thetrainline: buy uk train ticket online from the trainline

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Buy a train ticket in the UK


Sections:	Introduction
	Timetable enquiry
	Step 1: Timetable result
	Step 2: Journey options
	Step 3: Your journey details
	Step 4: Terms and conditions
	Register (or log in)
	Step 5: Delivery details
	Step 6: Shopping basket
	Step 7: Payment details
	Links

Related pages:	Travel/Transport/Train

INTRODUCTION

The sections below explains step-by-step how to buy a ticket using TheTrainline
The most important parts are shown in red.

Note that tickets cannot be posted to an address outside the UK.
If you are not in the UK now, you may want your tickets to be sent to the address where you will be staying, or you may decide to pick up the tickets from a Fast Ticket machine (only an option at some of the larger train stations).

You need a credit card or debit card to pay for the tickets.

Tickets can usually be bought online up to 3 months in advance.

Note that the cheapest tickets are often released about 12 weeks in advance (a bit less than 3 months) - only a limited number of these are available, so they may sell out quickly at popular times.
Sometimes buying two single tickets can be cheaper than buying a return ticket.
Sometimes buying two single tickets (eg A to B and B to C) can be cheaper than buying a ticket for the whole journey (A to C), but note that the train must stop at the intermediate station (B). This may happen when the journey involves travel on trains from two different train companies.
Cheaper tickets may only be available at certain times of the day - for example, if you start your journey after 10am on a weekday (generally you can travel at any time on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays).

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TIMETABLE ENQUIRY

To plan a journey, start by entering your travel details below:

(1) Leaving from
Enter the name of the station where you will begin the journey.
If you enter a city's name, journeys from any of the main stations in that city will be shown.
To specify a certain station in a city, include the station name after the city, eg "london paddington".
eg: london

(2) Going to
Enter the name of the station where you will end the journey.
If you enter a city's name, journeys from any of the main stations in that city will be shown.
To specify a certain station in a city, include the station name after the city, eg "cardiff central".
eg: cardiff

(3) Outward date (dd/mm)
Enter the day and month when you will be starting the journey. There is no need to enter a year.
Be careful to write the day number first and the month number second
eg 10/01 (for 10 January)

(4) Time of travel
Choose the approximate time when you will be starting the journey.
Journeys starting after this time will be shown (although you will be able to look at earlier trains if necessary).
Remember to use the 24-hour clock.
Note that in the UK train journeys are often cheaper if they start after the morning peak time (after 09:30 or 10:00)
eg: 19 30 (for 7:30pm)

(5) Return date (dd/mm)
If you want to return on a particular date, enter that date here (day then month).
If you want an "open return" ticket (a return ticket which allows you to choose the return date later), leave this empty.
Note that in the UK a return ticket is normally cheaper than two single tickets.
eg: 12/01 (for 12 January)

(6) Time of travel
If you want to return on a particular date, choose the approximate time of day when you will be starting the return journey.
Journeys starting after this time will be shown (although you will be able to look at earlier trains if necessary).
Remember to use the 24-hour clock.
Note that in the UK train journeys are often cheaper if they start after the morning peak time (after 09:30 or 10:00).
If you want an "open return" ticket leave this empty.
eg: 19 30 (for 7:30pm)

* Click on Get Train Times

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Step 1: TIMETABLE RESULT

You will be shown the train times for several journeys (starting after the times you used in the timetable).
If you asked for a return journey, you will also be shown times for several return journeys.
Click on View to see details of a particular train (the full station names and the name of the train company).
Click on Find earlier trains or Find later trains if you want to see different possible train times.

Who is going?
Choose the number of adults (aged 16 or more) and children (aged 5 to 15).
Note that children under 5 who are accompanied by an adult can travel free, but if you want to reserve a seat you have to buy a child ticket (otherwise it is assumed that the child under 5 will sit on the adult's lap if no seats are available).

What type of ticket and railcard?

- Type of railcard:
You may be able to get a cheaper ticket if you have bought a railcard.
The railcards are:
16-25 Railcard ; Senior Railcard ; Family Railcard ; HM Forces Railcard ; Disabled Adult Railcard ; Disabled Child Railcard ; Network Railcard ; New Deal Photocard ; Annual Gold Card
The types of railcard which are most common for students are the 16-25 Railcard and the Network Railcard.

- Promotion code
Leave this blank (unless you have been told a code to use for a special deal)

To travel through or avoid a particular station please choose:
(leave this section blank unless you want to choose a certain route or type of journey)
- Via/avoid
Choose Travel through or Avoid
- Station
Enter the name of the station to travel through or to avoid
- Direct services only
Click this box if you do not want journeys to be shown for which you need to change trains.
- Type of journey
You can specify that you want a ticket for a Single, Open Return or Return journey.
(you will normally only need to change this if you want an open return ticket)

* Click on Check Availability and Prices

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Step 2: JOURNEY OPTIONS

The next page will show you which ticket types are available for which journey.
The fares shown on the left are in pounds.

The most common single ticket types are:
- Apex single
- Super advance single
- Supersaver single
- Standard open single
- First open single

The most common return ticket types are:
- Apex return
- Super advance return
- Saver return
- 1st Apex return
- Standard open return
- Saver first return
- First open return

The cheapest tickets such as Apex and super advance, which require seat reservations, may not be available until perhaps 2 weeks before the date of travel. This is because reservations can only be accepted after Network Rail (the company which maintains the train lines) has confirmed that the route will be available. Engineering works, which are most common at weekends and on Bank holitravel, because engineering works often take place at these times and

Choose which type of ticket you want (circles are only shown if the ticket type is available for that train).
Click on a circle to select the type of ticket and journey time.
If you are buying a return ticket, you need to click on two buttons in the same row.

* Click on the Continue button in the row you have selected

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Step 3: YOUR JOURNEY DETAILS

Outward Journey
Check the times of the journey you have chosen.

Return Journey
If you have selected a return ticket, check the time and date of the return journey you have chosen.

Seating

- Smoking or non-smoking
You can choose a seat in a smoking or non-smoking area of the train.
Note that some train companies do not allow smoking on any part of the train.

- Direction
You can choose which way you want your seat to face:
Any - any seat
Airline - a seat which does not have a passenger opposite you (often with a folding table from the seat in front)
Backwards - a seat with another passenger opposite you (often with a table in the middle), where you face the back of the train
Facing - a seat with another passenger opposite you (often with a table in the middle), where you face the front of the train

Save Journey
If you often book tickets for the same journey, you can save your preferences to make the process quicker in future.

Hotel Bookings
If you need to book a hotel where you are going, some options are shown and can be booked at the same time.
If you need a hostel, you can book this here: http://www.reservations.bookhostels.com/ukstudentlife.com

Travel Essentials
You can insure against loss because of missed or delayed trains, lost luggage and journey cancellation.
If you do not want to buy this insurance, remove the ticks from the Outward and/or Return boxes.

* Click on Continue

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Step 4: TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Ticket
Check the ticket type and whether it is a single, return or open return.

Route
Check if there are special restrictions about which train services you use.

General conditions
Check the charges in case you need to cancel or change your journey.

National conditions of carriage
Your travel rights and responsibilities, and the minimum level of service you are entitled to expect from the train company.

Ticket restrictions
Check the restrictions which apply for the ticket type which you are buying.
In general the cheaper types of tickets have most restrictions.

Conditions of carriage
Details about the insurance policy which you may have chosen to buy in Step 3 above.

Please confirm that you understand and accept them by clicking here
Tick the box if you accept the terms and conditions and want to buy your ticket.

* Click on Continue

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REGISTER OR LOG IN

If you want to be able to buy a ticket using TheTrainline, you must first register (or log in if you have already registered).

Click on Log into your account or Register

Refresh your personal details
The personal details which you need to enter include:
- title (Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms etc)
- first name
- surname (family name)
- home address (this must be the address registered for the debit or credit card which you will use to pay for the tickets, ie the address to which your card's statement is sent)
- postcode (you must enter a valid UK postcode and then click on "Address search". If your debit or credit card is not registered at a UK address you should enter any valid UK postcode (for example: SW1A 1AA), click on "Address search", and then change the home address and postcode to match the address registered for the card which you will use to pay for the tickets)
- country (this should be the country registered for the debit or credit card which you will use to pay for the tickets)
- e-mail address (your confirmation and reference number details will be sent to this address)
- password (you choose the password you want for your TheTrainline account: it must have at least 6 letters/numbers)
- confirmation of the password for your TheTrainline account

Click the box (to remove the tick) if you do not wish to receive further marketing information from TheTrainline.

Click on No thanks if you do not wish to receive marketing information from partners of TheTrainline.

* Click on Register now or Continue

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Step 5: DELIVERY DETAILS

How would you like to receive your tickets?

- First class post
The tickets can be sent to you by post, but only to an address in the UK.
Cheap tickets which need seat reservations will be sent when you order them.
Other types of ticket will be sent to you a few days before the date of travel.

- Fast Ticket
At some of the larger stations you can collect your ticket from a Fast Ticket machine.
You will need a reference number, which will be sent to your e-mail address.
The machines are normally located near the ticket office. To obtain your tickets, select Collect, insert the card you used for the booking, and enter your booking reference number.

- Next day special delivery
You will need to pay a charge if you need the tickets to be sent by post to arrive the next day.

- Same day delivery
You will need to pay a larger charge if you need the tickets to be sent by post to arrive the same day (you must live in London).

* Click on Continue

Confirm billing and delivery address
The billing address is the address at which the card you are using to pay for the tickets is registered.
If you have asked tickets to be sent to you, they will be posted to the delivery address

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Step 6: SHOPPING BASKET

Check the costs:

Ticket cost
Cost of insurance (if requested) - if you do not want this you can remove it by selecting Remove

Check the Total Cost and the Number of Tickets

* Click on Continue to Payment (or Book another Journey if you want to buy some more tickets at the same time)

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Step 7: PAYMENT DETAILS

Check that the "lock" sign is shown at the bottom of your screen. This means that the details you enter should be secure.

Card type
Choose the type of card you will use to pay for your tickets:
American Express, Delta, Diner's Club, Mastercard, Switch, Visa

Card number
Enter the full card number

Card expiry date
Choose the month and year that the card expires (usually shown above the words "expires end")

Card issue number: (Switch only)
If you are paying with a Switch card, enter the issue number if shown on the card (not all Switch cards have one)

Card start date: (Switch only)
If you are paying with a Switch card, enter the card start date on the card (usually shown above the words "valid from")

Card Security Code
- for all cards except for American Express: the last 3 numbers printed on the back of the card
- for American Express: the 4 numbers printed above the card number on the front of the card

* Click on Buy ticket to complete your puchase
Wait for a confirmation message to appear. If you have a problem you should call 0870 010 1296

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LINKS

Train travel in the UK/Europe: Travel/Transport/Train
Other transport in the UK: Travel/Transport

Home page: Home

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© UK Student Life 2002-2009

* Search this website (www.ukstudentlife.com) or the web: