Travel by Train

Trains are a good way to get around and stations are often well connected to bus routes allowing easy travel around the country.

Steps

  1. Plan! If you know the date and time of your journey 2 weeks or so in advance, go to a local station or onto a rail website and book your ticket early. This could save you money or get you a reserved seat on a busy service.
    • Pack all of your luggage so that you can quick grab it to take it with you. Make sure that you can quickly grab those things that you might need to put in at the last available second.
    • Make sure to have a good breakfast. Not all trains include food and drink cars.
  2. If you want to buy your ticket on the day of travel leave enough spare time to allow for queuing at the ticket office. Chances are you'll experience a horrible feeling of panic if you see your train about to leave and you haven't got your ticket!
  3. Arrive early onto the train's platform. Sometimes, the compartments are not sorted correctly and you might have to search for your train car. It is easier to do this from the platform than fighting through a crowded train.
  4. Ask staff or look at the departure boards to see which platform your train will leave from. Follow signs to get to the platform and listen to the loudspeaker system for possible platform alterations. Bear in mind you might have to go up and down stairs, look for a lift if stairs aren't an option for you.
  5. Get on the train! Put your luggage in the overhead racks rather than on the seat next to you as you may stop someone else sitting down. Just think how annoyed you'd be if you needed a seat and someone else was using up a perfectly good one for their bag or feet.
  6. Relax. Now you have your seat you are in a good place to forget about everything and just be transported to your destination. It is a good idea to pay attention to the announcements so you have an idea of how many stops there are until you get off or if you are approaching your destination. But don't worry too much about whereabouts you are as it is usually announced when your stop is coming up. If there are no announcements ask the conductor for the time when the train is expected to arrive.
  7. Get off the train. If you have lots of luggage try to get it all together and stand near the door ready to get off the train. If you didn't hear the announcement ask someone nearby which stop you are approaching so you don't get off at the wrong place! Remember to press the buttons near the doors to open them. They won't open on their own.
  8. Look out for seats for disabled travellers. When a train is full people tend to sit in these seats. If a disabled person, or a pregnant women gets on, it is customary for those people in these seats to offer to get up.

Tips

  • Don't be afraid to ask other passengers questions however try not to stop people who are obviously in a rush as you might make them miss their train.
  • If you feel uncomfortable looking at other people, don't sit on a table facing a stranger. There will be a lot of eye contact, especially if you don't have a book or laptop, so if you are too shy to strike up a conversation, sitting at a table is not recommended.
  • Respect other passengers, don't play your music too loud or if travelling in a group remember that some people may be trying to sleep and you may be unknowingly talking loud enough to keep them from being able to rest.
  • If you do have to jump on a train without buying your ticket first, remember you can't usually use railcards or other discount cards when buying a ticket on the train. Also some stations, such as Manchester Piccadilly, require you to have a ticket before you can access the platforms and there may be penalty fares in place for passengers who board a train without a ticket, especially in London.
  • If you have a large suitcase or bag, watch the train as it comes into the station and note where the luggage racks are and try to use a door near one. It is often impossible to get from one end of a carriage to another lugging a huge case behind you and you might end up getting stuck standing next to the door with your case.
  • If the train is busy and there are no seats, be prepared to stand for the length of the trip. Keep your eyes open for people leaving seats and be quick to jump in them! Unless there is a pregnant lady or elderly person standing too, then you should offer the seat to them first.
  • If you are traveling by train for the first time it will feel quite scary, especially if you have to make connections to other services, but just relax and ask other passengers or station staff for help if you are unsure or confused.

Warnings

  • Make sure you purchase the correct type of ticket: Some tickets may only be valid at certain times of day, with specific train companies or they may even be limited to a specific train. As a general rule, the cheaper the ticket, the more restrictive it is.
  • "Always mind the gap between the train and the platform edge". Sometimes there can be a big gap so take care not to fall or drop anything onto the tracks.
  • Remember to allow a clear path off the train for those disembarking, and wait for all passengers to disembark before boarding the train.
  • DO NOT attempt to board a train while the doors are closing - this may result in serious injury and/or delay the departure of the train .
  • Have a look around for the emergency exits and so on just in case of an accident. Safety information is always useful to know when travelling by any means.
  • Look out for penalty fares - these are in place at some staffed stations to penalize passengers for boarding a train without a ticket or with a ticket that is not valid for that particular journey. Penalty fares are only valid up to the first stop, and you are still required to purchase a ticket for the remainder of your journey.
  • "Be sure to take any personal belongings with you". It's hard to get back things that you leave on a train as it's difficult to discover where they have ended up. Try hard to be organised and not to forget your possessions! Do not leave your luggage unattended at any time.

Things You'll Need

  • A train ticket
  • Entertainment such as an MP3 player, magazine or book.

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