Railways in general

There are several websites where you can book train tickets in advance, but one excels. This is www.qjump.com The site is very attractive to look at, straightforward, fast, and virtually idiot-proof. As you go through the booking process, various checks are carried out which make mistakes very unlikely. You key in your date of travel, the stations of departure and arrival, and the approximate times you require. Unfortunately you can't buy an open ticket for departure, but on a return ticket the return journey can be left open. On some trains you are able to reserve a seat at no cost, elect for smoking or non-smoking, select which way you wish to face. ...  Read the complete review

There's probably nothing as disheartening as standing on a platform waiting for a later train to arrive. Since the Hatfield crash and the introduction of speed restrictions the passenger's lot has not be a happy one. According to the Rail authorities things are getting better and the network gets a massive overhaul. So are things improving for the train traveller? The latest figures say that they are, however as any regular passenger will tell you delays and cancellations are commonplace. Latest figures from the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) show the number of trains running on time and customer satisfaction is on the increase. 80.9% of trains ran on ...  Read the complete review

Recently I have been using the railways more and more. Previously, as a company car driver, the Chancellor of the Exchequer positively dissuaded me from doing so due to the swingeing Income Tax penalties incurred if you failed to cover more than 18,000 business miles per year. The consequence was that I drove everywhere even when I really didn't want to, such as into London. Now, the tax situation has changed dramatically. Mileage is no longer a factor. Now, it's all about The Ecology. The "greener" your car (at least as far as CO2 emissions are concerned) the less you pay. I did the calculations and decided that it no longer made sense ...  Read the complete review

There's something romantic about travel by train, and there are some great railway adventures to be had throughout the world. Commuters reading this might disagree, as they sleep walk to work every morning on overcrowded trains and return in the evening to find their favourite window seat taken by a grubby traveller who hasn't showered for a week. I've been the suite-and-tied, nine-to-five commuter and I've been the curious traveller. And I prefer being the traveller in need of shampoo and hot water; sorry if I was in your seat. Maybe I'll cover some of the great railway adventures in future articles, but this space is ...  Read the complete review

Thats the sound that Trains make. No really, they do. >looks for the men in white coats< I'm tired of trains. It's a simple fact. For the past, well, since september shall we say, I have been FORCED to rely upon the really uselessness of trains in general. My boyfriend now lives in Portsmouth, (hopefully not for much longer) and to see him I have to buy trains tickets. That can be the most stressful part of travelling. I wander up to the place where the smug middle aged man sits, watching you approach, and I timidly hold up my young persons card and ask for a return to Fratton station in Portsmouth. Im only going for the weekend. Im ...  Read the complete review