Virgin Cross Country train

You’ll be able to drink in the scenery without worrying whether you’re on the wrong side of the road, and you’ll arrive at your destination ready to go.

Most British trains are modern and comfortable, and with more than 2,500 rail stations, there’s train service to virtually everyplace you would want to visit. The busiest routes have several departures a day. For the most part, rail stations are centrally located, so you usually arrive in the heart of town. The stations are also transportation hubs, so if you need to catch a bus or a taxi, there will likely be one right out front.

There are more than 20 private rail companies in Britain, but National Rail serves as a clearinghouse that coordinates fares, schedules, and ticketing. Their web site has fares and schedules for all the rail lines.

On most trains, two classes of service are available — standard and first class. Seating in standard class is like you’d find on an airline, with a table in between the seats. First class is a little roomier and more comfortable, and refreshments are often included in the fare. But since most trips are relatively short, there’s little reason to pay for First Class.

Victoria Station

You don’t need to make reservations in advance, though it’s a good idea during peak travel times or if you want a sleeper car. You can buy food on board — at the restaurant car on intercity trains, in the buffet car, or from the food trolley on shorter journeys.

There’s space for your luggage above and between the seats and at the ends of the individual cars. And since porters are a thing of the past, you’ll probably have to handle it yourself. So don’t carry more than you can manage. Although there are some overnight trains in Britain, since the distances covered are not great, it makes more sense to travel during daylight hours.

Rail fares vary quite a bit and can be affordable or expensive depending on when you book and when you travel. Most online ticket brokers charge the same fare, so where you buy your ticket isn’t as important as when. Like airlines, trains now offer nonrefundable fares that are less expensive. And mid-day travel usually costs less than trains during peak travel times.

Three types of fares are most common: Advance, Anytime, and Off-Peak. Advance fares can save you as much as 75%, but they’re very restrictive.

If you’re taking more than a couple of trips by train, a Rail Pass can be a real money saver. There are several kinds available.

Britrail Passes can save you time and money.

British Rail class train

With a Britrail England Flexi Pass, you have unlimited travel on any scheduled train in England for four, eight, or twelve days during a one- or two-month period. The Britrail GB Flexi Pass adds trains in Scotland and Wales to the equation.

As the name implies, the Britrail England Consecutive Pass lets you travel on four, eight, fifteen, or twenty-two consecutive days during a one-month period. The GB Consecutive Pass adds Scotland and Wales.

The Britrail England Consecutive Pass allows you access to England’s railways over a selected number of consecutive days. The England Consecutive Pass is available for 4-, 8-, 15-, 22-day and 1-month periods.

Youth, Senior, Family, and Party passes are available. And you’ll need to buy your Britrail Pass before you leave home. They’re not sold it Britain. You can activate it at any rail station. Make reservations in advance or just show up when you want to travel. Scotland and Wales also offer country-specific passes.

Find fares, schedules, and more information at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk. Or learn more about Britrail passes here.

You can read more Great Britain travel planning tips here.

Virgin Cross Country train Image Flickr: mattbuck4950
Victoria Station Image Flickr: wsuph001
British Rail class train Image Flickr: mattbuck4950