Ok, so based on feedback here I bought my Britrail passes from Rick Steve's website. I was so excited thinking I finally have a resource that knows what they are doing. The blurb on the website said I would get all this great information on how to use my pass plus information on reservations etc..

So I get the packet with my passes. To my great disappointment the reservation information is just a yellow sheet of paper with a table telling me which routes need a reservation. There is no information on HOW to make the stupid reservation.

So I send an email to Rick Steves and Britrail. I go on the web and try to reserve my seats for the sleeper to London but I can't figure out how to do it without paying full fare. Nowhere do I see an option that says "I already have a pass and just need to reserve my seat".

Still, I'm thinking Rick Steves will save me. He'll tell me what to do.

What a silly girl I am. Apparently, no one on the face of this earth understands the Britrail system and when it comes to answering email questions about it, their reading comprehension goes right out the window.

I got some asinine response along the lines of "please refer to the yellow sheet". I would post it word for word but my computer was fried by a power surge and I can't access my email at home.

Britrail, true to form, didn't even bother to respond.

My father finally spent 30 minutes on hold with the 800 Britrail number and was able to reserve seats for us on the sleeper by paying a $64 upgrade charge to first class and a $60 fee for the sleeping berth.

And one other point, maybe I've missed it on the websites, but I'm sure the same questions come up again and again. Why doesn't some enterprising soul do a Britrail FAQ?

Michelle

Michelle I feel your pain with the Britrail system. I've certainly been burned by trying to (what a thought!) plan ahead rather than turn up and see what happens.

I wish I could help you, but all I can do is mention that I've been using the site www.qjump.co.uk since it was recommended to me on this board in order to do my travel planning -you can buy the sleeper train tickets and rail passes as well.
For me it's just easier to navigate and the prices actually seem lower than the confusing info I get from the Britrail site.
Hope the trip is a nice one-despite the typical complete lack of useful communication.
: )

Hi violet,

I can only commisserate.

If this is the sort of BS one has to put up with by not getting passes, etc., from an agency then I'd say the "premium" the agency tacks on is worth every penny. Thanks for letting folks know about this.

Avoid british trains as much as possible. There are dirt cheap airfares for longer domestic journeys - why bother with sleepers?

Tickets for short hops can just be bought at the station (often at vending machines).

Hope this helps,
Andre

Why not write to the press office for Britrail, copying it to the head honcho, and explain your frustrations, also telling them that you've posted them of Fodor's.com where hundreds of thousands of people visit every week. That should shake them up a bit, especially if you tell them that other posters have had negative experiences with Britrail passes.
I have no idea what to do either, except to say when you are in the UK, you can ring 08457 222333 (low-cost call) to get train infor and possibly book reservations. This number is the national reservation and booking line.