Trains on 0870 9080 107. When do bookings open? Reservations normally open around 12 weeks before departure, you can't buy tickets before then. But here's a good idea: Sign up for a free email 'ticket alert' when bookings open for the specific route you want, allowing you to snap up those cheap fares as soon as they are released (Tip: It's worth trying later in the day if you don't immediately see any cheap deals available). To sign up for an alert, go to www.thetrainline.com, click 'Gadgets & Tools' top right, then click 'Ticket alert' or just click this link. Some other train companies also offer this service. How to buy train tickets online, if you live outside the UK...If you live in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore etc, beware of agencies in your home country selling point-to-point tickets at inflated prices. For short distances it's best just to buy a ticket at the station and hop on. For long distances you can also do this, as advance reservation is never compulsory on any British train, but the big advantage in pre-booking is that on long-distance routes you can usually find much cheaper advance-purchase 'Advance' fares. Remember that bookings normally open 9-12 weeks before departure, you can't book before then. To buy train tickets at genuine UK prices from overseas:
How to find the cheapest train tickets...Train fares have a reputation for being complicated, but the Quick guide to the 3 types of train ticket further down this page will make it simple. If you book in advance on a 'no refunds' basis you can find some great fares for inter-city train journeys. Here are some examples:
Railcards: How to save money if you're under 26, over 60, travel as a family, or have a disability...
General train travel information: www.nationalrail.co.ukAs well as online train times and fares, www.nationalrail.co.uk has:
Are the trains running on time? Are there any delays or engineering works?
Maps of the UK rail network...
Train company websites...
London Underground & Bus information...
Need a taxi at the other end?
Need a bus at the other end?
Need a ferry at the other end?
For ferries to Ireland, France, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, see the relevant country page. Taking your bike?Most trains carry bicycles (but almost never tandems), sometimes for free, sometimes for a small fee with advance reservation required. There is an excellent summary of the bike arrangements on every train operator at www.atob.org.uk. Alternatively, details can be found at www.nationalrail.co.uk and on individual train company websites. For information on taking your bike on Eurostar and onward European trains, see the Taking your bike to Europe by train page.
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check out the day tours, city tours & excursions at www.isango.com;
or buy a London Pass giving fee entry to all the main attractions.
See the Europe page for information on how to travel from the UK to destinations all over Europe by train.
See the Buying train tickets to Europe page for advice on Eurostar through tickets from many UK towns and cities, or the special connecting train tickets from most British stations to 'London International'.
An essential handbook for train or ferry travel from the UK into Europe, based on this website and written by yours truly. Published in paperback by Transworld, click to buy at Amazon.co.uk.
London to Scotland by sleeper... |
From £19 one way |
It's the most civilised, romantic and time-effective way from central London to the heart of Scotland. Every night except Saturday night, two Caledonian Sleeper trains leave London's Euston station, one around 21:15 for Dundee, Stirling, Perth, Gleneagles, Aviemore, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William, the other around 23:55 for Edinburgh and Glasgow. These sleeper trains are miniature hotels on rails, with 1- & 2-berth sleeping compartments with proper beds and washbasin, fully-air-conditioned, plus a lounge car with steward service of wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks and snacks. There are also economy reclining seats. The Caledonian Sleepers are run by ScotRail, the Scottish train company, and are crewed by Scottish staff - a little bit of Scotland that visits London six nights a week. Book sleepers online at www.thetrainline.com (small booking fee applies) or at www.scotrail.co.uk, or call ScotRail on 08457 55 00 33.
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| Above: The Caledonian Sleeper waits to leave London Euston on its 500 mile journey to the Highlands of Scotland. |
Above: 1-berth sleeper (= First class). |
Above: 2-berth sleeper (= Standard class). |
Easily
the most amazing train ride in Britain is the
overnight Caledonian Sleeper from London to Fort
William, sometimes known as 'The Deerstalker'...
Why? Imagine the convenience of a train that leaves rainy central London after work at 21:00 and arrives at Fort William in the glorious Scottish West Highlands at the foot of Ben Nevis (the highest mountain in Britain) at 09:43 next morning. Imagine a trip where you go to bed as the train speeds through familiar London suburbs at 80mph, then wake up in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mountains, streams and woods, sunlight streaming through the window, deer bounding away from the train, a diesel locomotive struggling to haul the two sleeping-cars and lounge car up the gradients and around the sharp curves of the scenic West Highland Line at 40mph. Imagine a train that has almost 'cruise train' facilities - private sleeping compartments and a plush lounge - yet on which you can travel for just £99 return.
Regular fares start at £49 one-way or £99 return including breakfast sharing a 2-berth room or £169 with a room to yourself (passengers travelling alone can book a berth in a 2-berth room and share with another passenger of the same sex, if they don't want to pay the 1st class single berth fare). You can also get special online 'Bargain Berth' fares for just £19/£29/£39/£49 one-way, although these cheap deals are few and far between on this particular train.
Anyone who lives in the South of England but who loves the Scottish Highlands should know about this train. If you fancy a weekend away in the heart of the Highlands, this train makes it possible! Book online on the Caledonian Sleeper page or by calling ScotRail on 08457 55 00 33.
To complete the experience, take the connecting train from Fort William to the end of the line at Mallaig, a small fishing port and ferry terminal for Skye. This is one of the most scenic sections of line anywhere in the UK. Or you could climb Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain - the main track up 'the Ben' starts just 15 minutes walk from Fort William station.
For
travel to Jersey & Guernsey, see the
Channel Islands page...Condor Ferries operate fast catamarans from Weymouth & Poole to Jersey & Guernsey, and a conventional ship from Portsmouth to Jersey & Guernsey. Special combined train+ferry fares are available from any station in the UK to Guernsey or Jersey. See the Channel Islands page for more information, or visit www.condorferries.co.uk.
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Co (www.steam-packet.com) operate ferries to Douglas from both Liverpool & Heysham, also from Dublin & Belfast. There are special inclusive train+ferry fares from any station in Britain to Douglas, see the Isle of Man page for prices and how to buy tickets.
Long-distance train fares...They say train fares are complicated. But for all practical purposes, there are now just 3 types of fare making it as simple as 1, 2 3. All the train companies now use the same 3 names for the same 3 types of ticket. Always confirm the exact restrictions and conditions when you buy your ticket. If you're buying a ticket to connect with a Eurostar to Paris or Brussels, see this page. Railcard info. |
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1. Anytime = fully-flexible... |
Anytime fares are a simple concept to grasp: Valid any time, any day, any train, any operator. Aimed at business travellers, Anytime fares are fully-flexible but expensive, for example London-Manchester £110 one-way, £220 return. Valid by any permitted route unless a specific route is shown on the ticket. You can break your journey in either direction. Valid 1 month. No advance booking necessary, you can get on any train on which your ticket is valid without a reservation. Refundable less an admin fee if unused. One-way fares normally half the cost of a return. They were called 'Open' fares before September 2008. |
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2. Off-peak = flexible with restrictions... |
Off-Peak fares are valid on any train, any operator, any day, any time except during the Monday-Friday business travel peaks. This generally means they're not valid on trains leaving before about 10:30 on Monday-Fridays and on trains leaving London between 15:00 & 19:00 Monday-Friday. The exact time restriction varies by route, so you'll have to ask. They're affordable, for example London-Manchester £58 one-way, £59 return. You must make the outward journey on the date shown on the ticket, but can return any day within 1 month. They are valid any time at weekends, and (it's safe to assume) after 10:30 on Monday-Fridays. They are also not valid on trains leaving London (or Reading, Watford, Luton or Stevenage) between 15:00-19:00 Mondays-Fridays. Some Savers have more generous restrictions than this, but the exact time restriction varies by route and destination, so you'll have to ask. No advance booking necessary, you can buy a ticket on the day and get on any train on which your ticket is valid without a reservation. You can take any train operator's train, travel via any permitted route, unless a specific route is shown on the ticket. You can break your journey on the return leg, but not the outward leg. Refundable less an admin fee if unused. One-way off-peak fares for long-distance journeys are usually at only £1 less than the return, so don't buy one unless you're sure you won't need to come back. A few companies also have more expensive but less restrictive versions. Off-Peak fares were called 'Saver' fares before September 2008. |
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3. Advance = cheap, inflexible... |
Advance fares are another simple concept to grasp. They're airline-style cheap tickets, only valid on the train you've booked, no refunds, limited or no change of travel plans allowed. They must be booked by 18:00 the day before travel (in reality, 23:59 in many cases). No break of journey allowed. Limited numbers of seats are available at each price level, so book early to get the cheapest fare. Use www.nationalrail.co.uk to check availability. They are now normally priced as one-way fares, so you can combine the cheapest fare for your outward journey with the cheapest fare for your return leg. Example: London-Manchester from £12.50 each way. |
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Short distance fares & fares in the London & South East area...The same three types apply to short distances too, though obviously you won't find Advance tickets for very short journeys. And for shorter journeys, and journeys within the London & Southeast area, Anytime & Off-Peak tickets tend to be valid for just one day, not a month. |
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1. Anytime for peak travel... |
Fully-flexible fares, but for shorter journeys valid only for 1 day, not a month. Valid at any time, on any train, by any train operator, by any permitted route (unless a specific route is shown on the ticket). You can break your journey in either direction. Refundable less an admin fee. Priced for commuters. |
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2. Off-peak for off-peak travel... |
Short-distance Off-Peak fares are valid 1 day only, on any train at weekends, and after the morning rush hour (about 09:30) on Mondays-Fridays*. After the Monday-Friday morning peak*, they are valid on any train, by any train operator, by any permitted route (unless a specific route is shown on the ticket). You can break your journey in either direction. Refundable less an admin fee if unused. Priced for a day out! * on routes from Paddington, Liverpool Street, Kings Cross, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, etc. there is an evening peak hour restriction out of London. |
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Off-Peak period returns: |
On medium distances, there may also be a period Off-Peak return (valid 1 month, any time at weekends, after the morning peak hour on Mondays-Fridays) or in some cases valid any time at weekends, after 09:30 on Mondays-Fridays, outward travel on the date on the ticket, return travel within 5 days. |
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People get hung up on there being 20+ different operators, but it's actually pretty simple. The government requires train operators to work together as a network, so:
If your ticket says 'Route any permitted' (as most of them do) then it is valid on any train operator's train, via any of the permitted routes between your origin and destination, although obviously if you have an Off-Peak ticket you must stick to any time restrictions which apply to it. There are no time restrictions with an Anytime ticket. An Advance ticket is only valid on the specific train you've booked.
If your ticket gives a specific route, for example 'Route Taunton' then it is valid on any train operator's train, via any of the permitted routes for that journey that pass through the specified place, in this case Taunton.
Only if it says (for example) 'Route Hull Trains only' are you restricted to using only the trains of that particular train company, in this example those of Hull Trains. Advance tickets are only valid on the specific train you're booked on, so are by definition only valid on a particular train company's train - you'll often see an 'AP' (for Advance Purchase) added to the route, for example 'Route AP Virgin Trains only'. However, it's relatively rare to find Anytime & Off-peak fares valid only on trains of a specific operator, and where they do exist there are almost always 'route any permitted' anytime & off-peak fares as well.
Why are there several 'Anytime' & 'Off-Peak' tickets for my journey, all with different prices? Unfortunately, online ticket systems don't usually show the ticket routing. So you might see two 'Anytime' fares from (say) London to Hull, one apparently valid on all the trains, the other only valid on a handful of trains and cheaper than the first one. The reason is simple, in this case the first one is the 'route any permitted' anytime fare, the other is a cheaper 'route Hull Trains only' anytime fare only valid on Hull Trains' own services. Similarly, you may find two Anytime or Off-Peak tickets between London & (say) Birmingham, one valid on all trains, the other only on some of the trains. In this case it's because there are two sets of fares to Birmingham, one set being the 'route any permitted' fares valid on all routes & operators, the second being cheaper 'route High Wycombe' fares valid on all operators but only on the slower route via High Wycombe. This would be obvious, rather than confusing, if the online systems stated the ticket routing for each fare they showed, but they don't. The choice between (on the one hand) slower but cheaper and (on the other hand) faster, more frequent but more expensive, is up to you.
Breaking your journey ('stopovers'): With an Off-Peak ticket you can take an interesting or scenic route and change trains as much as you like without leaving the station, as long as you stay within the time restrictions which apply to your ticket and stick to one of the permitted routes (see below). However, you can only break your journey (i.e. stop off and leave the station) on the return leg of an Off-Peak return, not on the outward leg of an Off-Peak return, and not at all on an Off-Peak one-way ticket. With an Anytime one-way or return ticket, there are no time restrictions and you can break your journey anywhere you like along any of the permitted routes.
How are fares set? Here comes the science bit... Behind the scenes, fare setting works like this: Every origin-destination pair (known as a 'flow') is allocated to a particular train operator who has the right and the obligation to set the fares. This operator is known as the 'Lead Operator' for that flow. Once the Lead Operator has set the fares, every other operator serving any part of that flow (known as the 'Secondary Operators') are legally obliged to accept those fares for travel on their trains. As I've said, Advance fares are by definition only valid on one train operator's trains, and both Lead Operators and Secondary Operators are allowed to set Advance fares for their own trains. In addition Secondary Operators are allowed to set other (more flexible) fare types for their own trains, although only a few choose to do so. For example, you'll see 'anytime' & 'off-peak' fares from London to Hull routed 'Hull Trains only' set by Secondary Operator Hull Trains, in addition to the main London to Hull 'route any permitted' anytime & off-peak fares set by Lead Operator National Express East Coast. However, Lead Operators are not permitted to set fares which are only valid on their own trains, other than Advance fares, temporary fares & first class fares. Revenue from the fares set by Lead Operators is shared between all operators serving that route, based on a computer system called ORCATS which models the proportion of passenger miles travelled on each operator.
The 'permitted routes' for a given origin & destination are set out in a document called the National Routeing Guide. Don't worry about getting hold of a copy, even ticket clerks can't understand it half the time, just accept that it exists, and its contents have been incorporated into the various journey planning systems such as those used on nationalrail.co.uk, thetrainline.com & raileasy.co.uk. To give you a flavour of how flexible the permitted routes are:
The shortest route by regular train service between the origin and destination is always a permitted route;
You'll generally find that most other reasonable routes are permitted, in addition to the shortest one.
If you use a through service (in other words, a direct train with no changes) then it is always considered a permitted route as long as you stay on that train, even if the train takes a round-about route;
From London to Birmingham for example, permitted routes are the West Coast Main Line from Euston via Milton Keynes, the slower route from Marylebone via High Wycombe & Banbury, and the route from Paddington via Reading, Oxford & Banbury. The rail maps on nationalrail.co.uk may help you understand the routes quoted here.
From London to Edinburgh, Glasgow & most stations in Scotland for example, the permitted routes include the two obvious main lines with direct trains (East Coast Main Line from Kings Cross via York & Newcastle, West Coast Main Line from Euston via Crewe & Carlisle, plus the Midland Main Line from St Pancras via Leicester, Derby or Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds and the scenic Settle & Carlisle route, and permutations of those routes involving travel from Liverpool Street via Cambridge & Ely to Peterborough then on via York & Newcastle, plus the route from Paddington via Reading, Oxford, Birmingham & on via Carlisle. However, going via Swindon & Gloucester is not permitted as it's too far west, nor is going via Ipswich which is too far east. The rail maps on nationalrail.co.uk may help you understand the routes quoted here.
There are a few quirks in the system, naturally. A key one involves London to or from Devon & Cornwall. In theory, a 'route any permitted' ticket between London & Exeter (or anywhere west of Exeter) would be equally valid from Paddington via Bristol & Taunton or Westbury & Taunton, or on the slower scenic route from Waterloo via Salisbury & Honiton. However, the fares system in fact only contains a set of fares routed 'Taunton' and another set routed 'Honiton' as this is what was inherited from British Rail, there aren't any 'route any permitted' fares available. But don't worry, under the National Rail Conditions of Carriage you're entitled to travel on a different route from the one shown on your ticket (assuming it's not a train-specific Advance ticket, of course) on payment of a 'change of route' excess fare. This is the difference, if any, between the fare paid for the original route and the cheapest walk-up ticket valid for the train & route now being taken. Since the faster route via Taunton has the more expensive fares and the tighter time restrictions on its off-peak tickets, this 'change of route' excess fare normally costs nothing if you have a 'route Taunton' ticket but choose to travel via Honiton & Salisbury to/from Waterloo in one or both directions. If the conductor tries to tell you your ticket isn't valid, politely suggest he consults his Ticket Examiner's Handbook and National Rail Conditions of Carriage, and ask for a 'change of route excess fare' at zero cost.
Hotels & accommodation |
You can book hotels in almost any major town or city in Britain through www.hotelscombined.com, just use the search box below. This is a free search tool which checks all the main hotel booking sites for you (AsiaRooms, Opodo, Expedia, Travelocity, LateRooms and many others) to find the cheapest hotel rates on the net. Set up in 2005, it's an amazing system and probably the best place to start for booking any hotel online in any country, worldwide.
◄◄◄ Search all major hotelbooking websites at once... |
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www.mrandmrssmith.com (no relation!) is the place to start if you want something special for an anniversary, honeymoon, romantic break or other special occasion. www.mrandmrssmith.com lists hand-picked boutique hotels in London, Edinburgh, Bath, York, in fact all over the UK.
Page last updated 14 May 2009 |
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