Title: Rail travel in the United Kingdom - Wikitravel
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Rail travel in the United Kingdom
Introduction
Structure
Passenger Rail Companies
Historical background
Most scenic routes
Services
Train speeds
Rural services
Regional, local and commuter lines
Inter-city lines
Sleeper trains
London to Scotland
London to Penzance
Planning your trip
Connections between stations
Sunday travel
Overcrowding
Buying tickets
Classes of travel
Peak and off-peak travelling
Ticket types
Discounts
Railcards
Season tickets
Visitor rail passes
Ranger and Rover tickets
Ticket add-ons
Using the train
At the station
Boarding the train
Finding your seat
Travelling with luggage
Smoking and alcohol
Catering
Stations
Major stations of London
Major regional stations
Trains
InterCity 125
InterCity 225
Pendolino
Heritage and steam railways
International connections
Eurostar
Airports with rail stations
Seaports with railway stations
Stay safe
In the event of an emergency

Content: However, the complex system of privatised train operators serving an effectively state-owned network of stations and lines has resulted in a complex fare and ticket system that can be confusing to the visitor. The structure of the industry is still very much in a state of change as a result of a controversial privatisation programme in the mid 1990s, as train franchises routinely change hands between operators and routes reorganised to fit the needs of the travelling public. Despite this, the network provides seamless journeys even if travelling on trains serviced by multiple operators – tickets can be purchased from any station in Great Britain to any other, irrespective of train company. This guide does not cover rail travel in Northern Ireland, which operates its own state-owned system called Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) which is separate from National Rail and even uses a different track gauge. NIR is owned and controlled by the government of the Northern Irish Executive in Belfast. It is well-integrated with local and provincial bus services operated by Translink and trains in the Republic of Ireland operated by Iarnród Éireann. For more details on rail travel in Northern Ireland, see Rail travel in Ireland . The National Rail website provides timetables and a journey planner, which can be found at at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk . Structure
The iconic double-arrow symbol signifies a railway station or the rail network throughout Britain. It appears on all stations, road signs and maps.