Britain by Train and BritRail Passes for the Clueless
Mar 27th, 2009, 10:34 AM
#62
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I went to the Britrail.com website to get the price of a PtP ticket from London to Edinburgh. When I hit the "Book Tickets" button this message returned:
"Sorry... That page doesn't exist...
The page you requested was not found, and we have a fine guess why.
* If you typed the URL directly, please make sure the spelling is correct.
* If you clicked on a link to get here, the link is outdated."
It is their own link!
Palenque, do have info on PtP tickets or a reliable web site?
TIA.
"Sorry... That page doesn't exist...
The page you requested was not found, and we have a fine guess why.
* If you typed the URL directly, please make sure the spelling is correct.
* If you clicked on a link to get here, the link is outdated."
It is their own link!
Palenque, do have info on PtP tickets or a reliable web site?
TIA.
Mar 27th, 2009, 10:57 AM
#63
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www.nationalrail.co.uk has prices for all of the various rail franchises in Britain - you will find a variety of fares with varying conditions - often non-refundable non-changeable for the cheapest fares so read the conditions
The BritRail Passes can of course be used on any train any time - just show up and hop on - in the U.K. apart from Northern Ireland and fully flexible fares are typically rather expensive.
thetrainline.com is a similar site to nationalrail.co.uk and one English lady recently said she found slightly cheaper prices on that site. Note with foreign credit cards add 3% to the price for currency conversion.
The BritRail Passes can of course be used on any train any time - just show up and hop on - in the U.K. apart from Northern Ireland and fully flexible fares are typically rather expensive.
thetrainline.com is a similar site to nationalrail.co.uk and one English lady recently said she found slightly cheaper prices on that site. Note with foreign credit cards add 3% to the price for currency conversion.
Mar 27th, 2009, 01:00 PM
#64
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Spaarne - BritRail.com lists point to point fares they sell at the top price, similar to what fully flexible tickets bought at the stations in Britain may be and then inflate them a bit it seems. They do not list or sell the many non-full price and non-fully flexible tickets that you will see on nationalrail.co.uk. BritRail.com is a part of ACP Rail in Quebec i believe and owns the BritRail franchise in the Americas - i would never suggest buying point to point tickets from BritRail.com because you can buy the same ticket - probably cheaper - fully flexible - at the station in England.
Apr 8th, 2009, 10:43 AM
#66
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Hello,
My husband and I will be in England in early October and want to take the train to Edinburgh as we will be flying out from there. I can't seem to find which station to leave from. We will be visiting friends who live in Pulloxhill in Beds and I don't know which station to buy our tickets. Also, is the price of a one-way ticket to Edinburgh much, much more than say flying on EasyJet. I really love trains and want to take one to Edinburgh unless the price is just outlandish. Thank you so much for any info you can give me.
My husband and I will be in England in early October and want to take the train to Edinburgh as we will be flying out from there. I can't seem to find which station to leave from. We will be visiting friends who live in Pulloxhill in Beds and I don't know which station to buy our tickets. Also, is the price of a one-way ticket to Edinburgh much, much more than say flying on EasyJet. I really love trains and want to take one to Edinburgh unless the price is just outlandish. Thank you so much for any info you can give me.
Apr 8th, 2009, 11:01 AM
#67
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starla - all you info is at www.nationalrail.co.uk - London trains leave from King's Cross (except overnight Caledonian Sleeper i believe leaves from Paddinton.
but you may find an intermediate station north of Kings X to join the twice hourly about London to Edinburgh trains that take about 4.5 hours. YOu should also scour nationalrail.co.uk for advance fares that can be a whole bunch cheaper than just turning up at the station and buying on the spot.
but you may find an intermediate station north of Kings X to join the twice hourly about London to Edinburgh trains that take about 4.5 hours. YOu should also scour nationalrail.co.uk for advance fares that can be a whole bunch cheaper than just turning up at the station and buying on the spot.
Apr 8th, 2009, 01:13 PM
#69
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No not even close to making a railpass pay off for one journey
It appears the nearest train station to you is Flitwick and when i put Flitwick and Edinburgh in the schedule it always routes you back to London - to St Pancras and having you walk next door to Kings Cross for the Edinburgh train
perhaps someone can drive you to an intermediate station on the Kings Cross to Edinburgh line but from Flitwick you go first via London.
It appears the nearest train station to you is Flitwick and when i put Flitwick and Edinburgh in the schedule it always routes you back to London - to St Pancras and having you walk next door to Kings Cross for the Edinburgh train
perhaps someone can drive you to an intermediate station on the Kings Cross to Edinburgh line but from Flitwick you go first via London.
Apr 9th, 2009, 07:36 AM
#70
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http://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/
Some Brits say this site may yield even better fares on the London-Edinburgh line - seems to offer 10% off for online booking.
Some Brits say this site may yield even better fares on the London-Edinburgh line - seems to offer 10% off for online booking.
Apr 20th, 2009, 11:03 AM
#71
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BRIT RAILPASS FREE DAY PROMO
BritRail recently announced that any passes (except London Plus and Brit-Ireland passes) will get an extra day FREE if purchased before June 2, 2009
thus a 4-consecutive day pass becomes 5
and a 4-day flexipass becomes 5, etc.
And after the pass is issued you have six months in which to activate the pass and use the free day - meaning anyone going to Britain before next Nov can get a day free! In either class, first or second, youthpasses, Family Passes, Party Passes all included.
BritRail recently announced that any passes (except London Plus and Brit-Ireland passes) will get an extra day FREE if purchased before June 2, 2009
thus a 4-consecutive day pass becomes 5
and a 4-day flexipass becomes 5, etc.
And after the pass is issued you have six months in which to activate the pass and use the free day - meaning anyone going to Britain before next Nov can get a day free! In either class, first or second, youthpasses, Family Passes, Party Passes all included.
Apr 22nd, 2009, 08:36 AM
#72
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Another special on BritRail Passes is offered to anyone who buys a Eurail Youthpass - or even a one-country to two-country Eurail Youthpass - they will then get 50% off a BritRail Pass (or England, etc).
Jul 13th, 2009, 08:41 AM
#73
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HIGH SPEED COMMUTER TRAINS LONDON TO KENT BEGIN SERVICE
In the past few weeks the all-new Chunnel train line from London to the Chunnel and onto Paris or Brussels has also seen a start up of the long-awaited Kent Sprinters - not their official name but one that has been batted about. Though there are yet i believe just two stations being served - Ebbsfleet and Ashford International - the latter in about 35 mins - these will make day trips into Kent by rail to places like Canterbury, etc. quicker - more details forthcoming. I would think railpasses would be valid on these domestic high-speed commuter trains but not totally positive. Will get back about that!
In the past few weeks the all-new Chunnel train line from London to the Chunnel and onto Paris or Brussels has also seen a start up of the long-awaited Kent Sprinters - not their official name but one that has been batted about. Though there are yet i believe just two stations being served - Ebbsfleet and Ashford International - the latter in about 35 mins - these will make day trips into Kent by rail to places like Canterbury, etc. quicker - more details forthcoming. I would think railpasses would be valid on these domestic high-speed commuter trains but not totally positive. Will get back about that!
Jul 21st, 2009, 12:54 PM
#74
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National Rail doesn't sell tickets - it will redirect you to one of the companies that run the trains like FGW.
Alan Rowe, a font of knowledge about online British rail tickets, recently recommended on another thread that in addition to www.nationalrail.co.uk that the www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com is better IHO for these reasons:
Alan: <Generally it doesn't matter which train operating company website you use as they all show the same trains and generally the same prices. HOWEVER some TOCs have special offers if you book their trains through their websites.
Personally I'd use www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com as it shows all the possible prices for tickets - so you can see if you are seeing the cheap tickets for a particular service or are trying to book too early / too late>
thanks Alan for that info. I will check it out.
Alan Rowe, a font of knowledge about online British rail tickets, recently recommended on another thread that in addition to www.nationalrail.co.uk that the www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com is better IHO for these reasons:
Alan: <Generally it doesn't matter which train operating company website you use as they all show the same trains and generally the same prices. HOWEVER some TOCs have special offers if you book their trains through their websites.
Personally I'd use www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com as it shows all the possible prices for tickets - so you can see if you are seeing the cheap tickets for a particular service or are trying to book too early / too late>
thanks Alan for that info. I will check it out.
Jul 22nd, 2009, 10:05 AM
#75
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And a Brit concurred with Alan on the same thread:
<The National Express website is by far the best - it is set up slightly differently to the others, which maddeningly make you go back to the start of the booking process if your seating preference etc isn't available (eg if you pick 'airline' and there are only 'table' left).
It also doesn't make you pick the 'two singles may be cheaper' option - it'll just take you straight there if they are.
And it doesn't charge for posting out tickets (in the UK), if you prefer that.
And it accepts more card types than any other rail website.>
<The National Express website is by far the best - it is set up slightly differently to the others, which maddeningly make you go back to the start of the booking process if your seating preference etc isn't available (eg if you pick 'airline' and there are only 'table' left).
It also doesn't make you pick the 'two singles may be cheaper' option - it'll just take you straight there if they are.
And it doesn't charge for posting out tickets (in the UK), if you prefer that.
And it accepts more card types than any other rail website.>
Aug 5th, 2009, 09:57 AM
#76
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MORE ON KENT HIGH-SPEED COMMUTER TRAINS
(Referring to post just above)
These trains are called Javelin trains and speed thru Kent, the so-called Garden of England, at speeds up to 140 mph. the trains are run by the Southeastern Trains franchise, which pretty much has a lock on rail service in Kent from London.
They will only serve two Kentish stations apparently - from St Pancras to Ebbsfleet, a new parkway-type station out of any city - and Ashford International, which has good rail links to most any place in Kent - Canterbury, Dover, Hastings (actually in Sussex), etc. The journey to Ashford takes about 1.5 hours on the older commuter trains but only 37 minutes by Javelin from St Pancras - using the same new high-speed rail line that the Eurostar ("Chunnel") trains use. the trains will be so speedy that the usual 'trolley' service for snacks will not be feasible, Southeastern Trains says.
338-seat trains carry up to 508 people - limited service started June 29, 2009 with three morning peak services to Ebbsfleet and Ashford with a full service commencing from Dec 13, 2009.
(Referring to post just above)
These trains are called Javelin trains and speed thru Kent, the so-called Garden of England, at speeds up to 140 mph. the trains are run by the Southeastern Trains franchise, which pretty much has a lock on rail service in Kent from London.
They will only serve two Kentish stations apparently - from St Pancras to Ebbsfleet, a new parkway-type station out of any city - and Ashford International, which has good rail links to most any place in Kent - Canterbury, Dover, Hastings (actually in Sussex), etc. The journey to Ashford takes about 1.5 hours on the older commuter trains but only 37 minutes by Javelin from St Pancras - using the same new high-speed rail line that the Eurostar ("Chunnel") trains use. the trains will be so speedy that the usual 'trolley' service for snacks will not be feasible, Southeastern Trains says.
338-seat trains carry up to 508 people - limited service started June 29, 2009 with three morning peak services to Ebbsfleet and Ashford with a full service commencing from Dec 13, 2009.
Aug 6th, 2009, 11:54 AM
#77
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Q - Are the London Plus and BritRail Passes valid on these Javelin high-speed commuter trains? I do not yet know but i assume they are since all trains in Britain, except tourist museum trains, are covered - all Southeastern Trains are covered so i suspect so but will try to confirm.
Aug 7th, 2009, 07:04 AM
#78
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Privitisation Has Been a Train Wreck?
Jul 2, 2009 ... Ken Livingstone: With National Express abandoning a franchise, the system is bankrupt. Railway nationalisation is the only rational ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/.../nation...-privatisation
Though not of general interest to folks planning a British rail adventure i relay this for those interested in Britain's unparalleled in Europe privitization of its former national rail network (a k a BritRail), which to me, as a user, is a failure with chaos rarely seen on European railways.
Ken Livingstone, a k a 'Red Ken' for his former really left-wing views, was Mayor of London until losing his re-election bid to current mayor Boris Badanoff.
Jul 2, 2009 ... Ken Livingstone: With National Express abandoning a franchise, the system is bankrupt. Railway nationalisation is the only rational ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/.../nation...-privatisation
Though not of general interest to folks planning a British rail adventure i relay this for those interested in Britain's unparalleled in Europe privitization of its former national rail network (a k a BritRail), which to me, as a user, is a failure with chaos rarely seen on European railways.
Ken Livingstone, a k a 'Red Ken' for his former really left-wing views, was Mayor of London until losing his re-election bid to current mayor Boris Badanoff.
Sep 2nd, 2009, 07:43 AM
#79
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Update on Javelin trains - high-speed commuter trains running between St Pancras and Kent. Railpasses are indeed valid, i've been told and the fares for the high-speed Kentish trains will be much higher than existing routes:
24.30 pounds for a return fare St Pancras to Ebbsfleet - 34% more than the current service and a bit more to go to Ashford.
24.30 pounds for a return fare St Pancras to Ebbsfleet - 34% more than the current service and a bit more to go to Ashford.
