Traveling in England Via Train

Walk up fares for longer train routes in the UK are very expensive. If you can commit now to specific travel dates and times, you can get very cheap discount fares by booking in advance. (Those tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.) If you wish, I can give you detailed instructions on how to do that.

However, since you're a college student, the simplest thing to do would be to buy either a 3 days in 2 months youth standard Britrail Flexi Pass ($210) or a 4 days in 2 months pass ($255). BritRail Passes purchased between April 15 and May 31, 2009 will automatically include one extra day of travel for no additional charge so you'll get 4 days for $210 or 5 days for $255. On any day you use your pass you can hop on and off as many trains as you wish all day long. No reservations are needed. Click on the Railpasses tab at the top of the page you're reading now for more information. You can order your pass on this site.

Ok - so, with this pass, I can ride wherever I need to get to without an actual ticket? Is that how it works? I just walk into the train station with this pass and board? And, will it work in every train station, or only certain ones? Thanks so much, by the way.

Easy answer first -- luggage goes in the luggage by the door, or the overhead rack if small enough or maybe behind you. Where you can fit it.

Not so easy answer -- trains in Britain are probably the most expensive of all European rails. Nearly all of the lines have been privatized. They had taken their lessons from US airlines, buy your ticket as earlier as you can as they only get more expensive as the day of travel approaches. And they will have a variety of special and promotions -- how you find them, I don't know. I would look to some of the British web travel sites.

The now privatized UK rail network is a mess. The former British Rail, run by the government, had its problems, but at least it was fairly consistent.

I traveled in England a few years ago using one of those rail passes that you can get from RailEurope. Depending on your particular travel plans, they can save you some money, BUT, you have to read the fine print carefully. Since trains in the UK have been privatized, unlike countries such as Germany, where the trains are all run by the same company, not every UK rail pass will be valid on every train. It can be very confusing. As I recall, one place I wanted to go required me to leave from a certain station in London, and take a certain train line, even though there were also trains to my destination leaving from other London stations.

You have to have your pass validated at the station the first time you use it, which will establish its validity period. After that you can take any trains you wish on each day you choose to use a pass day until you've used up all your days. Seat reservations aren't required on UK trains. (FYI, on the Continent many high-speed trains do require seat reservations so passholders have to pay a supplemental fee for them.)

I'll say it again. Click on the Railpasses tab at the top of the page you're reading now. You'll find many pages of detailed information about how railpasses work.

The London-Plus Pass is useful and economical for travel in Southeast England. I used these passes the last two years and was glad I had them. London-Bath, London-Moreton, London-Cambridge, London-Brighton, etc. Each day of the pass can be used all day, round trip or several trips. For second class you just get on the train after entering the date on the pass. Check the Railpasses section on this RS website.

Google"the man in seat 61". It is a web site exclusively about traveling by train in the British Isles and on the continent. He also has a book which is carried by amazon.co.uk but not by amazon.com

www.seat61.com/

Fares on British trains are unbelievably confusing. Two things to bear in mind are...

1) Buying two singles is often cheaper than buying a return. For example to visit my mum will cost £65 return, but only £25 if I buy two single tickets.

2) Always try and book ahead on the internet. Even if you just book the ticket the night before or even on the day itself you will probably get a cheaper ticket than buying at the station (you can buy online and then pick the ticket up at the station).

If your case/bag isn't too huge you may be able to get it under your seat. I can always fit my wheeled case under the seats on First Great Western trains.

I have a wedding to attend in England this summer and plan to have only two one-way trips within England and one round-trip from London to Paris. I decided to start with the easy first one...London to Bath. I have researched RailEurope/Britrail who are quoting me $110 and NationalRail/TheTrainLine at 13.5 pounds.
I am concerned at the x4 discrepancy for the first two. Does anyone have any idea why the prices are so radically different?

The $110 fare will be the "walk up" fare, i.e. what you'll pay if you go to the counter and ask for a ticket on the next train to bath. You'll see this on thetrainline as the £73 "Anytime Single."

As mentioned up-thread a limited number of advance purchase tickets are available at substantial discounts. They are usually non-changeable, non-refundable and tie you to a specific train. That is undoubtedly what your £13.50 fare is. RailEurope is famous for only showing the most expensive tickets.

These discount fares are limited and do sell out so if you want to book it do it sooner rather than later. If you click the fare on thetrainline it will show you the terms and conditions - if you can live with them it will save you money at the expense of flexibility.

Laura - On www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com I found the following fares. These fares are per person. I also used the dates in July since you said summer. These fares total about 100 gbp, which converts to about $150. I believe a standard class britrail pass for 4 days in 2 months is $315. The advance ticket purchase will save you about $165.

London - Bath - 9.50 gbp, travel time 1 1/2 hrs

Bath - York - 31 gbp, travel time 6 1/2 hrs with a train change in Bristol Mead(?)

York - Edinburgh - 18.70 - 33.50 gbp, travel time 2 1/2 hrs.

Edinburgh - London 42.70 gbp, travel time 4 1/2 - 5 hrs.

"...and the last 3 in either the North Lake District or York (I haven't decided yet..."

Personally, I found York to be very enjoyable and would visit there rather than the Lakes District. From York there are easy train connections to Edinburgh. Also, keep in mind that you have to carry your own bags onto the train, so remember the 3 rules about traveling: "pack light, pack light, pack light"!

Go to the Brit Rail website and check the prices on buying a rail pass BEFORE you go. You can also purchase a Brit Rail Pass from your local travel agent. You can also use it on the Gatewick Express if that is your airport or to another station in London. It would be for unlimited train travel for the amount of days you are there. Choose how many days you would want to travel. I would do York and the Minster and walk to walls before the Lake District. You will love Edinburgh and Bath. Do the walking tour of Bath that Rick talks about. Don't miss Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town and New Town. Plan on traveling via London as it is quicker. Also they have express trains from London to Bath, Edinburgh or York that only make a few stops. Ask which ones are those with the fewest stops as it is also much quicker. Don't miss the British Museum, the V&A, the WW2 places, etc. Have fun! Travel light!

Thanks to all of you and your responses! I think I figured out what I'll do about riding the trains, and I am actually going to stay in Keswick, but from the sounds of it, it should be really lovely and just what I need. I leave tomorrow and can't wait!