We are getting closer to our trip (May 14) and trying to decipher the train options. We will be traveling to Scotland, as well as various cities around England and the options seem a bit overwhelming. I need to read Rick's article about it again, but even it gets to be confusing. Does anyone have suggestions about what is best, both $ wise and time wise?
Our trip: Land at Heathrow>Bath>Stratford Upon Avon>Chester>Glasgow>Edinburgh>York>London for 4 days until we leave.
What options are you confused about? You can look up the options available at www.nationalrail.co.uk and choose the ones that suit your plans the best.
I haven't read RS's article, but this website is generally recommended for overviews of train travel abroad. I've found it quite helpful, and more importantly, accurate in much of my research of new-to-me train travel.
What is confusing for you about the trains? We cannot help if we don't know the problem or your concerns. The trains go from A to M with stops in between. Fast train make fewer stops and slow trains more. Generally a fast train will cost more but at the end of the day they all go where they say they are going.
In one of your other posting you indicated that you were using the bus (coach) for your travels.
When you get to the train station in the city or town go to the ticket wicket and tell the person where you want to go and what time suits you. They will help you. And they speak English. I would take the bus to Bath from Heathrow, you can buy your tickets right there, forget about buying them on line.
The first thing to do as you say 'we' is to travel after 9.30 am, and buy a Two Together Railcard- that gives you 1/3 off all train fares-
https://www.twotogether-railcard.co.uk/
Secondly totally forget about all the different rail companies. Just look for the trains that go from A to B.
Bath to Stratford is an awkward journey needing 2 changes- at Reading and Leamington Spa. Ticketing that can be complicated to save a few £ or easy. The easy way is just buy a full priced ticket from Bath with your railcard for £51.15 each.
To save a few £ train to Leamington Spa instead for £43.35 each, then a bus to Stratford every 30 minutes for £2 each, from outside the station (Man in Seat 61 won't tell you that as he doesn't use buses).
Stratford to Chester- train to Birmingham Moor Street, walk 300 yards up the road to Birmingham New Street, train to Crewe, change trains, train to Chester. Book a specific train ahead of time, advance fares on 15 May (sample date) tonight vary between £8.55 and £12.50 each.
Chester to Glasgow- again book a train specific Advance Fare- train to Warrington Bank Quay, change trains for Glasgow. £15.80 each
Glasgow to Edinburgh- buy on the day- £10.55
Edinburgh to York- Advance Train Specific Fare £28 to £34 each
York to London- Advance Train Specific Fare- Choose a train time that suits you- between £20 and £30.
Total train fares around £150 each.
Buy all the Advance Tickets on the LNER website. If you want you can specify that you have a railcard but don't need to buy it until you are in England, at Bath station, if you take the bus (coach) Heathrow to Bath.
Perhaps you're confused by the fact that you can't go by train directly from Heathrow to Bath. You would have to take the train east to London first (1+ hour), then a train to Bath. Since that takes up at least two hours of your time, many people prefer taking the National Express coach service directly from Heathrow to Bath. Or a bus to one of the intermediate towns and switch to train there.
The trains ARE confusing. I don’t use them that often and find all the different rules quite baffling, as well as the fact that you never know when to book these days for the cheapest fare. It used to be 3 months in advance but now you can end up paying more if you book that far ahead.
I’m going by train tomorrow. My ticket (bought last night) was about £10 cheaper booking it on the Uber app than on the GWR app. No idea why.
