Trains in Britain

In the UK, the train network is run by National Rail. All train companies in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) operate under the guidance of National Rail who are primarily responsible for the administration of passenger bookings. National Rail was formed following the privatization of the British Rail network in 1996, when the network split into 28 separate operating franchises to run trains across the country.

Network Rail is a separate organization that oversees and maintains all rail infrastructure in the UK, from train tracks to major stations and is also responsible for timetables and logistics to make sure everything runs smoothly.

There are currently 28 national train companies that operate within the UK. Although this may seem confusing for visitors to the UK, finding the right train to get on is pretty simple.  

So you don’t get confused, we recommend that you focus on the route you want to travel on rather than the train company to travel with if you are unsure. If you do prefer to travel with a particular train company, check out this UK train map to help you work out which companies operate the main routes across Great Britain. 

The main differences between train operating companies in the UK are the type of trains and onboard services. Some bigger train companies such as Avanti West Coast and GWR have newer trains, and a full-service First Class section with WiFi and in-seat meal service on some of the more popular or longer routes like London to Edinburgh, whilst smaller commuter services like Thameslink have Standard and First Class sections, but only offer basic onboard services. 

To find out about all the different train operating companies who keep all the wheels on track in the UK, visit our train companies page.

Many of the major cities in the UK are connected by high-speed train routes, so there's no need to travel by plane. The UK's high-speed trains whisk you through the countryside from city center to city center in speed and style, saving you the hassle of getting to and from the airport, queuing at passport control, and paying for those average, over-priced sandwiches in the terminal.  

Trains that run along the HS1 (High Speed 1) line like the Eurostar from London to Paris, and the Southeastern services from London to Ashford International, run at speeds of up to 186 mph - that's about 300 km/h! The rest of the high-speed lines across the UK race along at speeds of up to 125 mph (around 200 km/h). Sure, this isn’t as fast as a plane, but taking the train is a great option if you plan on visiting the great cities the UK has to offer. You’ll get to see some awesome views out the window without the chance of turbulence.

If you're a night owl or want to save some time by traveling by night, then a sleeper train could be just the ticket. Sleeper trains are usually equipped with beds, washbasins, towels and air-conditioning, and have several travel classes on board depending on your budget and requirements.  

One of the most popular sleeper trains in the UK is the Caledonian Sleeper, which runs an overnight service from London to Edinburgh, and also up to Aberdeen and Inverness (in Scotland). To search for Caledonian Sleeper services, check out our Sleepers Search page. 

There are other options for sleeper trains in the UK, such as the Night Riviera train from London to Penzance in Cornwall. For more information, check out our UK sleeper trains page, or our guide to the best night trains to take from London.

If you're flying in or out of some of the major cities in the UK, the great news is that most of the major airports have train stations inside or near the terminals to whisk you away to the city center in comfort, so you won't need to worry about getting stuck in a traffic jam.  

For those arriving in London, chances are you're going to land at Heathrow or Gatwick Airport. The fastest way to get from Heathrow is by taking the Heathrow Express train, which will take you from the airport to London Paddington station in as little as 15 minutes. Five out of the six airports in London have train stations inside the terminals, except for Luton Airport which is a short bus transfer away from Luton Airport Parkway station. Other popular airports including Manchester Airport and Edinburgh Airport also have direct train services to the city centre.  

To see the full list of UK airports with train transfer services and to book online, check out our UK airports page. (Oh yeah, did we mention we also sell bus tickets to the major airports too?)

If time isn't a factor, or you’re a penny-pincher traveling on a budget, we can take you where you want to go by bus instead. There's an extensive bus network in the UK which makes reaching the most remote and unique locations possible, and we’ve partnered with the UK’s largest bus operator National Express to take you there. 

Buses in the UK are usually cheaper than trains, but the journey time can be a little longer. As well as being an affordable option for travelers, most bus companies in the UK have vehicles that come equipped with all the modern onboard facilities that make bus journeys comfortable and hassle-free.  

If you’re keen to explore your options, search for UK bus tickets.

As we've mentioned before, it all depends on what your travel plans look like. If you're in the UK and only want to go from say, London to Bath and back again, then a return ticket could be the best option. If you're here for a while and want to see as many cities and regions as you can, then getting a UK train pass, known as the BritRail Pass, may be your best bet.

You don't need a passport if you're traveling between England, Scotland and Wales by train, but it's always advisable to carry it around with you as a form of identification. If you're catching the Eurostar train over to France and beyond, then you'll definitely need your passport.

On longer or more popular routes, you can usually reserve a seat if you book a ticket for a fixed time and request a seat allocation when you book. You can't choose your exact seat like you can when booking a plane ticket, but you can request services like an aisle or window seat, forward or rear-facing seat, a seat in the quiet carriage, a table seat, or a seat near a toilet. Please note that these services are requested, but can never be guaranteed. If a seat booking is available, you will see it in your basket on the payment screen on our site e.g. Coach B, seat 48 (window).

If you book a flexible ticket, you may be given the option to reserve a seat and travel time for your outbound journey, but you won't be guaranteed a reserved seat if you don't travel on the train you've booked the ticket for. Many trains have unreserved sections allocated, so you'll need to board the train and walk through the cars to look for a seat without a printed ticket slip (usually found attached to the headrest) or digital display showing a reservation. Some seats may only be reserved for a smaller portion of the journey, so if there's a printed slip on the seat and nobody is sitting in it, you may be able to sit there for some of the journey, if the passenger is getting on at a later stop.

Children under the age of five can travel for free with a fare-paying adult - however, it doesn’t always mean they're guaranteed a seat. On busy trains, kids may have to travel on the adult's lap to make room for other passengers. For 5 to 15-year-olds, there are half-price tickets available on selected routes but proof of age may be required when you travel. Be sure to select the "child" option in our Journey Planner when you're booking.

You can travel with three items of baggage per person on most UK trains. This usually means you can take two suitcases and a piece of hand luggage. Additional articles such as surfboards and bicycles may be taken for a fee and are subject to space availability. For peace of mind, it's best to contact the train company ahead to make sure you can travel with these extra items.

Yes. In some major UK train stations there are places where you can store your baggage. While some smaller stations don't have this facility, to find out which stations have baggage storage facilities, visit our UK train stations page.

You can only break your journey provided you haven't bought an Advance ticket. If you're going from say, Glasgow to Mallaig, one of your calling points would be Fort William. At this station, or any others along the way, you'd be free to get off and explore for a few hours. After that, simply hop on the next available train and continue on your way.

For more information visit the National Rail Conditions of Travel page.