UK Rail Travel
Since the privatisation of British Rail, the UK rail network is operated by a number of different train operating companies that each serve a particular geographical area. The quality of service provided by the train companies varies considerably, but in general most long distance services are reasonably comfortable and reliability has improved significantly over recent years.
With the increased airport security measures causing additional hassle for passengers it's worth seriously considering taking the train rather than short distance flights such as domestic flights and short trips across the channel. The train v plane section contains a checklist of points to consider when deciding whether to fly or go by rail.
If you're willing to restrict yourself to travelling on certain trains you can save a significant amount by booking in advance, but remember not to book too far in advance or the fares will not be in the system. Most companies make their cheap fares available from 10 weeks before departure. Many train companies are now selling their cheapest tickets as singles rather than returns so when booking it's a good idea to price up the singles as well as returns. Also if you are willing to spend a bit of time trying various options then visit the money saving tips section for further ideas on saving money.
On the other end of the scale there's the flexible tickets which don't tie you to a particular train. However some of these tickets have peak time restrictions except for those tickets labelled Standard Open or First Open which are valid on any train. For more details visit the flexible tickets section.
Some long distance train companies offer frequent traveller schemes aimed at their frequent business passengers and tickets that go beyond the usual First Class offering and include benefits such as free car parking and meals in the on-board restaurant. For more details visit the business section. Although various companies operate the UK rail network the ticketing is unified which means you can get tickets valid for any operator on your chosen route. This means you can buy all your tickets from a single source regardless of operator.
There's a number of ways to purchase train tickets in the UK:
- From a National Rail ticket office
- Calling Telesales - e.g. GNER 08457 225 225
- Online via thetrainline. You can either have the tickets posted to you or collect them from a self service machine at the station
