Hop on to thetrainline.com (thetrainline.com)

Member Name: cerys82

Product:	thetrainline.com
Date:	22/07/09 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simple, efficient

Disadvantages: Expensive credit card charges

Thetrainline.com is a dedicated website for the purchasing of train tickets.

Once you are registered, the actual purchasing of the tickets is pretty straightforward. You enter the basic date details, when you want to leave and the stations, of which the site will anticipate your choice. It then searches for any train times that match your criteria, you select the time that you want and then view a list of price options from bog standard to ridiculously expensive first class, and then you go straight through to entering your payment details. Be warned that it is better to buy on debit card than on credit card - as the extra charge is only 50p on debit as opposed to £2.00 and upwards on credit.

There are various delivery options depending on how urgent your purchase is. However, I have purchased 'normal' delivery tickets at lunchtime one day and received them in the post the next day. There is also the option of picking up the tickets you ordered at the station on the day, which is ideal if ordering at short notice - if the station that you have has the machine that can facilitate this. All you need to do is turn up at the station and put the card that you have paid with and it will be printed out there for you.

From my personal experience, this site is at its best when booking ahead. Most of the train journeys that I take are long distance, and I know about them a few months ahead. One feature which I take particular advantage of is their email alert system. All you have to do is enter your planned day of arrival and return on a certain page of the site prior to 3 months before the journey and they will email you when these tickets become available, thereby hopefully making you more likely to get the cheapest tickets available.

Another useful feature on the site is the "Best Fare Finder" where you can enter a route on the system on a certain day and it tells you the cheapest fares available in vague timescales, you then have to click again to find out the exact time which offers the cheapest fare.

The site also features on some cashback sites, although there is a minimum spend of £15 required.

Ultimately it is definitely in my personal list of favourite and most useful websites.

Summary: Easy to use travel website