Railways

England's railway system has undergone a change in structure and responsibilities in recent times.

The rail system, ie the track, stations, property, signals and responsibility for rail safety is now in the hands of Network Rail. Although Network rail own all of the stations, apart from 17 of the largest, are leased to the operating franchisees.

The actual trains are owned and operated by a series of franchisees, who are responsible for providing the service on their own particular franchise area. There are currently 27 operating franchisees all with their own part of the network system and represented by ATOC.

For the traveller, the day to day management is of little concern, as there is a national enquiry service which has details of the whole network system along with a ticketing system.

The system is divided into regional sections which serve over 2,500 stations throughout England. The system is generally efficient and reliable with quiet, modernized rolling stock, particularly on the InterCity services. Travelling across the country, rather than out of London, may involve a number of changes as most lines radiate from London, which has seven major terminals. There is now a rail link with Continental Europe on Eurostar, from Waterloo (soon to be a new link in Stratford - East London) rail terminal in London.

For details of all train time and destinations maps of the system please click and see below for the rail netowrk.

Tickets are available all most Travel Agents and all. railway stations sell rail tickets (although not all stations are manned all of the time and many stations have automatic ticket machines) . First-class tickets cost about one-third more than standard fares, and generally return fares are cheaper than two singles. It is recommended that you buy a ticket before travelling as on -the-spot fines could be levied by train inspectors.

There is a variety of discounted fares for adults and children available. These include Apex tickets, which are available in limited numbers on some long-distance InterCity routes and have to be booked at least a week in advance,  SuperApex tickets which have to be purchased 14 days in advance and again are available in limited numbers on a few InterCity services.

If you plan to do much train travelling around England by train there is available a number of money saving cards depending on what you are intending to do. For a description of the types available please click

The most frequently used train service used by travellers is the InterCity routes. These are very popular services and get booked up quickly. It is always advisable to reserve your seat in advance, especiallv if you want to travel at peak' times such as Friday evenings. InterCity trains have dining cars, air-conditioning and are fast, travelling to Edinburgh from London, for example. in just over four hours. For those arriving at Heathrow Airport and travelling into London, an alternative to the Underground is the fast train to Paddington Station. Unlike the tube service. this operates 24 hours a day. Trains run frequently from 9am until midnight and then every hour between midnight and 5.30am, and every half hour thereafter until 9am. porters are rare on British stations, although trolleys are often available for passengers to help themselves. If you are disabled and need help, contact the relevant train company before you travel. A yellow line above a train window indicates a first class compartment. You cannot use these without paying the full fare, even if the train is full. Check which section of the train to join as they sometimes split through the journey and proceed to different destinations. Trains stop for only a minute at each station, so be ready to get on and off. Some stations are a little way from town centres, but are well sign posted and nearly always on a bus route. Sunday trains and public holiday services are often a lot slower than normal.

For all of your ticketing requirement please click

The Golden Age of Steam

As motor transport made many rural railways redundant in the mid-20th century, picturesque sections of track, as well as many old steam engines, were rescued and restored to working order by enthusiasts. These services are often privately run: the local tourist office, railway station ticket office or travel agents will provide you with information. Most of the lines are short - around 20 miles (32 km) - but cover some of the prettiest parts of the country and are one of the best ways to enjoy its spectacular scenery.