Canadian needs some UK train savvy

Rick_C

I'm wondering if some of you smart folks here can help an out-of-towner (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) who is totally unfamiliar with your train system . . . in fact, unfamiliar with any train system.

We're going to be in London for a few weeks in May and we were hoping to pop up to Leeds to see a friend for an afternoon (yes, I know its about 2.5 hours one way but that's not unusual around where we live).

The only day we have to do this is a Sunday, May 29. I'm looking for the earliest train out of London and, although I've already scouted this out a bit, I'm wondering if you clever people have any tips for the right train for us or could steer us in the right direction in terms of value and convenience.

Again, looking for the earliest train out of London on that date and then leaving Leeds to return back to London about 6 or 7 in the evening. Are there different companies to do this with? "Cheap" is preferable but not wholly necessary. As well, I could pay well in advance to reserve seats if that makes a difference.

And, as a sidenote, how early before departure should one be at the train station ticket in hand?

Any help would certainly be appreciated.

Thank you.

Rick C

VeryTrying_2

I think the site to look at is thetrainline.co.uk. They show all the train operating companies' timetables. There isn't actually any competition, but make sure you look at the price of the advance singles - two of these often work out cheaper than a return. An inconveniently times train can be much cheaper than a popular one, so look at ALL the prices. Also, you may be able to upgrade to first class (where they feed you for free) for about £10 one way.

I don't think you'll have any difficulty getting to Leeds, trains should be pretty frequent. Your only problem could be engineering works - sometimes parts of train lines are shut down at the weekend and a substitute bus provided instead, so that lengths of track can be replaced/checked.

You don't need to get to the station (ticket in hand) any more in advance than the five seconds required to get through the platform gate, depending on how fast you can run! However, in reality allow yourself plenty of time to find out on the board from which platform the train is leaving because the cheaper tickets aren't transferrable to another train, so if you miss the train you are booked on, you have to buy another ticket.

The best times seems to be leave 09.10 hrs, arrive 11.39. Return journey, leave Leeds 18.40, arrive London 21.14. Unfortunately thetrainline site won't do prices this morning, so I'll try and have a look later in the day.

skipuk

Look no further than http://nrekb.nationalrail.co.uk/ and click plan my Journey.

evesham1988la

Offer number 2 on the GNER website

London Kings Cross to Leeds - from £19 return or £50 first class.

alanrowell

The 29th May weekend is a Bank holiday weekend in the UK therefore it's likely that the Powers That Be will take it into their liddle minds to close whole parts of the UK train network in order to do engineering works.

Therefore don't even think of booking tickets until you know exactly what trains are to run on that day.

PS instead of GNER to Leeds, try Hull Trains to Doncaster, then Doncaster to Leeds in order to save a few bob.

Also the National Rail website will allow you to find prices for services without having to log onto their site.

Rick_C

alanrowell wrote:

The 29th May weekend is a Bank holiday weekend in the UK

Well, how about that. In Canada, the previous weekend is the Victoria Day holiday, celebrating Queen Victoria's birthday and being part of the Commonwealth and all, I assumed that was the long weekend in Britain as well.

I can probably reshuffle things and do the Leeds trip the previous Sunday then. I had scratched it out assuming it was the holiday weekend.

That Be will take it into their liddle minds to close whole parts of the UK train network in order to do engineering works.

That must be a common trait of governments the world over as Calgarians are also convinced the city deliberately puts up roadblocks and starts tearing up streets, creating bedlam, just as the annual Stampede starts, a festival drawing a million in attendance in early July.

Thanks for your suggestions and tips everyone. I appreciate your help.

Rick C

chalky_bertie

Rick C, when we travelled from Montreal to Toronto a few years ago by train the only knowledge I had of train travel was that in the UK. Got to station in Montreal and as soon as the gate was open me and mrs chalky_bertie went flying down to the train and thought oh we'll sit in this carriage but oh no the guard or someone asked where we were going and then pointed us ito the right carriage! - the totally opposite from the UK. Agree with other poster that generally it is a free-for-all and first come first served on the seat basis (ie if you wee one, grab it!) however I don't think you should have any problems in that department on a Sunday.

Have fun!!

BlueVinney

Hi Guys,

No need to worry about your seat, all tickets with GNER include free seat reservation. The process to use is explained on https://www.gner.co.uk hit the Customer Care tab on that page and then look under FAQs.

You can also book your tickets on the site so if you want then you could sort out tickets and seats before you leave home. In general the earlier you book the lower the cost.

If you travel First then seats are arranged 3 across as 2 on one side of the aisle and 1 on the other. Pairs of seats face Forwards and Backwards with a table between (ie seating 2 or 4). Make sure that you get the seat arrangements and facing direction you need.

Standard class (coach) seating is arranged 2 aisle 2. Some seats are arranged as around tables as in First class, others are airline style. Again, if you reserve seats check you have the arrangement you want and that your seats face the direction you want.

The gner website explains most of what you need and I'd suggest you surf it for more info. There is also another site https://www.seat61.com which will give you more information. You can also get (amongst other things) realtime information on how trains are running and other information from https://www.nationalrail.co.uk

Although I've moved in the last couple of years I previously used GNER and found them comfortable and reliable.

Have a good trip.