I am going to be in Britain for 2 months and am considering buying a britrail pass, 15 days within 2 months (flexible) but I am curious if I want to take a day trip, say from Cambridge to Salisbury, then Salisbury back to Cambridge that same day, would that be 1 day of travel or 2 days of travel? Technically it would be the same day but 2 different times of travel. I'm very confused about this, if anyone has any insight it would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
Your example would count as 1 day. There is a place on the pass to write in the date each time you travel (do it once on board the first train for that day- do NOT do it ahead of time). The conductor will look at your pass when he checks tickets. Usually they just nod and move on. Also, you must have the pass validated before your first travel. But do not do it too early. We usually got ours vaildated the day before our first use.
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, WA, USA
5 posts
Where do you get it validated at? I don't have a britrail station in the town I will be living in so I might have to do that when I fly in which would be a week before. Why do you need to get it validated early? If I take an overnight train how does that work as "a day?" Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
This page will answer your questions about validating your pass and about the "7:00 p.m. rule" for night trains: www.ricksteves.com/rail/usepass.htm#using.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33837 posts
All passenger trains on this island come to a halt shortly after midnight except the ones to Gatwick and Heathrow, and just 2 sleeper routes. The Riviera sleeper goes to Devon and Cornwall from Paddington. The Caledonian Sleeper runs from Euston to the Scottish Highlands and variations to Glasgow and Edinburgh. >>Be aware that they, none of them, run every night.<< ¶ The Caledonian Sleepers, especially, have had a fairly poor on-time record into London. Sometimes, because engineering work is done on the lines, the trains have to take quite extensive detours, accounting for said delays.
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, WA, USA
5 posts
Interesting....it seems from the timetables trains still run at night. Do you know how long it takes a britrail pass to ship?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33837 posts
Erin, where are trying to go to and from?
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, WA, USA
5 posts
Trying to go from St. Neots to many places such as Edinburgh, Salisbury, Canterbury, York, and possibly Wales. there are other places in England I would like to travel I just don't know where yet
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33837 posts
"A travel day is a 24hr period from midnight to midnight, during which time you can travel on as many trains as you wish." This is a direct quote from the Britrail FAQ page. Sounds to me like if you travel before midnight its a day, if you travel after midnight its a day. It doesn't say ANYthing about night trains after 1900. I do agree that there are hourly trains during the night from St Neots to KX during the night. You are a very lucky person. (they are just regular trains, not sleepers)... The last direct train leaving Cardiff to London, midweek, is at 2125. If you see later trains make sure they don't have connections that leave you sitting in the connection station for 4 or 5 hours in the middle of the night.