We will be traveling in England in early October, and a portion of the trip will involve train travel. I am reading that it is best to buy train tickets in advance to get the best fare. If I purchase them online, how do I obtain the tickets? I understand you can put your credit card in a machine when you eventually arrive at the station, but am also reading that not all stations have such machines. So what do you do then? From what online sites have you had successful experiences in pre-purchasing tickets?
Posted by
Bellingham, WA, USA
94 posts
I usually buy mine directly from National Rail: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ The website has a "cheap fare finder" that points you to less expensive times of day, etc. You can pick up your prepaid tickets at the station ticket window as well as the machine. I'm not sure if the dreaded "chip and pin" credit card requirement has hit the British rail machines yet but that could become an issue. I know I had some difficulty with the one machine at Hereford rail station last year but luckily the ticket office was open and she pulled my ticket for me.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
To be precise, you don't actually buy tickets from National Rail. When you pick a route, the site redirects you to the site of a train company that provides service on that route.
Posted by
Tempe, AZ, USA
1266 posts
Mary - I like to use eastcoast.co.uk. Where are you starting you trip? You can pick up all of your tickets at the ticket kiosks, they are very easy to use.
Posted by
OP
Hobart, IN, USA
17 posts
How exactly do these ticket kiosks work? are they always open at each train station? Do we pick up each ticket as we go, or get them all at once in one station? We will leave Bath via train to Exeter, then Exeter to Penzance, then Penzance to Cheltenham (for Cotswolds area), then back to Bath. Do you advise pre purchase in advance for this kind of routing?
Posted by
Tempe, AZ, USA
1266 posts
Mary - If I remember correctly, to retrieve your tickets from the kiosk, you placed your CC in the reader and keyed in your confirmation number/code.
Posted by
Ithaca, NY, USA
740 posts
If you purchase your tickets in advance and have a confirmation number but not a chip and pin card, you can also stand in an "advanced reservations" line at most train stations to pick up your tickets from a human being. We popped into train stations when we were in the neighborhood and not in a big hurry; most of the time the lines were short and we were able to get our tickets with no trouble at all. You can also get seat reservations (if you don't already have them) at the advance window....it makes everything easier the day of travel.
Posted by
OP
Hobart, IN, USA
17 posts
thanks for all your input, everyone! I understand the process better now and will go ahead soon and book tickets ahead