U.K. and Ireland - Rail travel

Hi all,

Almost exclusively based at BAEC and bmi forums - but I need your help.

For the first time in about 20 years I'll be travelling extensively over the Summer on National Rail.

I've already bought all of my tickets (with a railcard) - but I can't figure out where I'll have to show them - there are ticket gates, right? So just like the old Tube travelcards? Through and out? If so, who do I show my railcard to?

Thanks :)

Depends on the station and route - some have gates, few now have manned barriers, some have nothing. And some trains have conductors, where others have spot checks by revenue protection teams.

Basically, if you need to show your ticket to a person, whether at a station or on board a train, you need to have your railcard with you, or you'll be treated as if you don't have a ticket. No leeway.

Have fun - hope the railway gods are smiling on you...

Yes, railcard with me at all times (even in Beirut!)

My routes (for now, maybe more later) are (all return):
Paddington - Slough - Windsor
Victoria - Hackbridge
Paddington - Bath
Vauxhall - Hampton Court
Waterloo - Salisbury

If they are gates, do I have to 'touch in and touch out' (well, enter ticket) or only in?

Next question: when they say 'any permitted route', what exactly does that mean? Any combination of trains? A direct train? What about when they say 'off-peak' - how will I know which one is peak and offpeak?

Thanks!

I can answer a few of these. The forum's rail experts will take care of the rest.

Sometimes you do need to put your ticket in a slot to exit. Roughly speaking, before 9:30am on non-holiday weekends is peak.

Thank you!

OK, you've got a mix of gated and non-gated stations there. The London termini are now pretty much all gated, but outlying stations like Windsor Central aren't.

If the barriers are operational, you need to put your ticket in to open them, but if they're not, there's no need at all.

Off-peak used to new simple - after 9.30 Mon-Fri (or arriving at London after 10) and all day at weekends. However, several train companies have started evening peaks as well, and others have nearly all day as off-peak away from London.

Permitted routes are even more of a hornet's nest. There is a hugely complex document called the Routeing Guide that gives full details, and I suggest you read it if you are suffering from particularly acute insomnia. On the plus side, you can use it to save yourself a fortune with some creative routings...

The easiest way to figure out off-peak and permitted routes is to try a d book a ticket online and see if it's allowed. The www.eastcoast.co.uk website is good as it greys out fares when they are invalid, and lets you specify via points, slower services, etc. Far easier to figure it out this way than try to get to grips with the arcane rules around it.

Paddington has electronic barriers which you push your ticket through (assuming it's small and has orange borders at the top and bottom). You need to go through the barriers to enter and to exit the platform areas. Also be careful that you have the right platform at Paddington as all the platforms have individual barriers.
Slough also has these barriers but unless you need to leave the station it won't be a problem - you just walk from one platform to another to catch the Windsor train.
I would think Bath has them too and it's likely Salisbury does.

Victoria and Waterloo will certainly have ticket inspections, I'd assume with the same style of barriers. Vauxhall and Hampton Court almost certainly have barriers, Hackbridge i've never been to and have no idea about and Windsor i'm not sure about but there will most likely be some type of inspection.

To pass through a barrier you do not need a railcard assuming your ticket is barrier compatible. If it isn't you need a barrier with a human operator who might ask to see your railcard (I don't think they do though). All barriered stations have people working at the barriers, if they can't staff them they are left open. You can choose to go through the human operated barrier so this is a good option if in doubt.

London- Bath there will almost certainly be a person checking tickets on the train. They will want to see your railcard. Also if your ticket is for a specific train make sure you catch it, these tickets are not valid on other trains. London-Salisbury is also likely to have a human ticket collector. London-Slough-Windsor i'm not sure. Local trains in this area didn't used to have them but the rail company has hired far more of them lately because they got sick and tired of fare evaders. Against which the train may be so crowded they don't bother.

Off peak/on peak - mostly applies to the morning rush hour. If you have an off peak ticket you cannot travel at certain times. I think the morning peak expires at 10am, be warned that the first off peak train is always heaving. The best thing to do is ask a railway staff member what the restrictions are, it might also say on the electronic boards. You could try googling it but the information is not easy to find

Permitted routes- some tickets are sold that will not allow you to take particular routes. These tickets often have the restrictions stamped on them. I don't think it will be a problem for you, certainly on direct trains you will be fine - it's mostly a problem if you have to change trains and have a choice of multiple routes from A-B.

If they are gates, do I have to 'touch in and touch out' (well, enter ticket) or only in?

If confronted by gate (that is closed) insert your ticket.

If it is the start of your journey, take the ticket from other point where it comes back out and go through before gates close.

If it is the end of your journey, most gates will retain your ticket. I.e. if you get a gate upon arrival, then you insert it gates open to go though, you wont' get given the ticket back.

Which is a reason for people to request a recipt if needed for expenses, etc. You can't rely upon keeping the ticket itself.

Hackbridge i've never been to and have no idea about and Windsor i'm not sure about but there will most likely be some type of inspection.

Hackbridge doesn't appear to have any gates, nor do either of the Windsor & Eton stations. That's not to say there won't occasionally be someone checking tickets at the exit from the platform.

You can take a virtual tour round any station in the country at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/ - type in the station name, then from the station page, click the Stations Made Easy 'show [station] route' link. Click on the map to expand it, and you'll then be able to mouse over the plan to see pictures of the most mundane details.

OK, you've got a mix of gated and non-gated stations there. The London termini are now pretty much all gated, but outlying stations like Windsor Central aren't.

If the barriers are operational, you need to put your ticket in to open them, but if they're not, there's no need at all.

Off-peak used to new simple - after 9.30 Mon-Fri (or arriving at London after 10) and all day at weekends. However, several train companies have started evening peaks as well, and others have nearly all day as off-peak away from London.

Permitted routes are even more of a hornet's nest. There is a hugely complex document called the Routeing Guide that gives full details, and I suggest you read it if you are suffering from particularly acute insomnia. On the plus side, you can use it to save yourself a fortune with some creative routings...

The easiest way to figure out off-peak and permitted routes is to try a d book a ticket online and see if it's allowed. The www.eastcoast.co.uk website is good as it greys out fares when they are invalid, and lets you specify via points, slower services, etc. Far easier to figure it out this way than try to get to grips with the arcane rules around it.

Thanks! I was using nationalrail.co.uk to do this - but this one's interface is much better.

Paddington has electronic barriers which you push your ticket through (assuming it's small and has orange borders at the top and bottom). You need to go through the barriers to enter and to exit the platform areas. Also be careful that you have the right platform at Paddington as all the platforms have individual barriers.
Slough also has these barriers but unless you need to leave the station it won't be a problem - you just walk from one platform to another to catch the Windsor train.
I would think Bath has them too and it's likely Salisbury does.

Victoria and Waterloo will certainly have ticket inspections, I'd assume with the same style of barriers. Vauxhall and Hampton Court almost certainly have barriers, Hackbridge i've never been to and have no idea about and Windsor i'm not sure about but there will most likely be some type of inspection.

To pass through a barrier you do not need a railcard assuming your ticket is barrier compatible. If it isn't you need a barrier with a human operator who might ask to see your railcard (I don't think they do though). All barriered stations have people working at the barriers, if they can't staff them they are left open. You can choose to go through the human operated barrier so this is a good option if in doubt.

London- Bath there will almost certainly be a person checking tickets on the train. They will want to see your railcard. Also if your ticket is for a specific train make sure you catch it, these tickets are not valid on other trains. London-Salisbury is also likely to have a human ticket collector. London-Slough-Windsor i'm not sure. Local trains in this area didn't used to have them but the rail company has hired far more of them lately because they got sick and tired of fare evaders. Against which the train may be so crowded they don't bother.

Off peak/on peak - mostly applies to the morning rush hour. If you have an off peak ticket you cannot travel at certain times. I think the morning peak expires at 10am, be warned that the first off peak train is always heaving. The best thing to do is ask a railway staff member what the restrictions are, it might also say on the electronic boards. You could try googling it but the information is not easy to find

Permitted routes- some tickets are sold that will not allow you to take particular routes. These tickets often have the restrictions stamped on them. I don't think it will be a problem for you, certainly on direct trains you will be fine - it's mostly a problem if you have to change trains and have a choice of multiple routes from A-B.

Thanks a lot! My tickets are the usual orange bordered tickets that I have seen (and used on GEX) many times before. Is there a way to change an off-peak ticket to a peak ticket if needed?

If confronted by gate (that is closed) insert your ticket.

If it is the start of your journey, take the ticket from other point where it comes back out and go through before gates close.

If it is the end of your journey, most gates will retain your ticket. I.e. if you get a gate upon arrival, then you insert it gates open to go though, you wont' get given the ticket back.

Which is a reason for people to request a recipt if needed for expenses, etc. You can't rely upon keeping the ticket itself.

Thanks. I'll print all receipts beforehand - I bought the tickets from thetrainline.com - Nectar points!

Hackbridge doesn't appear to have any gates, nor do either of the Windsor & Eton stations. That's not to say there won't occasionally be someone checking tickets at the exit from the platform.

You can take a virtual tour round any station in the country at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/ - type in the station name, then from the station page, click the Stations Made Easy 'show [station] route' link. Click on the map to expand it, and you'll then be able to mouse over the plan to see pictures of the most mundane details.

Well those are detailed!! I'm not planning to do any kind of fare evasion so I'll be fine ;)

Next, and final, set of questions :o

- For my Paddington - Slough - Windsor ticket:
I have one through ticket Pad-Windsor, but also a separate ticket with 'seat reservation' for Pad-Slough-Pad. But no seat is printed on it. What exactly does that mean? And do I have to show it to anyone?

Also, what if I miss the connection in Slough - it's just a case of 'take the next train', right?

- For Paddington - Bath:
Almost the same scenario, but both ticket and seat reservation are for Paddington-Bath, with a seat assigned on the train. Will I really have that seat? For example, if someone has a completely flexible ticket, how will he know that the seat is reserved - should I just go over and shove him out? :p

- Are trains often delayed?

- Is getting to the station 5 minutes before departure enough?

I'm pretty sure those are all my questions. Thank you very very much, everyone :)

Almost the same scenario, but both ticket and seat reservation are for Paddington-Bath, with a seat assigned on the train. Will I really have that seat? For example, if someone has a completely flexible ticket, how will he know that the seat is reserved - should I just go over and shove him out? :p

- Are trains often delayed?

- Is getting to the station 5 minutes before departure enough?Your reserved seat will be tagged. On FGW they still use cards inserted in the top of the seat. Some other operators have electronic displays in the overhead rack. If someone's in your seat, just show the reservation (yours and the one on the train); I've never known anyone not move but sometimes a compromise can be reached if it's a couple/family.

There can be engineering works on weekends, but the FGW main line is usually OK. 5 minutes is ample lead time.

Permitted routes are even more of a hornet's nest. There is a hugely complex document called the Routeing Guide that gives full details, and I suggest you read it if you are suffering from particularly acute insomnia. On the plus side, you can use it to save yourself a fortune with some creative routings...

OP - you wont have a routing [routeing] problem with your journeys.

But generally, for "anytime" tickets (not for specific trains): "Route: any permitted" is ambiguous, especially for non-native English speakers.

It could mean:
1. Any route is permitted; or
2. Any route which is permitted.

In fact it means the latter. As stut says, there is a weighty tome which defines the permissions. Until recently (I can't find it now!) the National Rail website also summarised this as "valid via any reasonable route".

This used to be the old British Rail (pre-privatisation) approach. Now things have to be far more detailed to facilitate division of revenues between the Train Operating Companies.

From a passenger perspective - don't worry about it.

Just to add, for your Paddington/Bath trip it sounds like you have a ticket which specifies a particular train - that means the ticket is ONLY valid on that train (unless that train gets cancelled in which case you'll be re-accomodated). However you aren't obliged to sit in your reserved seat.

Pad/Slough/Pad -they sometimes sell tickets with 'seat reservations' on trains which don't actually have reserved seating, you might have one of these. If so you can sit where you like and if the ticket doesn't specify a specific train you can catch whichever train you like.

Windsor/Slough - yes no problems if you miss your train, just jump on the next one

5 minutes is normally ample time but I'd i'd allow 10 at Paddington/Waterloo/Victoria as those are big stations and you may have to walk a fair way to get to your platform.

As Wallybird says delays aren't normally a problem, trains do sometimes gain/lose a couple of minutes here and there but very few get seriously delayed (Great Western, like most UK Train operators, achieves high 90%s of trains running within 10 minutes of their scheduled time)

As Wallybird says delays aren't normally a problem, trains do sometimes gain/lose a couple of minutes here and there but very few get seriously delayed (Great Western, like most UK Train operators, achieves high 90%s of trains running within 10 minutes of their scheduled time)There is some fudging of the figures, though. A train is considered 'on time' based on its arrival at its final destination, even if it's delayed quite a bit en route then makes up time later on. Train companies are wise to this, so pad out their schedules by adding extra minutes between the last and final stop.
Still though, it does mean you're likely to arrive when by when they say you will!

Your reserved seat will be tagged. On FGW they still use cards inserted in the top of the seat. Some other operators have electronic displays in the overhead rack. If someone's in your seat, just show the reservation (yours and the one on the train); I've never known anyone not move but sometimes a compromise can be reached if it's a couple/family.

There can be engineering works on weekends, but the FGW main line is usually OK. 5 minutes is ample lead time.
All trips are during weekdays so I should be fine. Thanks :)

OP - you wont have a routing [routeing] problem with your journeys.

But generally, for "anytime" tickets (not for specific trains): "Route: any permitted" is ambiguous, especially for non-native English speakers.

It could mean:
1. Any route is permitted; or
2. Any route which is permitted.

In fact it means the latter. As stut says, there is a weighty tome which defines the permissions. Until recently (I can't find it now!) the National Rail website also summarised this as "valid via any reasonable route".

This used to be the old British Rail (pre-privatisation) approach. Now things have to be far more detailed to facilitate division of revenues between the Train Operating Companies.

From a passenger perspective - don't worry about it.
I kind of figured it would be the latter when seeing the restriction. Anyway, I'll just stick to the easiest.

Just to add, for your Paddington/Bath trip it sounds like you have a ticket which specifies a particular train - that means the ticket is ONLY valid on that train (unless that train gets cancelled in which case you'll be re-accomodated). However you aren't obliged to sit in your reserved seat.

Pad/Slough/Pad -they sometimes sell tickets with 'seat reservations' on trains which don't actually have reserved seating, you might have one of these. If so you can sit where you like and if the ticket doesn't specify a specific train you can catch whichever train you like.

Windsor/Slough - yes no problems if you miss your train, just jump on the next one

5 minutes is normally ample time but I'd i'd allow 10 at Paddington/Waterloo/Victoria as those are big stations and you may have to walk a fair way to get to your platform.

As Wallybird says delays aren't normally a problem, trains do sometimes gain/lose a couple of minutes here and there but very few get seriously delayed (Great Western, like most UK Train operators, achieves high 90%s of trains running within 10 minutes of their scheduled time)

Indeed, Pad-Bath is for a specific train. Will I get any notification of the train being cancelled? If it is, will I automatically receive new tickets or will I have to go to the ticket counter?

Why do they give out seat reservation cards if they literally don't mean anything then, on Pad-Slough? I can just discard them I guess?

I'm quite familiar with Victoria and Paddington (well, the GEX and HEX platforms), so I know their size - I'm not the kind who does close calls anyway :)

I thought FGW had quite a terrible reputation - 'Worst Late Western' for example. Anyway, if the train is early (for example arriving early at Slough on the way to Paddington), will it depart early? Or to schedule?

Just want to know every possible scenario! Thanks a lot. :)

There is some fudging of the figures, though. A train is considered 'on time' based on its arrival at its final destination, even if it's delayed quite a bit en route then makes up time later on. Train companies are wise to this, so pad out their schedules by adding extra minutes between the last and final stop.
Still though, it does mean you're likely to arrive when by when they say you will!
No problem. :)

I thought FGW had quite a terrible reputation - 'Worst Late Western' for example. Anyway, if the train is early (for example arriving early at Slough on the way to Paddington), will it depart early? Or to schedule?


IME, a train that arrives at an intermediate stop early will be held until its scheduled departure. (Not that this is terribly common, but it can happen with some long-distance routes that experience a fair amount of padding like the East Coast Main Line.)

Do note that some (most?) TOCs explicitly declare that doors close 30 seconds prior to scheduled departure, so don't be making an absolute last minute mad dash.

On the subject of tickets to Windsor, being based in SW4, I always have gone from Clapham Junction on the SWT service to Windsor & Eton Riverside. I just put London-Windsor into the National Rail site and was astounded to see that the faster Paddington-Slough-Windsor & Eton Central service is £1.10 cheaper for an off-peak day return than the SWT service out of Waterloo. How on earth does that make any sense? I thought you were supposed to pay a premium for going on fast trains, not for taking poky trains that stop every four minutes or so.

On the subject of tickets to Windsor, being based in SW4, I always have gone from Clapham Junction on the SWT service to Windsor & Eton Riverside. I just put London-Windsor into the National Rail site and was astounded to see that the faster Paddington-Slough-Windsor & Eton Central service is £1.10 cheaper for an off-peak day return than the SWT service out of Waterloo. How on earth does that make any sense? I thought you were supposed to pay a premium for going on fast trains, not for taking poky trains that stop every four minutes or so.

Welcome to the world of fare anomalies - it depends on several factors, not least which TOC sets the fare (FGW for Paddington to W&E Central; SWT for Waterloo to W&E Riverside).

Some of the more anoraky forums virtually make a living out of weeding out and exploiting these anomalies. ;)

Do note that some (most?) TOCs explicitly declare that doors close 30 seconds prior to scheduled departure, so don't be making an absolute last minute mad dash.

On the subject of tickets to Windsor, being based in SW4, I always have gone from Clapham Junction on the SWT service to Windsor & Eton Riverside. I just put London-Windsor into the National Rail site and was astounded to see that the faster Paddington-Slough-Windsor & Eton Central service is £1.10 cheaper for an off-peak day return than the SWT service out of Waterloo. How on earth does that make any sense? I thought you were supposed to pay a premium for going on fast trains, not for taking poky trains that stop every four minutes or so.

Guess that's how I decided to take that train!

Re the 30 seconds, I'm also used to that - HEX and GEX do the same. As I said, I don't usually take risks!

Why do they give out seat reservation cards if they literally don't mean anything then, on Pad-Slough? I can just discard them I guess?

If you got two tickets for the same train, and that second ticket is the seat reservation, check if it says "Valid only with XXXX" - then you definitely need both tickets.

I had a whole bunch of tickets (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WExjbX_5hg4/T8TqAugQ7vI/AAAAAAAACtQ/Cw8a4fiwzZI/s749/IMAG0631.jpg)last week for my EDI-Morpeth daily commute and the guard always stamped the seat reservation one, regardless of where I sat.

There's also the situation where you can be tied to a single train, but not have a booked seat. You'll get a reservation, but the seat will have an asterisk. In this case, you still need to carry the reservation, as it shows you're entitled to be on that train.

The rule of thumb is that, if you have a ticket of type "Advance" then you need to carry a reservation with you. You'll normally see something like "Valid Only With Reservation(s)" noted at the very top of the ticket.

There are very few occasions where you are obliged to sit in your reserved seat, although strictly speaking you are supposed to.

On the Windsor journey - the other advantage of going on FGW is that W&E Central is marginally better placed in the town, and the complex that's been built up in the forms station buildings is rather pleasant.

Basically, my Pad-Bath-Pad tickets are Advance, for specific trains, and I have both a ticket and a seat reservation ticket with a seat assigned, with the annotation 'only valid with ticket xxxxx'.

To try and clear up the Pad-Slough-Windsor and back tickets (I'll only talk about the outbound as the return has the same situation).

One Off-Peak Day Return London-Windsor "Any permitted route"
One Seat Reservation London-Slough with no seat assigned (*) but 'valid at 11:20 on 21 June')

So I guess it isn't Off-Peak Day Return but more Advance - i.e. I can't take any train, but only those printed on the seat reservation? The ticket doesn't mention 'valid only with reservations'.

This is getting complicated :p

Thanks :)

Basically, my Pad-Bath-Pad tickets are Advance, for specific trains, and I have both a ticket and a seat reservation ticket with a seat assigned, with the annotation 'only valid with ticket xxxxx'.

To try and clear up the Pad-Slough-Windsor and back tickets (I'll only talk about the outbound as the return has the same situation).

One Off-Peak Day Return London-Windsor "Any permitted route"
One Seat Reservation London-Slough with no seat assigned (*) but 'valid at 11:20 on 21 June')

So I guess it isn't Off-Peak Day Return but more Advance - i.e. I can't take any train, but only those printed on the seat reservation? The ticket doesn't mention 'valid only with reservations'.

This is getting complicated :p

Thanks :)

You have an off-peak day return which is not an advance ticket, and is available on that day on any train in the off-peak period. The seat reservation is a bit of a red herring - did you specifically ask for one for this train? As you see, it doesn't give you a specific seat, so is pretty worthless.

It was offered when I booked on thetrainline.com - so I took it (I guess that assigned is better than not??)

So basically I can use any train, and if I get on the train I originally booked then I get a seat?

It was offered when I booked on thetrainline.com - so I took it (I guess that assigned is better than not??)

So basically I can use any train, and if I get on the train I originally booked then I get a seat?

Yes, you can use any train (in the off-peak period); no, you aren't guaranteed a seat - the "reservation" is meaningless in this case.

I wouldn't be concerned about it for such a short journey.

Thank you :)

Is it possible to upgrade the Bath (Advance) tickets to First class?

I don't think so, if it is a weekend you may be able to get a 'weekend first' upgrade which will be about 10/15 quid (unless it's gone up recently). Otherwise you can pay to upgrade to first but you're basically buying a new first class ticket so it's very expensive.

I'll forget about it then!

Out of curiosity, are weekend first upgrades often available?

Oh yes, all the time - if there's a free seat, there's an upgrade available (you just have to sit there). But the train companies' rules vary - some don't allow it on Advance tickets, some don't care, some allow upgrades to be bought before travel for non-Advance tickets, but space-available only for Advance, etc, etc...

Bear in mind that weekend First Class generally excludes some of the soft product from the weekday (e.g. inclusive food, table service, etc) or has it reduced.

Paddington has electronic barriers which you push your ticket through (assuming it's small and has orange borders at the top and bottom). You need to go through the barriers to enter and to exit the platform areas. Also be careful that you have the right platform at Paddington as all the platforms have individual barriers.


Not all of the tracks at Paddington have barriers, and in some cases you can enter from one and get to another track. When I went Paddington-Oxford 2 weeks ago, the outgoing track had barriers (you put your ticket in the machine to gain access). Oxford did not have barriers, but had someone there checking tickets as we left. The incoming track at Paddington didn't have barriers.


Victoria and Waterloo will certainly have ticket inspections, I'd assume with the same style of barriers. Vauxhall and Hampton Court almost certainly have barriers, Hackbridge i've never been to and have no idea about and Windsor i'm not sure about but there will most likely be some type of inspection.

I went to Hampton Court on Fri May 25, and unless they've added them since, there are no barriers. There is a place to touch in/out if you use an Oyster card.
Going to Hampton Court from Waterloo (and return), there were no ticket inspections either way.



During a recent 12 day stay in London, we did a variety of daytrips by train... Wimbledon, Dover, Oxford, and Hampton Court. They checked tickets going to Dover but not the return (the conductor made a big thing because someone was on the wrong train, and it is a long ride from London Bridge to the next station). Tickets weren't checked at all to Wimbledon or Hampton Court. I think they were checked to Oxford, but I don't remember on the return (the train was extremely late, at least 45 min late getting into Paddington).
I found open tickets (not attached to specific trains) were sometimes not much more, and allowed more freedom to take whatever trains to/from (if it is raining somewhere you may want to leave early).

The National Rail website sometimes priced tickets that were tough to actually book. In one case I booked through the Virgin Rail website, although the trip was on another carrier.

Why do they give out seat reservation cards if they literally don't mean anything then, on Pad-Slough? I can just discard them I guess?

If your ticket is not of the Advance type and the train is an HST, which some fast services are, you will have a reserved seat that you may use if you wish. If the train is busy you may be thankful for this. If it shows "no seat assigned" in this case it sounds like an issuing error.

If the ticket is of the Advance type, you must use that train and seat (the latter not always being enforced).

To add to the "off-peak" thing it is also peak approx 1600-1900 on some routes, e.g. the ones out of Euston.

Neil

Not all of the tracks at Paddington have barriers, and in some cases you can enter from one and get to another track. When I went Paddington-Oxford 2 weeks ago, the outgoing track had barriers (you put your ticket in the machine to gain access). Oxford did not have barriers, but had someone there checking tickets as we left. The incoming track at Paddington didn't have barriers.

Only platform 1 at Paddington is unbarriered now, if I recall. The reason was access to the shops, toilets, taxi rank and offices. Now the taxi rank has moved, I can see them barriering it, as the shops and toilets don't go far along the platform and some other arrangement can no doubt be made with the offices.

Oxford always used to be barriered, have they been removed?

With regard to where to book, it's usually best to use the site of the main operator for your journey as sometimes they have extra discounts. Never use the Trainline as they charge extra fees that pretty much none of the others do (even some train operator sites that are actually run by the Trainline under contract!) - and never use any site that charges a credit/debit card fee or a fee for collection from the ticket machine, as there are plenty of sites that don't do this irritating low-cost-airline-like practice.

Neil

Oxford had barriers in March. Maybe they were being human operated on one occasion, they always seem to be very well staffed?

I think p8 at Paddington is still unbarriered as that is access to/from the Hammersmith and City.

Pacer142 is your username a train reference?

Oxford had barriers in March. Maybe they were being human operated on one occasion, they always seem to be very well staffed?

I think p8 at Paddington is still unbarriered as that is access to/from the Hammersmith and City.

Ah, you might be right there. That would also be an issue with barriering 1. That said, so long as the barriers accepted Tube tickets and had Oyster pads this probably wouldn't be an issue.

Pacer142 is your username a train reference?

Funnily enough ;)

Neil

P8 also has access to Paddington Basin, and there may be a historical right of way there.

P6-7 are also unbarriered, but only used for HEX trains.

However, with the overbridge being outside the ticketed area, and the gates to it very poorly manned, I'm not sure how effective the barriers really are.

It was offered when I booked on thetrainline.com - so I took it (I guess that assigned is better than not??)

So basically I can use any train, and if I get on the train I originally booked then I get a seat?

More or less. You aren't guaranteed a seat if * and *** appear under "Coach" and "Seat" on your reservation.

For future reference, however, never use thetrainline.com as it charges completely avoidable booking fees. Use any of the 19 UK train operating companies' websites, or redspottedhanky.com instead.

If a ticket (not a reservation) has the notation "BOOKDTRAINONLY" in the bottom right, it means it is only valid on a specific train, which train will be specified on a reservation coupon. A reservation coupon that is for a mandatory train will bear the notation at the top "VALID ONLY WITH TICKET #####", whereas a reservation coupon for a voluntary train will bear the notation "VALID ONLY WITH TRAVEL TICKET".

Thanks a million everyone! All questions exhausted ;)

Glad to have been of service. Hope you have a great trip

If a ticket (not a reservation) has the notation "BOOKDTRAINONLY" in the bottom right, it means it is only valid on a specific train, which train will be specified on a reservation coupon. A reservation coupon that is for a mandatory train will bear the notation at the top "VALID ONLY WITH TICKET #####", whereas a reservation coupon for a voluntary train will bear the notation "VALID ONLY WITH TRAVEL TICKET".

Which is, I guess, as clear as mud to the casual railway user. [The reality; not your explanation].

But regarding the "reservation" for the London-Slough section of the London-W&E Central off-peak day return ticket that the OP received: the reservation-with-no-seat means diddly squat. It's a (basic) flaw in the system which - apparently - they can't be bothered to fix.

Agreed.

Great. I'll keep the 'seat reservations' for that train just for the ride.