Trains in UK: basic question
Aug 24th, 2013, 07:42 AM
#1
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Trains in UK: basic question
It looks to me as if in the UK, there can be more than one train service that offers train transportation from one place to another, for example, National Rail and then maybe Virgin.
My question - how do I figure it out? say I want to know all my options.
In particular, this time round, I am checking out travel from:
London to Edinburgh
London to Glasgow
London to Inverness
Edinburgh to Inverness
Glasgow to Inverness
Glasgow to Inverness
-- for a start!! is there any way to do this efficiently? if not, what's the comprehensive inefficient way?
My question - how do I figure it out? say I want to know all my options.
In particular, this time round, I am checking out travel from:
London to Edinburgh
London to Glasgow
London to Inverness
Edinburgh to Inverness
Glasgow to Inverness
Glasgow to Inverness
-- for a start!! is there any way to do this efficiently? if not, what's the comprehensive inefficient way?
Aug 24th, 2013, 07:48 AM
#2
National Rail doesn't do trains. It isn't a train company. It is a place you can look up trains/schedules and then sends you off to the company(s) that are on the route.
So . . . go to National Rail, plug in your various journeys and it tells you the carrier and the schedules.
So . . . go to National Rail, plug in your various journeys and it tells you the carrier and the schedules.
Aug 24th, 2013, 07:52 AM
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National Rail is the overall "brand" for the entire system. Tracks are owned by a state company, and services are franchised to different companies, that may in places be running over the same tracks, and offering directly competing services, but mostly cover particular regions.
www.nationalrail.co.uk provides timetable and booking info for all services. If you want to book, it will link you to the company that runs the train in question.
There are other websites offering the same information and booking service, but they add a small booking fee on top.
For general advice, tips and hints, see www.seat61.com
www.nationalrail.co.uk provides timetable and booking info for all services. If you want to book, it will link you to the company that runs the train in question.
There are other websites offering the same information and booking service, but they add a small booking fee on top.
For general advice, tips and hints, see www.seat61.com
Aug 24th, 2013, 08:17 AM
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Forget the names of individual train franchises - they are just competing with other privatized train companies - like Patrick says they use national-owned tracks - just take the train that is most useful for you and cheapest too.
For lots of great info on British trains yes www.seat61.com is tops but also for Americans at least there is some great info at www.ricksteves.com and http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id11.html.
Price tickets in both first and standard (2nd) class - sometimes due to the Byzantine fare structure system a discounted first-class fare can be nearly as cheap as the cheapest 2nd class fare available and in the U K first class is FAR FAR better IME than Standard class in many ways - much more so than in most of Europe - I have ridden British trains for decades - all around and I strongly urge anyone on the trip of a lifetime to consider first class.
For lots of great info on British trains yes www.seat61.com is tops but also for Americans at least there is some great info at www.ricksteves.com and http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id11.html.
Price tickets in both first and standard (2nd) class - sometimes due to the Byzantine fare structure system a discounted first-class fare can be nearly as cheap as the cheapest 2nd class fare available and in the U K first class is FAR FAR better IME than Standard class in many ways - much more so than in most of Europe - I have ridden British trains for decades - all around and I strongly urge anyone on the trip of a lifetime to consider first class.
Aug 24th, 2013, 11:50 AM
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In Scotland this is a good one: http://travelinescotland.com/welcome.do
Aug 25th, 2013, 09:13 AM
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Not all trains are equal - not sure if it is still true since I have not ridden Virgin Trains for a few years but I would always chose them say to Manchester than competing trains because in first class Virgin Trains always gave so much freebie to eat and drink - a veritable meal and booze to your limit - worth quite a few quid in Britain!
so service may vary greatly - some perhaps internet streamed in some not - if so some free - some charge in Standard Class, etc - so there is a difference besides prices.
so service may vary greatly - some perhaps internet streamed in some not - if so some free - some charge in Standard Class, etc - so there is a difference besides prices.
Aug 26th, 2013, 12:04 PM
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My question - how do I figure it out? say I want to know all my options.>
One other option it to take the overnight Caledonian sleeper trains from London Euston to any of those Scottish destinations - save on the overnight cost of a hotel and travel time.
One other option it to take the overnight Caledonian sleeper trains from London Euston to any of those Scottish destinations - save on the overnight cost of a hotel and travel time.
Aug 29th, 2013, 12:30 PM
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http://www.scotrail.co.uk/caledonian...Fe1AMgodiwcA5w
some ridiculously cheap fares for multi berths if you book far enough in advance.
some ridiculously cheap fares for multi berths if you book far enough in advance.
