About my journey
This page is for people who travel by train or want to know more about the services available
Note: RDG is not responsible for the content or appearance of any linked site and cannot be held liable for information posted onto any other site.
Tickets and timetables
The National Rail Enquiries website contains a number of resources to help you plan your journey:
When you buy a ticket to travel on the rail network, you make an agreement with the train companies whose trains the ticket allows you to use. The National Rail Conditions of Travel summarises the key rights and obligations within that agreement, and the minimum level of service you are entitled to expect.
You may also be interested in understanding more about fares, including where your ticket money goes and our calls for reform.
Other useful information:
- Days Out Guide website - providing ideas on what to do when you arrive, and contains lots of 2-for-1 vouchers
- Passenger, freight and track services - listing the organisations involved in Britain's rail industry
- Punctuality on the national rail network - detailing the percentage of trains arriving on time
- Safety on the railway - what we are doing to keep you safe
Railcards and passes
There are a number of Railcards that can get you discounts on train travel, if you meet the conditions. Many of them can now be bought as digital railcards, stored on your phone. The national ones are listed here:
- 16-25 Railcard website
- 26-30 Railcard website
- Family and Friends Railcard website
- HM Forces Railcard website
- Network Railcard website
- Senior Railcard website
- Two Together Railcard website
There are also international Railcards:
- BritRail Pass – for those coming to Britain
- InterRail Pass - for Britons who want to travel around Europe by train
Accessibility and rail travel
The National Rail Enquiries website contains links and advice for disabled passengers and their carers. It also contains a list of train operators and the contact details for their Passenger Assist teams.
The national Freephone number for Passenger Assist is: 0800 022 3720. If you know which train company you will be travelling with, you can contact their Passenger Assist team directly.
If you meet the conditions, you may be eligible for a Disabled Persons Railcard, entitling you and your carer to a third off most rail travel.
Transport for All is a group that lobbies for the rights of disabled passengers.
You may also be interested in our blog post on how the industry is working together to build an accessible railway for all.
Stations and onward travel
If you are travelling by bus or bike once you arrive at a station, you may find these links useful:
- PlusBus - a discounted bus ticket that you buy with your train ticket
- PlusBike - a one-stop shop for information about your combined cycle and rail journey, from National Rail Enquiries.
- Bike and Go - a bike hire scheme from participating train stations
Station travel plans detail how stations should develop links to other sustainable transport options, and the national Cycle-Rail Awards reward innovations in cycle provision linked to railway stations.
The RDG is also looking at how we can improve stations and their facilities. Find out more about the Stations work stream.
Rail consumer groups
The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) is a federation of over 50 community rail partnerships and rail promotion groups.
From November 2018, there is an independent Rail Ombudsman service that you can use if your complaint hasn't been dealt with satisfactorily by the train company:
Website: www.railombudsman.org
Telephone: 0330 094 0362
Textphone: 0330 094 0363
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Post: FREEPOST – RAIL OMBUDSMAN
There are also several groups that lobby on behalf of passengers:
