Travel Great Britain by Train

Train travel throughout Britain is accessible and affordable. You can reach most cities by train and purchase things like hop-on and hop-off passes that make traveling between cities a breeze. Because of that, it’s a great method of travel for both residents of Britain and tourists. With all the options available to you it may seem a bit overwhelming, but with a little advance planning, you can safely and comfortably enjoy Britain by train.

Steps

Choosing the Right Type of Tickets for Your Needs

1. Select point-to-point tickets for travel between two cities. Point-to-point tickets are single-use tickets are good for one-way or roundtrip travel between two stations. If you just need transportation from one particular place to another, choose this option.
   • Point-to-point tickets are great if you are traveling for business and have to travel between two offices on rare occasions or if you are staying in one city but want to visit another for a short while.
2. Get a season ticket if you plan to ride the trains often over a set time frame. Season tickets are for unlimited travel between two stations during a set period of time. You can choose between unlimited, weekly, monthly, or annual season passes. Fares vary based on the stations you choose, the time of year, and the duration of the pass.
   • Season tickets are like point-to-point tickets in that they limit which stations you can use, but they differ in that they are not single-use. You can use them as many times as you want over the duration you choose.
3. Opt for a regional railcard if you’d like to travel to different stations within a region. These passes are for a set term—usually 3, 5, 7, or 14 days—and allow you to travel as many times as you’d like on routes within a region determined by the rail company. If you are going to stay in one geographic area, but would like to explore the area extensively during your time there, a regional pass is best for you.
   • There are scores of regional and rail passes (called “rangers” or “rovers”) to choose form depending on your location. You can get them for travel through Scotland, Wales, and England.
4. Choose BritRail passes if you live outside of Britain and want unlimited travel. BritRail passes are limited-term passes that are exclusively for non-British residents. You can only buy them outside the country before you travel, but they allow you a lot of flexibility in your travels for a very discounted rate. There are several options to choose from, depending on your budget, time, and desired locations.
   • BritRail passes are designed for tourists and can be very useful if you want to explore as much of Britain as possible. For many of the trains, the BritRail pass allows you hop-on and hop-off privileges.
5. Buy Oyster cards if you need to travel in London and surrounding areas. An Oyster card is London’s equivalent to other public transportation cards you see around the world. It’s a card that you can keep in your wallet and reload as needed for travel around London and its surrounding districts. You can use the Oyster card for bus or train travel and choose from various one-time and unlimited fares.
   • You can set your Oyster card to automatically top-up by drawing directly from your bank account or credit card. This reduces the chances that you’ll be stuck without train fare.

Purchasing Your Tickets

1. Shop 8-10 weeks before you travel to secure the cheapest fares. Generally, the earlier you buy, the more you will save. Most tickets go on sale 10-12 weeks before the date of travel and often discount rates for early purchases.
   • BritRail passes that have be purchased outside the UK generally don’t vary in price as much as the others, but you do want to order 6-8 weeks before you leave your country. This way, you have plenty of time to receive them in the mail before you depart.
2. Seek out group or individual discounts. There are many discounts available depending on who you are and who you are traveling with. For example, if you are under 30 or over 60 years old or traveling with your family or a large group, you can purchase discount Railcards that allow you to get discounted tickets for a year.
   • Traveling during off-peak hours will also save you quite a bit of money. By avoiding the morning and evening rush hours, you can sometimes save more than 50% off of the regular fare.
3. Buy your tickets online or from an authorized agent. Britain’s national rail website, https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/, does not sell tickets but links you directly to authorized sellers and also provides a wealth of train-travel information. You can find links to online retailers and authorized agents, timetables, and discounts by searching there.
   • You can do a google search for British rail tickets to find sellers online, but the National Rail website provides the quickest and easiest way of finding tickets, fares, and sellers.
   • Individual train operating companies (TOCs) run the trains and sell the tickets, while the National Rail oversees all of them.
   • You can buy many types of tickets from the counter or a kiosk at the train station up until the time of departure. However, if you wait until the last minute, you run the risk of the train being full or missing the train if the transaction takes too long.
4. Make seat reservations, if possible. Most tickets allow you to make seat reservations when you book them so you can choose to sit with your group and select your preference of window or aisle. Note that some of the unlimited passes do not offer seat reservations and are first come, first serve.
5. Print your tickets or download the mobile app to keep a digital copy. You need to make sure you have your tickets on you as you ride the trains. You can print them at home from your home printer, download the mobile app and keep a mobile copy, or print them from kiosks at the train station.

Riding the Trains

1. Pack light to avoid stress while you travel the trains. Many trains do not offer a checked baggage service. Instead, you store your luggage yourself in a small room onboard the train. When there are lots of heavy, large bags, it can be very difficult to retrieve your bag, especially if you are trying to hurry up and get off the train before it departs your station. For these reasons, try to Pack Light as light as you can to avoid potential headaches.
2. Know your stop and the stops leading up to yours. There is often very little time to exit the train when it arrives at a station so you want to be ready when it gets there. Study a map and keep it with you so you can tell when your stop is coming up.
   • You can access train maps online, but you may be in an area without cell service, so it’s best to download or screenshot the rail map to your phone before you leave. In case you miss your stop or if you are unsure when your stop is coming up, you’ll be happy to have the map as a reference.
3. Bring snacks and entertainment to make a long trip more enjoyable. If you have a trip of more than an hour or two, you’ll want to bring snacks, water, and entertainment. Some great ideas for train entertainment are playing cards, books, magazines, tablets, or phone games.
   • Sometimes it’s nice to just stare out the window. You could also take this time to unplug and unwind and just enjoy the countryside as you go by.
   • Easy-to-eat finger foods like cheese, crackers, fruit, or carrot sticks are ideal for train travel.
4. Have your ticket validated at the station by an agent or at a ticket validation machine. Depending on the size and location of the station, you may have to have your ticket validated by an agent or at a machine. When you arrive at the station, look for ticket scanner machines or ask an agent what you need to do.
   • On some trains, the conductor validates the ticket with a stamp or handheld scanner on the train after the journey begins. If you are unclear about your particular train and station, the best thing to do is ask. If you can’t find an agent in the station, get on the train and look for the conductor. It’s better to be on the train with a valid ticket than miss your train trying to find help.
5. Board the train early to have time to stow your bags and find your seats. Arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before the time of departure, if possible. Train companies work hard to keep the trains running on a very precise schedule. Because of that, the train won’t wait for you—it will leave on time whether you are onboard or not.
   • If you brought large suitcases, stow them in the luggage compartment (usually located just inside the door of the train car). If you have carry-on sized luggage, backpacks, or purses, you can stow them over your seat or hold onto them in your lap.{{greenbox: Tip: First-class sections are marked with either a sign on the door to the compartment or with a yellow line above the window. You can be fined or removed from the train at the next station if you sit in first-class seating without a first-class ticket. The only exception to this rule is when the train is very overcrowded and the conductor gives permission to standard-class riders to take a first-class seat.}}
6. Set an alarm on your phone to ensure that you do not miss your stop. It’s really common to fall asleep or get engrossed in a book and miss your stop. This can cause major travel headaches. You should have a rough idea of when your train will be arriving at your destination, so set a vibrate alarm on your phone to wake you at least 15 minutes before your stop.
   • There are several apps that will track your phone via GPS and alert you when you stop is arriving. Look for apps such as Get Off Now! and TravAlert.
   • Most trains do not announce the stops over a loudspeaker or project it on a screen. Instead, you have to watch outside the train window at each station to see the sign and figure out where you are.
7. Gather your bags and move to the door a few minutes before arriving. When you reach the station before yours, start gathering up any foods, books, or materials you may have spread out in front of you. Then, grab your bags and stand near the door so that you can exit the train in a quick and orderly way.
   • Don’t delay getting off the train, especially if you have a connecting train. Remember, the trains wait for no one!

Tips

• If you or anyone in your group have any disabilities that require travel accommodations, check the National Rail website before you travel. The website tells you which stations are accessible and provides information on assistance programs offered by the train companies.

Warnings

• Keep your valuables and important travel documents in a bag that you keep close to your body. Since trains are sometimes full of tourists who carry cash and aren’t familiar with their surroundings, they are targeted by thieves and pick-pockets.

Related Articles

• Buy Train Tickets in England
• Travel by Train

References

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