MHS

In response to a prior question about reserving seats when using a Rail Pass, Ben replied &quot;Mostly, in May, you can just walk on. Exceptions are Friday afternoons and evenings and the holiday weekends May 1 to 5 and May 23 to 27.&quot;<BR><BR>Since we will be traveling during this time period (although not on a Fri/Sat/Sun) and there's a Bank Holiday on Mon. 5/26 -- must we reserve a seat? If so, how does one do that? ahead of time? at the station? over the web? And, while on the topic of having a Rail Pass, it appears to be more cost effective and would save ticket-window lines, but must one buy prior to arrival in UK? Any info would be welcome. <BR>Thank you.

starspinners

A BritRail pass can only be bought outside the UK. <BR>You can find more information at http://www.railpass.com/<BR>I believe what Ben was saying is if you plan to travel on those bank holiday periods that he mentioned, the trains could be full and that a BritRail pass holder might want to reserve a seat. A reservation might be a good idea if you and your travel partner (s) wanted to sit together .<BR>The last time I had a BritRail pass ( a couple of years ago) all that was required to reserve a seat on a particular train was simply to go to the booking office at any mainline rail station the day before you wanted to travel.<BR>The seat reservations were free.<BR>

Justin

Is it possible to now get seat reservations the same day, perhaps right before boarding the train?

Nigel Doran

It seems you are not doing any 'return' trips, but are instead going point to point. Since one-way tickets that are bought on the day of departure are very expensive, and because even booked-ahead one-way (we call them 'single') tickets are also dear, a BritRail pass bought where you live might be the way to go. Check out the site given in the previous post, or search the web for it. I am sure all details about reserving seats will be given. You can't buy them if you are a Brit, so I don't know a lot about them, but it seems you can buy them for consecutive days or for a number of days in a given period. If you only want to travel by train on four separate occasions, then the 4 Day flexi pass would seem to be the one to get. It might work out a little more expensive than buying point to point tickets, but then again you have the convenience. (You could try www.thetrainline.com for advice and tickets, but I am not sure whether they can post the tickets to you, another inconvenience.)

Ben Haines

I agree with Starspinners, who reads my mind aright. I add that even a single traveller would do well to book: some trains during these long weekends will have standing room only. Which means you cannot book just before boarding, and need to book at least a day ahead. As Starspinners says, you can do this at any main line station: those at Charing Cross and Euston may be the nearest to your hotel.<BR><BR>Sites for rail passes are these, but since you already have a pass I think you need not use them.<BR>http://www.railpass.com<BR>http://www.eurail.com/<BR>http://www.railpass.com/eurail/articles/which.htm<BR>http://www.usitnow.com/<BR>http://www.footloosetravel.com. <BR>http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/<BR><BR>Please write again if I can help further.<BR><BR>Ben Haines<BR><BR>