Travelling by train

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Britain Rail’s Services

With around 34,000km (21,000 miles) of lines, the passenger rail network of the United Kingdom is one of the densest and most popular railway passenger services in Europe. Despite a massive series of line closures in the 1960s and decades of subsequent under-investment, the train is still one of the most enjoyable, fastest, comfortable and convenient ways to explore Britain.

British Rail operates a service of 16 000 trains a day serving over 2 000 stations; there's hardly a part of the country that can't be reached by train.

Trains are operated by privately owned and commercially run train companies, known as Train operating companies (TOCs), who lease or own passenger trains to run passenger services as set down in their franchise agreements. Different companies compete to win franchises for a certain number of years.

Unfortunately, the United Kingdom has some of the most expensive rail services in Europe. Many of the British private rail companies charge premium fares during peak commuter periods and add surcharges to tickets bought at the station for immediate travel. With so many different rail companies operating on different sections of the UK rail network, booking and travelling by train in the UK can be a trying and costly experience.

One of the easiest ways to cut the cost of taking a train in England, Scotland or Wales is to book a ticket well in advance. The further ahead you book, the more likely you are to have access to the cheapest available fares.

But if you are happy to travel outside peak hours, using a price comparison service like the “Train-line” can show you when it's cheaper to travel with one company than another and sometimes it’s cheaper to buy a return ticket than a single one. It's much easier to relax on the train when you know that the ticket you bought in advance only cost half as much as the same ticket would have cost you at the station.

The information about every railway station in Britain can be found on the National Rail website page with details of access, facilities, ticket office opening hours and recommended connection times. The 'live' Departures & Arrivals screen for every station can also be viewed online, with up-to-the-minute train running information.

Tickets can be bought in the booking-office at any station and all train times and fares can be found on the same site or by calling 08457 484950 from anywhere in the UK.

Tickets can also be booked online through various private agents. The websites can be slow but they do the job nonetheless. Fares vary widely depending on when you travel and when you book. On most trains you have choice between First or Second (Economy) Class. First Class seats are more spacious and cost 50 % more than the Second Class fare. Most companies have high standard of speed, reliability and cleanliness and offer excellent service and value for money. Most trains have a full meal service. Often it is quicker and cheaper to purchase by phone.

If you are unfamiliar with your journey, arrive at the station with time to spare, and be aware that you may be asked to show your ticket or open a ticket barrier with it.

Larger stations will have electronic departure screens listing trains in order of departure, their platform, any delay, calling points and the operator. Trains do not have publicly announced numbers; they are identified at each station by their departure time and destination (for example- "The 12:15 to Manchester Piccadilly"). Platforms may not be announced until a few minutes before the train is due to depart, and can subsequently change if the train is delayed. Listen out for audio announcements. Platform staff can also advise where to stand if you are travelling with a bicycle.

At every station there is a waiting-room where people wait for the trains arrival and a café or a restaurant to have meal. At smaller stations without electronic displays, signs will indicate which platform to wait on for your destination station.