Transport > Train Travel > Great Britain

Train Travel in Great Britain

The Brits complain about their rail network even more than the weather, which leaves visitors to the UK pleasantly surprised when they find such an extensive and well-developed train system. Britain's train network criss-crosses the land with services to even small towns and villages and there are almost 20,000 train services on a typical weekday. There are even trains running every 15 minutes on some intercity train routes.

Train Companies

The train system is comprised of over 25 different train operators that are collectively known as National Rail (website www.nationalrail.co.uk). The train companies are:

Arriva Trains Northern

Arriva Trains Northern (website www.arrivatrainsnorthern.co.uk) run around 1200 daily train services with around half of them passing through Leeds. The company's routes include the scenic Settle-Carlisle line, the Carlisle­Newcastle line (which follows the course of Hadrian's Wall), as well as busy intercity routes connecting the big cities of Yorkshire and northern England including Bradford, Doncaster, Hull, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and York.

Arriva Trains Wales

Arriva Trains Wales (website www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk) operate an extensive train network in Wales with connecting services to Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and a line running to Penzance in Cornwall.

c2c

c2c (website www.c2c-online.co.uk) run trains from London's Fenchurch Street and Liverpool Street stations to Southend and Shoeburyness.

Central Trains

Central Trains (website www.centraltrains.co.uk) operate an extensive network of routes in Midlands. Birmingham is the hub of the system but trains run as far as Norwich and Stansted Airport and also include the busy Liverpool­-Manchester-Sheffield route.

Chiltern Railways

Chiltern Railways (website www.chilternrailways.co.uk) run trains between Birmingham and London's Marylebone Station.

Eurostar

Eurostar (website www.eurostar.com) has international services from London Waterlook to Brussels, Lille and Paris via the Channel Tunnel.

First Great Western

First Great Western (website www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk) runs trains from London's Paddington Station to Cornwall, South Wales and Hereford.

First Great Western Link

First Great Western Link (website www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/link) trains go from London Paddington to Hereford, Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon. They also run trains between Reading and Gatwick Airport.

First North Western

First North Western (website www.firstnorthwestern.co.uk) run train services in northwest England. This includes extensive train services around Blackpool, Cumbria (the Lake District), Liverpool, Manchester and North Wales plus services connecting Birmingham and Manchester.

First ScotRail

First ScotRail (website www.scotrail.co.uk) is Scotland's main railway company with trains to most parts of the country.

Gatwick Express

Gatwick Express (website www.gatwickexpress.com) runs express trains between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport.

Great North Eastern Railway (GNER)

GNER (website www.gner.co.uk) have trains from London's King's Cross station to Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness.

Heathrow Express

Heathrow Express (website www.heathrowexpress.co.uk) run trains between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport.

Hull Trains

Hull Trains (website www.hulltrains.co.uk) run trains between Hull and London King's Cross.

Island Line

Island Line (website www.island-line.co.uk) run trains on the Isle of Wight.

Merseyrail

Merseyrail (website www.merseyrail.org) runs suburban trains in the Liverpool area.

Midland Mainline

Midland Mainline (website www.midlandmainline.com) run trains from London St Pancras to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds and York.

One

One (website www.onerailway.co.uk) operates train services from London's Liverpool Street station to East Anglia. Their services include the Stansted Express plus trains to Cambridge, Norwich and Peterborough.

Silverlink

Silverlink (website www.silverlink-trains.com) run some London suburban trains plus trains from London Euston to Milton Keynes, Rugby, Coventry and Birmingham.

Southern

Southern (website www.southernrailway.com) run suburban trains in South London plus trains from London's Charing Cross, London Bridge and Victoria Stations to Gatwick Airport and Brighton. Southern also run trains on the coastal line linking Southampton and Portsmouth with Chichester, Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings.

South Eastern Trains

South Eastern Trains (website www.setrains.co.uk) run train services in southeastern England.

South West Trains

South West Trains (website www.southwesttrains.co.uk) run trains from London Waterloo to southwest England including Portsmouth, Southampton, Reading, Salisbury, Exeter and Weymouth.

Thameslink

Thameslink (website www.thameslink.co.uk) run trains from London to Brighton, Bedford and Gatwick and Luton Airports stopping at the following London stations: Blackfriars, City Thameslink, King's Cross, London Bridge. There may be disruptions to the Thameslink service until May 2005 with Brighton and Gatwick Airport trains terminating at Blackfriars or King's Cross and Bedford and Luton trains terminating at St Pancras.

TransPennine Express

TransPennine Express (website www.firstgroup.com/tpexpress) operate train services in northern England with all their routes passing through Manchester Piccadilly. Their routes include Manchester­ to Barrow-in-Furness, Durham, Huddersfield,­ Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester Airport, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Scarborough, Windermere and York.

Virgin Trains

Virgin Trains (website www.virgintrains.co.uk) run trains to many of the bigger cities in Britain going as far north as Aberdeen in Scotland and as far south as Penzance in Cornwall.

WAGN

WAGN (website www.wagn.co.uk) run trains from London King's Cross to Cambridge, King's Lynn and Peterborough.

Wessex Trains

The Wessex Trains (website www.wessextrains.co.uk) network is centred on Bristol. There are trains to Brighton, Cardiff, Exeter, Penzance, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, Swindon and Worcester.

Tickets

Individual tickets are available at a confusing array of options and the more expensive tickets can sometimes cost the same as a multi-day rail pass.

Standard Single Ticket

A standard single ticket is valid for travel anytime on the date shown on the ticket.

Open Return

An open return is valid for travel anytime up to one calendar month from the ticket date.

Day Return

A day return is valid for one return journey with travel anytime on the date shown on the ticket.

Cheap Day Return

A cheap day return is similar to a day return, but with cheaper fares. On some journeys there are restrictions on times that you can travel (you usually have to travel outside peak hours).

Saver Retun

Similar to a cheap day return but you can usually make the return trip up to one month after your outward journey. On some journeys there are restrictions on times that you can travel (you usually have to travel outside peak hours).

SuperSaver Retun

This is a cheaper alternative to the Saver Return. These tickets are only available on some routes and can only be used to travel on off-peak days.

Network AwayBreak

This type of ticket is available on some routes in southeastern England. Network AwayBreak tickets are valid for outward travel on the date shown on the ticket with the return journey within five days. There are usually restrictions prohibiting travel at peak times on weekdays.

SuperAdvance

Limited numbers of SuperAdvance tickets are available on selected routes. These tickets must be booked by 6pm on the day before travel and are restricted to travel only on the date and train shown on the ticket. SuperAdvance tickets are available as both single and return tickets; the return voyage must be within one month of the outward journey. This type of ticket includes free compulsory seat reservations for both outbound and return journeys.

APEX

Limited numbers of APEX (Advance Purchase Excursion) tickets are available on selected routes. These tickets must be booked at least one week before travel (two days for travel on ScotRail trains) and are restricted to travel only on the date and train shown on the ticket. APEX tickets are available as both single and return tickets; the return voyage must be within one month of the outward journey. This type of ticket includes free compulsory seat reservations for both outbound and return journeys.

Travel Passes

The biggest drawbacks about British trains are the high prices and the fact that the Eurail pass isn't valid here. However there is a large selection of other travel passes available that make train travel a much more affordable travel option than buying individual tickets. These include the BritRail passes and the more restricted Ranger and Rover tickets.

RANGER/ROVER TICKETS

There is a wide range of travel passes that are restricted to either a specific train company or a specified geographic area. These include:

Anglia Plus

Valid for one day travel in East Anglia after 8.45am weekdays and all day on weekends.

Train company One

Bus companies First buses in Norwich (zones 1-4), Anglia Coaches between Great Yarmouth station and the town centre or beach, First buses between Bury St Edmonds station and the town centre and First buses in Lowestoft

Adult fare £9

Valid 1 day

Cambrian Coaster Day Ranger

The Cambrian Coaster Day Ranger is valid for train travel in the area bordered by Aberystwyth, Machlynlleth and Pwllheli in Wales after 7.50am Mon-Fri and all day on weekends.

Train company Arriva Trains Wales

Adult fare £6.60

Valid 1 day

Central Scotland Rover (3 days in 7 days)

This is a flexi pass giving you unlimited three days travel on ScotRail trains in Central Scotland within a seven day period. It is useful for train travel in the region that includes Bathgate, Dunblane, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, North Berwick and Markinch and all intermediate stations. It is also valid for travel on the Glasgow subway. However it is not valid for travel between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley.

Train companies ScotRail, SPT Glasgow Subway

Adult fare £29

Valid 3 travel days in a 7-day period

Coast and Peaks

The Coast and Peaks Rover is available in both a flexi pass offering three travel days in a seven day period and a rail pass offering seven consecutive travel days. It is good for train travel in North Wales and North West England in the area bounded by Liverpool, West Kirby, Wigan, Manchester, Glossop, Sheffield, Buxton, Stoke-on-Trent to Matlock via Derby, Tamworth, Shrewsbury, Telford Central, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Holyhead, and Llandudno. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, Arriva Trains Wales, Central Trains, First North Western, Merseyrail, Virgin Trains

Adult fare 3 in 7 day flexi pass £42.50; 7 day rover £52.50

Flexipass valid 3 travel days in a 7-day period; rover valid 7 consecutive days

Cornish Rover

This is a flexi pass that allows train travel in Cornwall including trains between Plymouth and Penzance and branch lines to Falmouth, Looe, Newquay and St Ives. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri (8am Mon-Fri on trains from Falmouth and Looe).

Train companies Arriva Trains Wales, First Great Western, Virgin Trains, Wessex Trains

Adult fare 3 in 7 day flexi pass £18; 8 in 15 day flexi pass £33

Valid 3 travel days in a 7-day period, 8 travel days in a 15-day period

Devon Rover

This is a flexi pass that allows train travel in Devon between Plymouth and Weston-super-Mare including branch lines to Axminster, Barnstaple, Exmouth, Gunnislake and Paignton. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri (8am on trains from Barnstaple, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, Teignmouth and Weston-super-Mare).

Train companies Arriva Trains Wales, First Great Western, South West Trains, Virgin Trains, Wessex Trains

Adult fare 3 in 7 day flexi pass £24; 8 in 15 day flexi pass £39.50

Valid 3 days in a 7-day period, 8 travel days in a 15-day period

East Midlands Rover

This pass is available in both a flexi pass offering three travel days in a seven-day period and a rail pass offering seven consecutive travel days. It is good for train travel in the East Midlands in the area that is bordered to the south by Bedford, Bletchley, Milton Keynes and Peterborough; to the east by Skegness and Cleethorpes; to the north by Sheffield, Doncaster and Barton on Humber and to the west by New Mills, Chesterfield, Matlock, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Lichfield Trent Valley, Tamworth and Coventry. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, Central Trains, GNER, Midland Mainline, Silverlink, Virgin Trains

Adult fare 3 in 7 day flexi pass £51.50; 7 day rover £67.30

Valid 3 travel days in a 7-day period, 7 consecutive days

East Midlands Day Ranger

This one-day travel pass is good for train travel in the East Midlands in the area that includes Crewe, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Loughborough, Matlock, Nottingham, Peterborough, Stamford, Stoke-on-Trent and Tamworth. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Central Trains, First North Western

Adult fare £21

Valid 1 day

East Yorkshire Flexi Rover

This flexi pass is good for four travel days within an eight-day period in East Yorkshire. It is valid on the line linking Hull and Scarborough as well as on trains between Scarborough and York, York to Selby and Selby to Hull. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, GNER, Midland Mainline, TransPennine Express

Adult fare £32.50

Valid 4 travel days in an 8-day period

Freedom of Scotland Travelpass

This flexipass is valid on all trains in Scotland including GNER and Virgin trains to and from Berwick-upon-Tweed and Carlisle. It is also good for bus travel on Bowmans Coaches services on the Isle of Mull, First buses between Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders; Highland Country Buses on the Isle of Skye as well as Thurso-Scrabster, Wick-John O'Groats, Thurso-John O'Groats; services on Scottish Citylink buses on the following routes Oban-Fort William-Inverness, Kyle of Lochalsh-Uig, Inverness-Ullapool, Oban-Cambeltown­ and Wick-Thurso and Stagecoach buses between Dundee and Leuchars/St Andrews. It is valid on all Caledonia MacBrayne ferries and it gives a 20% discount on the following Northlink Ferries routes Aberdeen-Kirkwall-Lerwick, Aberdeen-Lerwick and Scrabster-Stromness. It cannot be used before 9.15 Mon-Fri except between Glasgow and Oban/Fort William/Mallaig and Inverness and Kyle, Wick/Thurso.

Train companies GNER, ScotRail, Virgin Trains

Bus companies some services operated by Bowmans Coaches, First, Highland Country Buses, Scottish Citylink, Stagecoach.

Ferry companies Caledonia MacBrayne, discount off Northlink Ferries

Adult fare 4 in 8 day flexipass £89; 8 in 15 day flexipass £119

Valid 4 travel days in an 8-day period, 8travel days in a 15-day period

Freedom of Settle-Carlisle Line

This flexi pass is good for train travel on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle line. It is not valid for travel before 8.45am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, First Great Western, GNER

Adult fare £35

Valid 3 travel days in a 7-day period

Freedom of South Wales Flexi Rover

The Freedom of South Wales is good for train travel in South Wales in the area bounded by Carmarthan, Fishguard, Hereford, Lydney, Newport and Swansea. It includes the Llanelli-Shrewsbury line. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Wales, Central Trains, First Great Western, First North Western, Virgin Trains, Wessex Trains

Adult fare until £30-35

Valid 3 travel days in a 7-day period

Freedom of the North West

This flexi pass is good for train travel in northwest England covering Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire. The area this pass can be used is bounded by Chester, Manchester, Leeds, Hexham, Lockerbie and Dumfries. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, First North Western, TransPennine Express, Virgin Trains

Adult fare 3 in 7 day flexi pass £42.50; 7 day rover £52.50

Valid 3 travel days in a 7-day period, 7 consecutive days

Freedom of the South West

This flexi pass is good for travel in southwestern England. The area covered includes Cardiff, Bristol, Bath, Salisbury, Swindon and Romsey and all areas west to Cornwall. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri (8am on trains from Barnstaple, Dawlish Warren Dawlish, Falmouth, Looe, Teignmouth and Weston-Super-Mare and 8.30am from Weymouth).

Train companies Arriva Trains Wales, First Great Western, Virgin Trains, Wessex Trains

Adult fare £61

Valid 8 travel days in a 15-day period

Freedom of Wales

This flexi pass is good for travel on all mainline train services in Wales plus many bus services. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Wales, Central Trains, First Great Western, First North Western, Virgin Trains, Wessex Trains

Bus companies many bus services

Adult fare 4 in 8 day flexi pass £45-55; 8 in 15 day flexi pass £75-92

Valid 4 travel days in an 8-day period, 8 travel days in a 15-day period

Greenways Day Ranger

This pass is good for one-day travel on the train line linking Pembroke Dock and Whitland in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Train companies Arriva Trains Wales, First Great Western

Adult fare £3.50

Valid 1 day

Hadrian's Wall Rover

This day rover ticket is good for travel on the Hadrian's Wall bus, travel on the Carlisle-Newcastle-Sunderland train line and travel on the Tyne & Wear metro. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, Tyne & Wear Metro

Bus companies Hadrian's Wall Bus

Adult fare £12.50

Valid 1 day

Heart of England Flexi Rover

The Heart of England Flexi Rover is good for train travel in central England including travel to Birmingham, Cheltenham, Chester, Coventry, Derby, Gloucester, Hereford, Leicester, Ludlow, Matlock, Northampton, Nottingham, Oxford, Rugby, Shrewsbury, Stoke-on-Trent and Stratford-upon-Avon. It is not valid on direct Virgin Trains services between Birmingham and Cheltenham or on any train before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Wales, Central Trains, First Great Western, First Great Western Link, First North Western, Midland Mainline, Silverlink, Virgin Trains and Wessex Trains.

Adult fare 3 in 7 day flexipass £51.50; 7 day rover £67.30

Valid 3 travel days in a 7 day period, 7 consecutive days

Heart of Wales Circular Day Ranger

Heart of Wales Circular Day Ranger lets you make a circular journey in either direction along the following route: Cardiff Central–Craven Arms–

Shrewsbury–Llandrindod Wells–Llanelli–Swansea–Cardiff Central. It is not valid before 9am Mon-Fri (except the 7.15am Cardiff Central–Manchester between Cardiff and Shrewsbury).

Train companies Arriva Trains Wales

Adult fare £20-25

Valid 1 day

Highland Rover

This flexi pass lets you travel by train along the following routes: Glasgow-Oban-Mallaig, Fort William; Inverness-Aviemore-Kyle of Lochlash-Wick-Thurso-Aberdeen. It is also valid on Scottish Citylink buses between Fort William/Oban and Inverness and Caledonian MacBrayne ferries from Oban to the Isle of Mull and Mallaig to the Isle of Skye. It also includes some bus travel on the Isles of Mull and Skye. It is not valid for travel before 9.15am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Glasgow Subway, GNER, Scotrail, Virgin Trains

Bus companies some services on Bowmans Coaches, Highland Country Buses and Scottish Citylink

Ferry companies Caledonian MacBrayne

Adult fare £59

Valid 4 travel days in an 8-day period

Lakes & Furness Day Ranger

This one-day pass is good for train travel from Lancaster and Heysham to Sellafield and Windermere in the Lake District. It is also good for travel on Stagecoach in Cumbria bus services and it includes a cruise from Ambleside, Bowness or Lakeside with Windermere Lake Cruises.

Train companies First North Western

Bus companies Stagecoach

Ferry companies Windermere Lake Cruises

Adult fare £10.30

Valid 1 day

Lincolnshire Day Ranger

Lincolnshire Day Ranger is good for one-day travel in Lincolnshire with connections to some cities in neighbouring counties. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, Central Trains

Adult fare £16

Valid 1 day

Mid Wales Day Rover

The Mid Wales Day Rover is good for train travel on the following routes: Aberystwyth-Machynlleth, Pwllheli-Shrewsbury and Chester-Wolverhampton. It is not valid on Saturdays in July and August or before 8.30am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Wales, Central Trains

Adult fare £18.50

Valid 1 day

Moorslink

This one day rover ticket lets you travel on the North York Moors using Moorsbus buses plus trains on the Esk Valley Railway and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. It also includes transport to Bishop Auckland, Hull and York.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, Esk Valley Railway (Middlesbrough-Whitby), North Yorkshire Moors Railway (Grosmont-Pickering).

Bus companies Moorsbus

Adult fare £12.50

Valid one day

North Country Flexi Rover

The North Country Flexi Rover is good for travel in northern England in the area bounded by Carlisle and Newcastle to the north and Blackpool, Preston, Halifax, Bradford, Leeds and Hull to the south. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri (except the 8.49 Leeds-Carlisle train).

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, First North Western, GNER, Virgin Trains

Adult fare £61.50

Valid 4 travel days in an 8-day period

North East Rover/Flexi Rover

This pass is valid for travel in northeastern England. It includes train travel in Yorkshire north to Northumbria as well as trains on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle line and the Carlisle-Newcastle line. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri (except the 8.49 Leeds-Carlisle train).

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, First North Western, GNER, Midland Mainline, TransPennine Express and Virgin Trains

Adult fare 4 in 8 days flexipass £61.50, 7 day rover £73

Valid 4 travel days in an 8-day period, 7 consecutive days

North West Rover/Flexi Rover

The North West Rover/Flexi Rover is good for train travel in northwestern England. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, First North Western, ScotRail, TransPennine Express, Virgin Trains

Adult fare 3 in 7 days flexi pass £42.50, 7 day rover £52.50

Valid 3 travel days in a 7-day period, 7 consecutive days

Settle & Carlisle Round Robin

The Settle & Carlisle Round Robin is good for one-day train travel in a circular route that includes the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle line and the Carlisle-Newcastle line, plus trains from Newcastle to York and York to Leeds. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri (except the 8.49 Leeds-Carlisle train).

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, First North Western, GNER, Virgin Trains

Adult fare £32.50

Valid 1 day

Settle-Carlisle Rover

The Settle-Carlisle Rover gives you three days to travel along the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle train line. It is not good for travel before 8.45am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, First North Western

Adult fare £20

Valid 3 days

Severn, Avon & Wessex Rover

This pass is good for train travel the area bounded by Cardiff, Cheltenham Spa, Swindon, Romsey, Weymouth and Weston-super-Mare. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri (before 8am from Barnstaple, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren and Teignmouth, Falmouth, Looe and Weston-super-Mare, and before 8.30am from Weymouth).

Train companies Arriva Trains Wales, First Great Western, Virgin Trains, Wessex Trains

Adult fare 3 in 7 days flexi pass £24, 8 in 15 days flexi pass £39.50

Valid 3 travel days in a 7-day period, 8 travel days in a 15-day period

Shakespeare Country Explorer

The Shakespeare Country Explorer is good for travel from London to Leamington Spa, Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon. It is not valid for travel from London Marylebone 5pm-6.30pm Mon-Fri or southbound before 8.30am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Chiltern Railway, First Great Western Link

Adult fare 1 day £25, 3 days £30

Valid 1 day, 3 days

Tees Dayrider

The Tees Dayrider is good for one-day train travel in the Tees Valley area bounded by Sunderland, Saltburn, Whitby, Darlington and Bishop Auckland. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern

Adult fare £11

Valid 1 day

Tees All Zone Dayrider Plus

The Tees All Zone Dayrider Plus is good for one day train travel in the Tees Valley area bounded by Sunderland, Saltburn, Whitby and the North York Moors plus Moorsbus feeder routes to Bishop Auckland, Hull and York. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern

Bus companies Moorsbus, Stagecoach Transit, Stagecoach Hartlepool

Adult fare £5.80

Valid 1 day

The Sunday Rover

The Sunday Rover gives you unlimited travel on Sundays on Chiltern Railways and London Underground trains in Buckinghamshire, plus most local buses in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.

Train companies Chiltern Railways, London Underground (stations in Buckinghamshire only)

Bus companies most local buses

Adult fare £6

Valid 1 day (Sundays only)

Tyne Valley Day Ranger

The Tyne Valley Day Ranger is good for one day train travel in the Tyne Valley area bounded by Morpeth, Sunderland and Durham plus trains on the Newcastle-Carlisle-Workington line. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Northern, GNER, Virgin

Adult fare £11

Valid 1 day

Valley Lines Day Explorer

The Valley Lines Explorer is good for travel in the Cardiff area and out to Barry Island, Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil, Coryton and Rhymney.

Train companies Arriva Trains Wales

Bus companies Rhondda Bus, Stagecoach Red, White Bus

Adult fare £6.50

Valid 1 day

West Midlands Day Ranger

The West Midlands Day Ranger pass is good for train travel in West Midlands and also includes trains to Shrewsbury,­ Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, Lichfield, Tamworth, Nuneaton, Rugby, Northampton, Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester, Great Malvern and Hereford. It is not valid for travel before 9am Mon-Fri.

Train companies Arriva Trains Wales, Central Trains, Chiltern Railways, First Great Western Link, First North Western, Silverlink

Adult fare £13.20

Valid 1 day

BritRail Passes

If you want to travel extensively by train throughout Great Britain, then the BritRail pass can be a good deal. You cannot buy the BritRail pass in the UK so it is best to organise this before leaving home.

BritRail passes (including the Britrail Classic) can be used during consecutive travel days, but BritRail Flexipasses are restricted to a set number of travel days within a longer period.

BRITRAIL CLASSIC

The original BritRail pass is valid on most train services in England, Scotland and Wales offering unlimited travel on participating services within the validity of the pass.

BRITRAIL FLEXI PASS

This pass is similar to the BritRail pass, except it restricts your travel to a specified number of travel days within a two-month period.

BRITRAIL ENGLAND PASS

The BritRail England Pass is a new rail pass similar to the BritRail Classic, except it doesn't include travel in Scotland or Wales. It is a more affordable option if you're only planning on travelling within England.

BRITRAIL ENGLAND FLEXIPASS

The BritRail England Flexipass is similar to the BritRail England Pass, except it restricts your travel to a specified number of travel days within a two-month period.

BRITRAIL LONDON PLUS

This pass is similar to the BritRail Flexipass, except it is limited to southeast England including London, Cambridge and Oxford.

BRITRAIL PASS + IRELAND

The BritRail Pass + Ireland is similar to the BritRail Flexipass allowing the holder a set number of travel days within a longer period, however this pass is valid in England, Wales, Scotland and also Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The BritRail Pass + Ireland includes return ferry service between Great Britain and Ireland.