July 7, 2025 • 47 mins
Doug and Tracy reveal the 15 most common mistakes travellers make when planning UK train journeys, drawing from their extensive experience helping thousands plan stress-free rail trips across Britain.
• Getting advice from non-experts who share outdated or incorrect information
• Travelling on Sundays when engineering works and staffing issues cause the most disruptions
• Bringing too much luggage that becomes difficult to manage on trains and in stations
• Not booking assistance services at least 24 hours in advance when needed
• Overlooking different ticket types and railcards that could provide significant savings
• Arriving at stations without enough time to navigate, find platforms, and board comfortably
• Failing to reserve seats on long-distance journeys, risking standing for hours
• Not using helpful apps like National Rail Enquiries to track real-time train information
• Forgetting to plan for food and drink when catering services may be limited
• Losing track of belongings in busy station environments
• Relying on onboard Wi-Fi which can be patchy, especially at high speeds
• Not planning the onward journey from arrival stations to final destinations
• Missing opportunities to explore scenic alternative routes between destinations
• Not allowing enough time for connections between trains
• Booking international flights on the same day as long-distance UK train journeys
For more help planning your UK train adventure, check out Doug's "Guide to UK Train Travel" ebook or book a personalised itinerary consultation.
📝 Show Notes - Episode 157
🎧 Listen to next
- Episode #151 - Essential UK Train Travel Tips + Q&A
- Episode #145 - Exploring Scotland by Train: Edinburgh to Inverness by train
- Episode #43 - Unravelling the mysteries of train travel in the UK
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Tracy Collins (00:00):
Planning to travel the UK by train.
In this episode, Doug and Ishare the 15 most common
mistakes we see travellers makeand how you can avoid them.
From ticket tips to travel daypitfalls, this is one you don't
want to miss.
Intro (00:14):
Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast.
Your host is the founder of theUK Travel Planning website,
Tracy Collins.
In this podcast, Tracy sharesdestination guides, travel tips
and itinerary ideas, as well asinterviews with a variety of
guests who share their knowledgeand experience of UK travel to
help you plan your perfect UKvacation.
(00:36):
Join us as we explore the UKfrom cosmopolitan cities to
quaint villages, from historiccastles to beautiful islands,
and from the picturesquecountryside to seaside towns.
Tracy Collins (00:53):
Hi and welcome to episode 157 of the UK Travel
Planner Podcast.
So this week I am once againjoined by Doug.
Doug Collins (01:00):
Hi everybody, Great to be back.
Tracy Collins (01:02):
Who is here, as always, to talk all things
trains.
Now, of those of you who are inour Facebook group or have done
a consult with us or havefollowed along on a previous
podcast, you will know that Dougworked in the UK rail industry
for over 25 years and he'stravelled on every single
national rail train line acrossthe country.
So through our consultation,facebook group and our e-book,
(01:24):
we help thousands of travellersplan stress-free UK rail trips,
and today we're sharing the 15most common mistakes we see
people make, especially if it'stheir first time.
Doug Collins (01:36):
That's right.
Whether it's booking the wrongtype of ticket or not,
considering the risk oftravelling on a Sunday or just
bringing way too much luggage,we've seen it all yep.
Tracy Collins (01:44):
So stick around for this episode to find out
what those mistakes are, thoseput falls are, and so you can
avoid them and travel smarter.
Now and remember, if you wantmore help, we've got our guide
to uk train travel ebook, whichdoug wrote, and we have
personalized itineraryconsultations with doug to help
make your planning easier, and Iwill put links in the show
(02:06):
notes to both of those so youcan find the ebook and, if you
want, book a session with Dougto help you plan your real
itinerary around the UK.
So we're going to go througheach of the 15 mistakes one by
one and have a little bit of adiscussion about why it's a
mistake and what you can do tofix it.
So the first mistake that wesee people doing is getting too
(02:29):
much advice from non-expertsonline.
Doug Collins (02:33):
That's true.
If I had a pound for every timeI have heard somebody told me,
or I've seen somewhere, or I'vejust read somewhere so and such,
I would be very rich by now.
The problem is, of course, youcan overload with information.
There can be too muchinformation and unfortunately
(02:54):
there's a lot of information outthere that is incorrect,
inaccurate, partly or completelywrong, and so a lot of people
are overwhelmed before we'veeven heard from them.
Tracy Collins (03:02):
Yeah, that is true, they're posing questions
and you can.
Doug Collins (03:11):
I was going to say you can hear in what they write
down, but you can actually come.
Tracy Collins (03:12):
It comes across as they are totally overwhelmed
completely overwhelmed, stressedout and actually I will say at
this point as well that and wedo say this actually quite a lot
on the facebook group as wellis that we will see the same
query, um, about travelgenerally in the uk, and it will
be put in five differentfacebook groups now and what
happens is you get I don't know50 responses and it becomes
(03:36):
really, really confusing.
And you know it's important,doug has this specific you have
a facebook group just for changeour travel and that's right.
Doug Collins (03:45):
I encourage people to join that one because that
is myself and I have twomoderators also involved in the
the rail industry in the UK.
We have that great knowledgebetween the three of us myself
and took my two friends, themoderators.
We cover every single aspect ofUK passenger travel and what I
don't know, they know and whatthey don't know I know and we've
(04:08):
covered it so many times.
Questions have come up.
We've not had yet Torchwood hada question that one of us has
not known the answer to.
Tracy Collins (04:17):
So that's a you know.
It kind of reinforces thatdon't ask or try to get
information from people whodon't necessarily know about the
rail industry.
Go to the Facebook group orDoug's written a book.
Doug Collins (04:28):
Yeah, I've written the e-book A Guide to UK Train
Travel, which covers everythingyou need to know.
Plain and simple, it coverseverything you need to know, and
a lot of the information that'sout there people read, hear
speak about is well-intentionedand I'm not questioning that.
But what I am questioning is alot of the content is inaccurate
or out of date.
(04:49):
So, yes, you need to be talkingto the experts and obviously
you also offer an itineraryconsult as well.
Tracy Collins (04:57):
So I know we do a video one.
So if somebody has questions orthey've got an itinerary and
they just want a bit offine-tuning and want to ask you
questions about traveling the ukby train, you can do a video
consult.
So you send us your itineraryand then doug will record a
video response to you and sendit back to you, also with a
google doc with with informationin it.
Doug Collins (05:14):
If you want access , doug, you can book a
one-to-one session that's right,I don't bite, I'm quite not,
I'm quite normal and, believe itor not, trace about me.
I thoroughly enjoy talkingabout trains, so that is not a
problem.
Tracy Collins (05:26):
Yeah, so absolutely, he loves to do that.
So that's the first problem,but we've solved it for you.
So we will put links to all ofthose resources in the website.
And, of course, don't forget,we do have other podcast
episodes about train travel andwe also have the website, where
we have a whole train section.
So do make use of all that wealso, if you subscribe to our
(05:48):
newsletter, you will receiveinformation about train travel.
So we've got a huge amount ofresources that you can use.
Just stick with us.
We know what we're talkingabout.
We know all about train travel.
Doug Collins (05:57):
That's it.
We'll see you around.
Tracy Collins (05:58):
Right.
So now the second mistake wesee people make, and this is one
I know you talk about all thetime in the Facebook group.
So tell us what it is.
Doug Collins (06:09):
Yes, it's Sunday travel, plain and simple.
The Sunday train travel in theUK is at best unreliable, at
best unreliable.
You have some good days wherethings were entirely to plan,
but over many, many, many yearsof myself traveling and
commuting to and from work,sundays was always the day that
(06:30):
created most problems.
It's a question of risk.
The risk on a Sunday ofengineering work impacting your
journey, the risk on a Sunday ofbeing short staffed, the risk
on a Sunday of diversions andcancellations is much higher
than the other six days.
So, unless you're traveling ashorter distance, really not the
best of ideas to travel a longdistance, because the trains for
(06:51):
some bazaaries are also veryfull, because on a sunday
timetable there is less trainsrunning on that day, and so it
stands to reason there's gonnabe more people travel.
Yeah, but it's not the idealday to travel because there's
engineering works, they have towork.
Yeah, but it's not the idealday to travel because it's
engineering works, they have towork.
At some point I was involvedwith this myself overnight work,
and overnight work can be on afriday, saturday and sunday
(07:14):
night, and sometimes it overruns, sometimes it goes into a
saturday, goes into a sunday.
So sunday is the day where therisk is highest of cancellations
and delays.
So if it's possible in youritinerary to avoid the Sunday
travel, do so.
Now I have to add to that itgoes without saying.
Sometimes it is unavoidable,sometimes you have no choice,
(07:37):
sometimes you've just got to doit.
In that case, I would advisetry and travel in the middle of
the day.
Make sure you book your seatreservations and other things
which will come across mistakesthat people make.
But do a search.
The topic of conversationsregards sunday travel I have
covered so many times on ourfacebook group seven times, I
(07:59):
think it's the most common umthing that we we comment on when
people ask a question.
Tracy Collins (08:08):
In fact you've solved that problem many times
when we've done itineraryconsults where people are trying
to juggle days and we'll go notry and avoid particularly a
long trip on a Sunday becausepotentially it can be
problematic and I know whenwe've spoken in trip reports
when people have had problems itis tended to be around the
Sunday travel.
Doug Collins (08:24):
It is because I think what people do in their
itineraries they see Sunday is anice, convenient day for
traveling between places yeahand it's a nice, easy day for
travel.
Sometimes it, you know, can beon the roads.
Certainly it can be less travel, less, less people traveling.
But Sunday by train is the dayI would avoid okay, I think
(08:47):
we've covered that one reallywell.
Tracy Collins (08:48):
Um, so that's the mistake traveling on a sunday
and the workaround is to try andavoid traveling on a sunday if
possible, or I could access themiddle of the day those sort of
strategies put in place.
Tip number three, or mistakenumber three, I should say, is
bringing too much luggage, and Iknow this can be really, really
difficult, but honestly, Ithink you really need to
(09:12):
consider, if you're planning atrain uh itinerary around the uk
is to consider how much luggageyou're going to have yeah, so
it's easy to bring too muchluggage because you know if you
can carry a lot more luggagethan the next person, you're not
carrying too much luggage,because if you can carry a lot
more luggage than the nextperson, you're not carrying too
much luggage, plain and simple.
Doug Collins (09:28):
But it has to be what you can safely manage and
lift onto trains and put ontoluggage racks and stacks or
behind seats.
So it's what works for you,plain and simple.
Really, because there islimited space on board trains,
and particularly the trains fortrain stations themselves, you
(09:50):
know, we know from our ownexperiences that the lifts on
the escalators may not beworking yeah, absolutely, and so
you have to be prepared to beable to lift your luggage if
need be yeah, considering, ifyou've got to climb, take it
upstairs, you've got to take itdownstairs, um, are you going to
be able to do that?
Tracy Collins (10:08):
are you going to be able to lift it onto the
train, get it off the train, um,you know.
So that's something that weconsider really carefully.
Now there is a, I guess, onething we would recommend.
For example, if you're startingyour itinerary in london and
ending your real itinerary inlondon, you could actually leave
some of your luggage in a leftluggage in London or in a hotel
if you're going back to the samehotel.
(10:28):
And we've done that in numerousdestinations around the world.
Doug Collins (10:30):
We have done that.
Tracy Collins (10:32):
So that is a possibility, but just try.
I just know that as you travel,the further you travel, when
you've got too much luggage,whatever that looks like for you
, the luggage just becomes apain.
Doug Collins (10:51):
It just becomes something that is just so
stressful.
Tracy Collins (10:52):
It's awful, it is true, and the reality is the
less you carry, the moreenjoyable your real experience.
Yeah, I absolutely agree withthat.
So, uh, mistake number fourthat we see is not booking
assistance if you need it orleaving it too late that's right
.
Doug Collins (11:04):
There is a great passenger assist system settled
in the uk and it works very,very well.
But what you do need to have,you need to make sure you book
that assistance at least really24 hours in advance.
Okay, so the the assistancethat you book.
It takes the form of assistancewith a member of staff helping
(11:27):
you onboard the train andgetting off the train, helping
you to your seat, making sureyour luggage is stowed correctly
and you're comfortable.
Make sure you are comfortablebefore the train goes, before
the train leaves.
The train goes before the trainleaves, so that, if that means,
(11:48):
uh, you're able to walk andthey'll just help you with your
mobility to get on board andonto the seat.
Or it's actually physicalassistance with a wheelchair, in
which case ramps are used toboard trains.
So, but the secret there is ais to be aware that you do need
assistance and acknowledge thefact, and B is actually book it
in good time.
There's a very good page onNational Rail Enquiries actually
(12:11):
gives all the phone numbers youcould possibly need to arrange
that.
Tracy Collins (12:14):
Okay, so we'll link to that in the show notes
as well.
What about if I was arriving ata station and then I had to
change platforms and get ontoanother train?
Will they help assist with that?
Doug Collins (12:23):
Yeah, that's all part of the book.
In advance they will.
You'll include your railitinerary and so what they'll
say is somebody will meet youand say the station concourse at
one, the first station and theywill help you board that train.
They'll take the platform, waitwith you until that train comes
in and then I'll help you boardthe train.
And then you stay in your seatwhen the train arrives at your
(12:46):
next station and somebody with aramp will be there to meet you.
They'll know exactly which door, which carriage you are sitting
in, so it'll help you out tothat one and onto your next
train as well.
Sometimes, if you're usingmultiple train operators, that
is all aligned through thenational rail inquiries.
They will be communicating withthe next service and is that a
(13:08):
free service?
that is a free service okay, sothat's a.
Tracy Collins (13:11):
That's a great one to use.
Doug Collins (13:12):
If you, if you need assistance, make sure that
you book it, yeah it's importantto have your rail tickets
purchased in advance of bookingthe assistance okay, okay, and
again, it's 24 hours.
Tracy Collins (13:23):
Is what you're saying?
Doug Collins (13:23):
yeah I mean you can risk it later on closer to,
but really as a rule of thumb,24 hours is really when you need
to make sure those places,those that that help is in place
.
Okay, cool right.
Tracy Collins (13:35):
So mistake number five, we see, is not exploring
the different different tickettypes and not being aware of all
available rail cards or passes,because these can save you a
lot of money if you know aboutthem that is true and I do have
a lot of sympathy.
Doug Collins (13:49):
Uh, it's taken me years to fully understand all
the different ticket types, thenational rail cards,
availability and the types of,say, brit rail passes.
There's a lot there.
There's a lot to take on board.
There's a lot to get your headaround when you're doing your
research.
So it comes back to the samepoint talk to the experts, talk
to us.
No question you ask.
(14:10):
As regards ticketing, we havenot or have not experienced
before and, as I say, with helpof the two other moderators in
my, our training group, we cananswer every single question.
There's nothing that's gonna beasked that we have not
encountered before well, therejust seemed to be a bit of
confusion.
Tracy Collins (14:26):
I know when we've had questions about the brick
rail pass and then people aretalking about then booking a
ticket that's right.
Doug Collins (14:35):
That comes up quite often, isn't it?
Yeah, um, it's so.
They've done that level ofresearch and quite possibly, as
you said on the first part is,they've talked to somebody,
they've read somewhere, you know, under the impression of that,
yeah, you buy the brick rail andthen you've got to go and buy
more tickets, which sort ofdefeats your business.
Tracy Collins (14:55):
It'd be very expensive way to do things yeah,
it's.
Doug Collins (14:59):
It's those little things that we take for granted
as being obvious, but if youdon't know, it's not obvious at
all.
Tracy Collins (15:04):
Well, it's also if you don't know, you don't
know what you don't knownecessarily.
But I think that there doesseem to be a lot of confusion
around that and I know you'vejust recently published an
article on the websiteexplaining that yeah, that's
right.
Doug Collins (15:15):
So just to sort of clarify as to how Brit Rail
Pass, for example, works, howyou validate it and what
coverage of the Great Britain itactually includes.
Tracy Collins (15:26):
And now, what about information about the
different rail cards?
I know that you've includedthose in your e-book.
Doug Collins (15:32):
Yeah, that's right .
There's quite a few differenttypes of National Rail card and
they are mostly for one for oneyear or bit.
There is a additional ones forthree years and the price of
that is 35 pounds If you qualify.
There's so many different times, just two together.
Rail card.
There's friends and family railcard.
This is the senior rail card,and not to mention the student
(15:53):
rail cards as well, because he'savailable for people not just
in the UK.
Tracy Collins (15:57):
Yeah, I was rail cards as well, because these are
available for people not justin the uk.
Yeah, I was going to ask you.
That I was going to say is thatif I live, if I live in america
or live in australia, like wedo, or live in new zealand or
live in singapore, can I getaccess to those?
Doug Collins (16:05):
yeah, you can you can buy these online before you
arrive, and so what the thenatural rail cards tell you to
do?
You still buy your traintickets, but you are listing the
fact you have a rail cardalready and that will give you a
third off the ticket price,which is really good.
Tracy Collins (16:20):
I remember actually you were doing a small
YouTube video about how to usethat, how to actually purchase a
ticket from the train line ifyou actually have already got a
rail card.
Doug Collins (16:31):
Yeah, that's right .
Tracy Collins (16:32):
Because that's something else we often get
asked in consults.
When we say about you couldqualify, you could buy this rail
card, then there's a bit ofconfusion about then purchasing
a real ticket and then how doyou kind of get the discount.
Doug Collins (16:46):
That's right, and some of the the websites for
purchasing the tickets.
They're not the moststraightforward, so, like the
youtube videos that we have,they explain that visually yeah
because sometimes you look atthese websites and you're
looking all around it and youjust can't find what you're
looking for.
So you need somebody to helpsignpost you to exactly where
you need to be.
Tracy Collins (17:06):
So I will put a link to that YouTube video as
well in the show notes.
Now okay mistake number six isnot arriving at the station
early enough.
And I can attest this one notarriving at the station in early
enough.
And I can attest this one on my, my sister a few years ago, who
arrived, uh, with not enoughtime to spare, thought she had
to get to the station as the,and she kind of waved it bye-bye
(17:30):
on the platform, um.
So this one is something thatyou talk about all of the time,
isn't it about arriving in?
Doug Collins (17:37):
Yeah, it's one of those things that sounds very,
very simple and we would alwaysdo it, but no, it's so easy to
underestimate the time it takesyou to get to that station,
whether it's public transport orrelying on other people, but
also when you get to the station.
Some stations in the UK, asthey are around the world, they
(17:57):
are huge.
Yes, really complicated ifyou've got multiple entrances
and exits.
If you arrive into that mainstation, concourse area,
departure area you don't knowwhere to go.
It's now what, what?
What do we do?
So you've got to make sure youallow yourself so much time,
especially especially if you'vegot plenty of luggage or
traveling with others that mightneed some assistance, or
(18:19):
children.
It's you've just got to relythat added time to get there.
I mean, you maybe want to go tothe shops as well to buy some
refreshments.
So you just got to allow plentyof time to get there.
And the other thing is there'sa security element to that as
well.
You need to be on the ball.
You need to be paying attentionto what you're doing.
So, yeah, the big stations orall stations really, but
(18:42):
particularly the big, bigstations in london like king's
cross, waterloo, victoria,houston give yourself a lot of
time to get there also I wasgoing to say about that, um is,
there is a website that I cansee a plan for each of the train
stations.
Yeah, there certainly is.
The National Rail Enquiries isa very, very good resource when
(19:03):
it comes to looking at stationlayouts, whether that's
entrances, where the taxi rankis, where the shops are, where
the toilets are, where the rampsare, for any accessibility to
aid, accessibility if there'slifts anywhere as well.
It's an incredibly, very goodresource.
Every time look at the nationalrail inquiries, there I seem to
find something different and itis the one go-to side if you
(19:28):
need specific stationinformation because I'm going to
put my neck on the line, Ithink the station information
for every single station inGreat Britain oh, wow, I think
they have.
I mean, some stations arebigger than others, obviously,
but I think even you know mylocal station where I'm from,
burton-on-trent.
It's got all the informationthere.
Tracy Collins (19:48):
Yeah, I think I've checked that before and it
tells you things like if taxisare available.
Doug Collins (19:52):
That's right if there's luggage lockers.
Is there toilets?
Is there disabled toilets there?
Tracy Collins (19:56):
So that's an amazing resource to tap into.
And also, we do have an articleabout London's main train
stations as well on ourLondonTravelPlanningcom website,
which has got photographs ofthe different stations as well,
so it's worth also checking outthat article.
Now, mistake number seven thatwe see is not reserving a seat
(20:17):
on long distance journeys.
Now I highly recommend that youdo this, because sometimes,
honestly, the trains can getincredibly full and you do not
want to end up standing that'sright, um, seat reservations are
free to make in the uk.
Doug Collins (20:31):
When you buy a ticket online through different
operators or open accesscompanies, they should come with
the option to make a seatreservation.
But if you're driving a trainstation and it's very busy
because, let's face it, most ofthe London terminal stations are
very busy so when the platformopens for people to be able to
(20:51):
move down towards the train,there can be a bit of a rush,
and if you've got a seatreserved already, you can go
your own safe pace and it's somuch worth.
It gives you peace of mind.
If you've got a preference towhich side of the train you want
to sit on what are the keythings to see on on route, which
is all information on ourwebsite as well.
We cover that.
It just makes for a wholeall-around better rail
(21:15):
experience.
If you've got your seat there,you've got your seat preferences
that you prefer, and a veryimportant one.
There is.
Most people, myself included,rather sit and face the
direction of travel and ifyou're just chancing to a seat
which again you can do if it'syour preference, you could be
sitting anywhere and you canreserve a table as well if you
(21:37):
want to keep your.
Tracy Collins (21:38):
That's right, yeah, together yeah, yeah,
that's right.
Doug Collins (21:41):
It's whatever your preference is, but for a long
distance journey and by longdistance I mean anything really
over two hours I would certainlybe looking to make a seat
reservation well, I'll just havea little anecdote on this one.
Tracy Collins (21:53):
I actually traveled from edinburgh down to
l London in I think it wasFebruary, and I did have a
reservation, but I decided to goon an earlier train because I'd
finished doing what I was doingabout three hours before.
So I managed to get onto thetrain beforehand, but I did not
have a seat reservation and itwas absolutely packed.
It was so full.
(22:14):
Now I somehow miraculouslymanaged to pick a seat that,
even though it had reserved onit, nobody jumped on it to take
the reserved seat up.
But, believe me, every time Ipulled into a station where it
was a change of reservationbecause it was a long trip, so
there was, the seats have beenreserved numerous times I was
stressed out to the max becauseI thought if somebody gets on
(22:35):
and they've got this seat, wheream I to go and sit?
So you know, even I've madethat mistake before.
So it's free to make a trainreservation on see to get your
seat.
So just do it that's what do it?
Doug Collins (22:46):
yep, and it's.
It makes a great peace of mind.
If you purchased a bit wellpass, for example and if you
know all the trains and youryour real itinerary, just make
all the reservations.
When you arrive, you can go toany staff train station and make
your seat reservations andyou've done that before I know.
Tracy Collins (23:03):
We've had people in consults, we've talked about
that and given that tip.
Doug Collins (23:05):
Yeah, and the feedback we've had, that has
worked so so well.
And I also have to point out ifyou plan on catching a certain
train and, for whatever reason,you don't catch that train, if
you've got a brick rail pass,for example, jump on the next
one.
You know that's, that's not aproblem.
Go make another seatreservation, you know it doesn't
matter.
Tracy Collins (23:23):
It doesn't matter okay, so mistake number eight
is not using helpful appsproperly, and we've just
actually spoke about, uh, thenational rail inquiries app,
which I know you, you just thinkis a game changer.
Doug Collins (23:35):
I think the national rail inquiries uh,
particularly their live trainsfunction is absolutely fantastic
, and it frustrates me a littlethat people do not use that more
often, because you could be onone train and you're making a
connection and you want to knowif your train that you're
catching is on time, or evenfrom which platform, and you can
look at that one and you canfind that information.
(23:57):
You know which platform you'regoing to.
Okay, yes, you need to doublecheck that as well, but you know
if it's running on time, andthat can make life so much
easier.
I mean, I could use an anecdoteas well for that one.
On my last visit, going fromBirmingham New Street, the
connection I was making, thetrain was about 20 minutes late.
(24:18):
So once I arrived at BirminghamMoore Street I was making, the
train was about 20 minutes late.
So once I arrived at BirminghamMoore Street, I was going to
walk up to Birmingham New Street.
I didn't need to rush, I knewthat the train I was catching
was running a little late.
So I sort of strolled in niceand leisurely onto the platform
which hadn't changed, and, yeah,it makes life so much easier.
Use the information that'sthere, use the tools available.
You know that's a national railinquiries, um live trains app
(24:43):
train line, also very, very good.
And in london, the tfl, thetransport for london.
They have the go app, which isfantastic when it comes to
journey planning and also um howeach service or different lines
, how they're working at thatmoment in time.
You know, use the informationthat's there.
It can make such a difference.
Tracy Collins (25:04):
Absolutely, and the train line we do recommend
it's just because it keeps allyour train tickets in the same
place.
It's just easier and moreorganized.
Doug Collins (25:11):
That's right.
Yeah, the train line is a verygood one to use if you don't
know the individual trainoperators in the UK, because you
know there's over 22 of them,and then you've got the open
access companies as well and youwouldn't know which operators
operate on which line.
Tracy Collins (25:28):
So the train line , everything's under one hat and
you can just go through thatway perfect, okay, so mistake
number nine we see people makingis not planning for food or
drink on board.
Now you need to remember thatnot all trains have a catering
trolley or buffet service,especially on Sundays, and we've
actually been on trains as wellwhere the trolley has not
(25:48):
actually been able to make it toour carriage because it's been
so busy.
Doug Collins (25:50):
So busy, that's right.
So what I said earlier aboutgetting to the station in time,
get there in plenty of time.
Earlier about getting to thestation in time, get there in
plenty of time.
But also stockholm, most of thethe large stations, all the
ones in london, have um marksand spencers or wx.
They have shops there that youcan go and fill up and get some
food and drink.
You know there's a bottle ofwater is an absolute minimal,
(26:11):
because I've also been on trainsmany, many times, not just the
uk, all around the world whenit's been delayed, it stops,
doesn't move.
You know all times a year.
And even in the middle ofwinter inside those trains,
especially the busy, can getvery, very hot it's true so
always make sure you have abackup drink.
Tracy Collins (26:31):
And also it's a good idea to take a reusable
water bottle, because I knowmany places now there are free
kind of water refill places.
Doug Collins (26:38):
That's right, yeah , environmentally friendly.
There's lots of water refillstations.
Tracy Collins (26:43):
I know in Birmingham New Street.
We saw one in London Houston.
Doug Collins (26:46):
Probably most of the stations now A lot of
stations have these now.
Tracy Collins (26:49):
So you can just refill your water bottle before
you get on the train.
Doug Collins (26:51):
I do that then.
Tracy Collins (26:52):
You do, yeah, okay.
So then tip number 10 ormistake number 10, we'll give
you the tip is not keeping aneye on your belongings.
Doug Collins (27:00):
That's true, and you know, I do have a lot of
sympathy with this one, becauseit is so easy to take your eye
off all your luggage and you'rein unfamiliar surroundings.
You're not familiar with thestations, you're not familiar
with the, the um, the stations,you're not familiar with the
station departure boards and howthey work, particularly if you
you're an overseas traveler tothe uk and english may not
(27:23):
necessarily be your firstlanguage as well.
So it's so easy to take youreye off, particularly in large,
large stations, in the departurehalls.
So, but unfortunately, we, youknow we have stories of this,
don't we?
Tracy Collins (27:37):
yeah, well, yeah to us where things have been
stolen, um, unfortunately, trainstations throughout the world
or somewhere where criminalswill hang out to try and steal
your belongings.
So they're pickpockets and ifthey see that you're stressed or
confused and it's busy or youknow, it's a perfect mix,
(27:58):
unfortunately, for somebody totake your bag or to you know, to
pickpocket you.
So we always recommend I mean,I use a crossbody bag, you use a
crossbody bag don't you, I do.
I have a lanyard for my phonejust so.
Then it keeps my hands free aswell, so that I can be moving
the suitcases around, if we'vegot suitcases.
Doug Collins (28:18):
But we have a tried and tested method, don't
we?
Tracy Collins (28:20):
when we're travelling together.
Yeah, we do.
Doug Collins (28:22):
And so what we always do is have the
conversation before we arrive,which one of us is watching the
luggage at all times and whichone of us is looking at the
departure board.
And you know, tracy and I weboth have also traveled
independently, so what I do andTracy does as well when you
arrive at the station is try andstand a little away, with your
(28:44):
back to the wall, somewhere youcan physically watch all your
luggage at the same time aslooking at a departure board.
It's so easy to or, if you'renot easily able to do that, go
and talk to station staff, askthem for assistance.
Tracy Collins (28:58):
Yeah, and it's just really important.
Make sure you know where yourbelongings are, keep your most
precious things on you in yourbag.
I always use a travel-onbackpack or a pack-safe backpack
or cross-body bag.
I've been using them for years.
Between the two of us, we'vegot I don't know how many um,
but we just find that it givesyou a little bit more peace of
(29:19):
mind that when you're having toconcentrate on lots of things at
the same time it's easy to bedistracted, yeah you don't have
to worry too much about likehaving to have your hand on
absolutely everything becauseit's kind of safely in your bag,
um, but really, yeah, don'ttake your eye off your
belongings.
That's a, it's a mistake if youdo that, and you I mean not
guarantee that something's goingto happen, but I would just say
(29:41):
just be aware, just be aware umsame actually on the train,
because we do, once we're on atrain, we will keep an eye on
where our suitcases are mostcertainly.
Doug Collins (29:49):
Yeah, I always, if possible, try.
If I've already got a seatreserved, I try and board the
train.
So I'm facing my luggage if I'mputting it in luggage racks at
the end of the carriage or onthe overhead racks as well, on
the length of the train and alsobecause I'm a great advocate
for using the luggage spacebehind seats as well and closer
(30:10):
to it, ideally right behind me,so I can put my hand on my
suitcase.
Now and again I can keep my eyeon if other people try and push
luggage on top of it yeah,we've all seen yeah yeah, um.
So just keep your eye on it, youknow, stay on the ball, stay on
the ball okay, so then mistakenumber 11, we see, is relying on
onboard wi-fi to stay connectedyeah, that's right, even the,
(30:33):
the new trains, the new poshyeah, that's right, even the the
new trains, the new posh,bright and shiny, fast trains.
Their wi-fi can still be alittle bit patchy, particularly
at high speed, particularly inrural areas and really obviously
in tunnels as well, but itworks best at stations.
So really the idea is to notrely on it, yeah, and have your
(30:58):
own wi-fi device yeah, but eventhen, to be honest, you can lose
.
Tracy Collins (31:02):
I've found that you lose signal, and so you know
you need to be prepared,because I have seen there's a
couple of things that I've seenhappen on trains is that a
ticket collector will comearound and the person can't.
There's no signal, they can'tget access to the ticket, yeah,
or, and I've also seen asituation where their phone had
the battery died and theycouldn't switch the phone on.
So there's a couple ofsuggestions you've got for that
(31:23):
yeah, the ideal one is.
Doug Collins (31:25):
Ideal one is to download your tickets, so you're
not relying on a signal, butalso take a screenshot of it
yeah and even if you do that, ifyou, but if your phone runs out
of juice, you can have aproblem.
So make sure you take a powerbank with you yeah, we always do
that.
Tracy Collins (31:43):
Make sure you actually and this is something
that I doug always reminds me ismake sure that your power bank
is charged.
Doug Collins (31:49):
I was next thing.
I was going to say having apower bank is one thing, but
making sure it's charged isanother I kind of depend on doug
to remind me on that one,because I yeah, you said have
you got the power bank?
Tracy Collins (31:58):
I mean, yeah, I've got a power bank.
Is it charged?
Uh, maybe not, um, but if youare going to use onboard wi-fi,
it worth also just mentioningthat.
Um, you know that is anunsecure network, so make sure
you have a vpn if you are goingto connect to public networks,
because that will protect yourprivate data.
The last thing you want issomebody hacking in when you're
checking out your bank, or evenon Facebook having a look, and
(32:23):
that's why you need a VPN.
You don't want to be on apublic network.
Doug Collins (32:25):
Most definitely.
I mean a lot of the new trainsdo have charging sockets and
USBs or whatever.
Tracy Collins (32:32):
Don't depend on it.
Don't depend on it becausewherever you travel in the UK
there is still some older trainsout there, older coaching stock
, which really does have nothingavailable for public use.
Okay, so let's go on to mistake.
Number 12, is not planning theonward journey from the station.
Doug Collins (32:47):
Yeah, and this is a thing that we've experienced
many times when we've done theitinerary consults on this going
from Edinburgh to London orLondon to Edinburgh, and the
catching X train arrives X or Ytime and you say, well, how you
gonna get to your hotel?
Well, not thought of that,we're not even consider that
yeah, it's making sure that youplan that onward.
Tracy Collins (33:08):
You know, once you actually arrive at the
station, you still got the restof your journey to go and if you
think, if you're arrivingsomewhere at night or somewhere
a bit more rural and you know weoften get asked a lot, I know
what comes up.
A lot is actually going out toHighclere.
You could go to HighclereCastle, downton.
Abbey is getting a train fromLondon to Newbury, and then we
get asked a lot and actuallywe've got it in the article yes,
(33:29):
there are taxis outside Newburytrain station, but you know,
you don't know that, do you?
You don't know which is why weget asked.
So we don't know that beforeyou go, and you might not know
that for any train station.
Doug Collins (33:39):
Yeah.
So a little bit of preparationwork, a bit of research, again
talking to the experts, We'llgive you that advice.
Tracy Collins (33:45):
Yeah, we do that research, don't we?
Doug Collins (33:47):
Yeah, I mean, if you're arriving late at night
and your accommodation is 50minutes away, it's a good idea
to have something alreadyplanned.
Tracy Collins (33:56):
Yeah, absolutely yeah.
I mean that's something that wealways check out and we know
what we're doing, especiallybecause you don't know if the
train might be delayed, that'sright.
Or you know you might arrive,and it's, you know, half past
ten at night and you've got tothen find your accommodation.
Know exactly how you're goingto get there.
Doug Collins (34:12):
Most definitely, and you know exactly how you're
going to get there.
Most definitely, and also thatmakes for peace of mind as well,
because it can be quitestressful if you're arriving
into a new town or city you'venot been to before and you've
got to get somewhere a long wayaway.
It can be quite stressful.
Tracy Collins (34:29):
Okay, so mistake number 13 is not exploring all
route options.
Now, I'm definitely going toget Doug to explain this,
because he's the expert on this.
Doug Collins (34:37):
That's right.
I mean, we've done a podcast onthis before and all the
different routes between Londonand Edinburgh, for example in
Scotland.
But because the East Coast, forexample, is the fastest way to
get there between the two cities, they don't explore all the
other options.
(34:58):
So whenever I'm doing a planand a journey not just the UK
but anywhere we do like circulartrips, don't we?
Tracy Collins (35:06):
Yeah, we do.
We want to go a different routeand see different things.
Doug Collins (35:09):
Yeah and agreed.
It may not necessarily be thequickest, most straightforward,
but sometimes, for example inthe UK, you can go up the East
Coast main line, you can go viaYork to Edinburgh and then when
you come back you can maybe stopoff on the West Coast main line
and go to the Lake District.
Tracy Collins (35:25):
Yeah, so you've got different options but.
I think and we see that quiteoften and it depends on time.
If you're on a rush, weunderstand that you maybe want
to go on the East Coast MainLine because it takes you
straight up there and back downagain.
But honestly, if you have thetime, it's worth exploring the
route options because there'ssome great train routes that you
can take.
Doug Collins (35:44):
That's right.
So I mentioned the East CoastMain Line and the West Coast
Main Line.
I also like taking thecross-country route.
I do not just because it goesthrough my hometown, but also
you're going through like theindustrial midlands and it's
just seeing something different.
You know it's not they say notthe fastest, but it just gives
you a whole different contextperspective of the uk yeah
(36:09):
perfect.
Tracy Collins (36:10):
So mistake number 14, we see, is not giving
enough time or leaving enoughtime for connections between
trains.
Doug Collins (36:19):
That's right and if you're putting a search in,
well, I use the example if I'mgoing from into Birmingham, from
Birmingham Moore Street, andI'm changing at Birmingham New
Street, and then for journeys toNewcastle, they were just
plotting their whole journeyroute from the starting point to
(36:40):
the end point without realizingyou can change that time
between connections on what?
Tracy Collins (36:46):
what if you're?
Doug Collins (36:47):
doing using National Rail Enquiries, or even
if using the train line or anyothers.
If you split your journey up,if you don't know how to
actually change your transfertime between trains, you can
always do your search asindividual or split the journey
okay, so you could work out.
Tracy Collins (37:06):
So if I want to go I don't know from, say london
to york, and then I wanted tothen go from york to Liverpool,
I'm just throwing ideas out here.
Instead of doing it London toLiverpool, I can just do London
to York and then York toLiverpool, and then I can decide
(37:26):
I want, say, two hours in York,or five hours in York, or ten
minutes in York, or whatever.
Doug Collins (37:31):
Exactly, and you can set that time yourself,
because if you feel rushedbetween platforms, you know this
.
You'll give an example in asecond.
That's what you know.
Escalators and lifts aredangerous places, and we've seen
, I've seen people fall or tripover suitcases, and so you've
got to give yourself a safetynet yeah you've got to put that
(37:52):
time between platforms as muchas safely you can walk or
transfer between the two Well,because you know I refuse to run
.
Tracy Collins (38:00):
I refuse point blank to run where we have to
change trains.
I fell a few years ago andsince then I've just said no,
I'm not rushing.
So Doug knows that we have tohave a reasonable amount of time
.
Now, only you will know what isa reasonable amount of time for
you to go between.
You know, give yourself thetime to go between the platforms
.
What I just want to be sure ofand clear off here, doug, though
(38:22):
, is where do I put this timethat I want?
So if I want to have a 20minute, so I understand that I
can book each of the legs, so Ican put in london, new york,
york to liverpool, for example.
But if I want to do the wholething, and I put it in and we're
talking here National RailEnquiries if I put in London to
Liverpool and I wanted time inNew York, where do I put that?
(38:45):
Is that on the actual?
Doug Collins (38:46):
website yeah, it's on the website and on the app
you can set it transfer time forshort, medium time or long time
.
You can actually specifyexactly how long you want it to
be.
Tracy Collins (39:00):
How many minutes?
Doug Collins (39:01):
In intervals yes, oh, okay, oh that's really
useful.
Tracy Collins (39:04):
Well, that is a really good one, and I usually
depend on Doug to sort ourconnections out.
But I know, and we have beenasked numerous times actually,
and you've been asked a lot inthe Facebook group recently
about do I have enough time toget even changing train stations
in london?
You know, have I got time to gofrom london to king's cross and
(39:24):
then I've got to go to stpancras to catch a train?
Um, you know I've got fiveminutes.
Is that going to be enough time?
Um, well, we can tell youstraight away that wouldn't be
um and doug's expert, he willknow that sort of information.
So it is worth asking if you'reunsure.
But again, I think it'scalculating yourself what would
work for you.
Doug Collins (39:43):
There's one thing in the example you've just given
when a train arrives say, atrain is due to arrive at 10.30
and it pulls in at 10.30, insome scenarios it can be 10
minutes before you've even leftthe train.
Tracy Collins (39:56):
That is true, that is absolutely true.
Doug Collins (39:58):
Yeah.
Tracy Collins (39:59):
If it's a lot of people on that train yeah and
everybody's trying to get off.
Doug Collins (40:03):
Particularly at a terminal station.
Tracy Collins (40:05):
And then you've got to show your ticket to get
off the platform.
Doug Collins (40:08):
Then you've got to orientate yourself when you get
off there, Before you're evenactually walking out of the
station.
In concourse you can't betalking 15 minutes.
Yeah, that's true.
Tracy Collins (40:15):
So you've got to take that into consideration.
So I know we've given you themistake.
We've given you lots of optionsto think about with that, but
make sure that if you are havingto do a connection on train,
that you give yourself enoughtime, even if it's just changing
platforms.
Doug Collins (40:31):
That's it, but do not rush Now mistake number 15
and we, we.
Tracy Collins (40:36):
This comes up a lot in consults actually, and I
think this is probably wherethis came from, when, when we
were kind of talking about whatwe, what were the mistakes that
we hear most often or comeacross, and that is booking a
flight out of the uk,particularly from heathrow, on
the same day as you're taking along train journey, for example,
getting down from edinburgh tolondon in the morning and then
(40:59):
flying out in the afternoon.
Or even taking the caledoniansleeper, say, from inverness um,
and then leaving the followingmorning flying out.
Doug Collins (41:07):
We never, ever, ever recommend doing that no, we
almost cringe when we read, orhear about that.
Tracy Collins (41:13):
Well, it stresses me out.
Doug Collins (41:15):
Yeah, yeah, I mean it's just too much of a risk.
Tracy Collins (41:19):
It's a risk.
Doug Collins (41:19):
yeah, it's really too much of a risk.
I mean, there was one a coupleof weeks ago.
Somebody was actuallytravelling on a Sunday from
Edinburgh.
They were flying out of Gatwickin London and they were
planning on travelling downearly Sunday morning.
And I answered the question.
This was in the Facebook group.
I went probably not the best ofideas.
Tracy Collins (41:40):
No, definitely not that would just stress me
out.
Even just you telling me aboutit stresses me out.
And I mean we know in theCaledonian Sleeper, because
again, we do hear people thinkall right, I'll tell you what.
We'll get the CaledonianSleeper on the Monday night,
arrive in London on the Tuesdayand then I'll get the plane out
on the Tuesday afternoon.
Doug Collins (42:00):
It's a nice plan.
I mean, we just know.
This week, for example, theCaledonian sleeper didn't make
it up to Inverness.
A tree fell on the line anddamaged the overhead cables,
yeah.
Tracy Collins (42:04):
So can you imagine how stressed it would be
if you were coming down fromInverness to catch a flight that
next day and you didn't getdown to Inverness, I mean with
fully understanding.
Doug Collins (42:12):
You know.
If your itinerary is packed andyou're short for time and you
want to enjoy an extra daysomewhere, I totally understand.
I totally understand the motivebehind it.
But you've got to think if youmiss that flight out, you're
creating a lot more problems foryourself.
Tracy Collins (42:30):
Yeah well, a lot more costs which again is why,
if you have an itinerary consultwith us, it will be something
we would advise on and we haveadvised on this numerous times
and looked at itineraries andchanging things around so that
you have maybe the last coupleof days in London, so then
you're not stressing out allEdinburgh or wherever you're
flying out from, so that youdon't have or you are much
(42:51):
closer to the airport on thelast couple of days rather than
kind of depending on well, whenwe do the itinerary consults,
you know we always streamline,uh, everybody's itinerary.
We usually save on time andmoney anyway, yeah absolutely,
absolutely well, that's what weaim to do and we always get
fantastic feedback on theconsultations, which I will say
(43:13):
are open at the minute.
So, if you are considering aconsult, there are bookings
available and we're actuallyjust going to start a waiting
list as well.
So if you want to put your nameon the waiting list and then
we'll send you an email whenthey do open, because we don't
offer them all year roundbecause of our own kind of
things that we've got to do but,yeah, you can do that, your own
(43:34):
commitment.
But yeah, I think we've coveredpretty much kind of those top
15 mistakes that we hear aboutand giving you the solutions.
Doug Collins (43:43):
Um, so we hope you feel more confident about
planning your uk real adventureyeah, I mean, they're all easy
to fix and you know once youknow what to look out for.
Tracy Collins (43:53):
Yeah, for sure now if you want to dig deeper,
as I said, Doug's Guide to UKTrain Travel eBook will walk you
through everything tickets,routes, apps, passes, some
scenic journeys to do, somefantastic train journeys to do
in the UK and it also includesitineraries.
I think there's 12 itinerariesthat you developed, train
itineraries already done for youin that eBook.
(44:14):
Yeah, definitely, and if you'dlike help plan your specific
itinerary, I offer one-to-oneconsultations where I can map it
all out for you, saving youtime, money and stress and we'll
also invite you to join ourfree Facebook group, which is
run by Doug, which said UK traintravel tips, and you've got
thousands of people in thatgroup now really a few thousand
(44:35):
yeah so that's good, and he'salways there answering questions
, sharing tips and giving outadvice every week with you and
your moderators, which is great.
I will put links in the shownotes to the Facebook group, the
eBook, doug's itinerary consult.
So that's atUKTravelPlanningcom forward
slash episode 157.
(44:56):
As I said, we also have plentyof other podcasts about train
travel, as well as articles onthe website, so do check that
out.
As always, thanks for yoursupport, thanks for listening to
this episode, and that justleaves Doug and I to say until
next week.
Doug Collins (45:12):
Happy UK travel planning.
Tracy Collins (45:18):
Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode
of the uk travel planningpodcast.
As always, show notes can befound at uktravelplanningcom.
If you've enjoyed the show, whynot leave us feedback via text
or a review on your favoritepodcast app?
We love to hear from you andyou never know, you may receive
a shout out in a future episode.
But, as always, that justleaves me to say until next week
(45:40):
.
Happy UK travel planning.
Planning to travel the UK by train.
In this episode, Doug and Ishare the 15 most common
mistakes we see travellers makeand how you can avoid them.
From ticket tips to travel daypitfalls, this is one you don't
want to miss.
Intro (00:14):
Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast.
Your host is the founder of theUK Travel Planning website,
Tracy Collins.
In this podcast, Tracy sharesdestination guides, travel tips
and itinerary ideas, as well asinterviews with a variety of
guests who share their knowledgeand experience of UK travel to
help you plan your perfect UKvacation.
(00:36):
Join us as we explore the UKfrom cosmopolitan cities to
quaint villages, from historiccastles to beautiful islands,
and from the picturesquecountryside to seaside towns.
Tracy Collins (00:53):
Hi and welcome to episode 157 of the UK Travel
Planner Podcast.
So this week I am once againjoined by Doug.
Doug Collins (01:00):
Hi everybody, Great to be back.
Tracy Collins (01:02):
Who is here, as always, to talk all things
trains.
Now, of those of you who are inour Facebook group or have done
a consult with us or havefollowed along on a previous
podcast, you will know that Dougworked in the UK rail industry
for over 25 years and he'stravelled on every single
national rail train line acrossthe country.
So through our consultation,facebook group and our e-book,
(01:24):
we help thousands of travellersplan stress-free UK rail trips,
and today we're sharing the 15most common mistakes we see
people make, especially if it'stheir first time.
Doug Collins (01:36):
That's right.
Whether it's booking the wrongtype of ticket or not,
considering the risk oftravelling on a Sunday or just
bringing way too much luggage,we've seen it all yep.
Tracy Collins (01:44):
So stick around for this episode to find out
what those mistakes are, thoseput falls are, and so you can
avoid them and travel smarter.
Now and remember, if you wantmore help, we've got our guide
to uk train travel ebook, whichdoug wrote, and we have
personalized itineraryconsultations with doug to help
make your planning easier, and Iwill put links in the show
(02:06):
notes to both of those so youcan find the ebook and, if you
want, book a session with Dougto help you plan your real
itinerary around the UK.
So we're going to go througheach of the 15 mistakes one by
one and have a little bit of adiscussion about why it's a
mistake and what you can do tofix it.
So the first mistake that wesee people doing is getting too
(02:29):
much advice from non-expertsonline.
Doug Collins (02:33):
That's true.
If I had a pound for every timeI have heard somebody told me,
or I've seen somewhere, or I'vejust read somewhere so and such,
I would be very rich by now.
The problem is, of course, youcan overload with information.
There can be too muchinformation and unfortunately
(02:54):
there's a lot of information outthere that is incorrect,
inaccurate, partly or completelywrong, and so a lot of people
are overwhelmed before we'veeven heard from them.
Tracy Collins (03:02):
Yeah, that is true, they're posing questions
and you can.
Doug Collins (03:11):
I was going to say you can hear in what they write
down, but you can actually come.
Tracy Collins (03:12):
It comes across as they are totally overwhelmed
completely overwhelmed, stressedout and actually I will say at
this point as well that and wedo say this actually quite a lot
on the facebook group as wellis that we will see the same
query, um, about travelgenerally in the uk, and it will
be put in five differentfacebook groups now and what
happens is you get I don't know50 responses and it becomes
(03:36):
really, really confusing.
And you know it's important,doug has this specific you have
a facebook group just for changeour travel and that's right.
Doug Collins (03:45):
I encourage people to join that one because that
is myself and I have twomoderators also involved in the
the rail industry in the UK.
We have that great knowledgebetween the three of us myself
and took my two friends, themoderators.
We cover every single aspect ofUK passenger travel and what I
don't know, they know and whatthey don't know I know and we've
(04:08):
covered it so many times.
Questions have come up.
We've not had yet Torchwood hada question that one of us has
not known the answer to.
Tracy Collins (04:17):
So that's a you know.
It kind of reinforces thatdon't ask or try to get
information from people whodon't necessarily know about the
rail industry.
Go to the Facebook group orDoug's written a book.
Doug Collins (04:28):
Yeah, I've written the e-book A Guide to UK Train
Travel, which covers everythingyou need to know.
Plain and simple, it coverseverything you need to know, and
a lot of the information that'sout there people read, hear
speak about is well-intentionedand I'm not questioning that.
But what I am questioning is alot of the content is inaccurate
or out of date.
(04:49):
So, yes, you need to be talkingto the experts and obviously
you also offer an itineraryconsult as well.
Tracy Collins (04:57):
So I know we do a video one.
So if somebody has questions orthey've got an itinerary and
they just want a bit offine-tuning and want to ask you
questions about traveling the ukby train, you can do a video
consult.
So you send us your itineraryand then doug will record a
video response to you and sendit back to you, also with a
google doc with with informationin it.
Doug Collins (05:14):
If you want access , doug, you can book a
one-to-one session that's right,I don't bite, I'm quite not,
I'm quite normal and, believe itor not, trace about me.
I thoroughly enjoy talkingabout trains, so that is not a
problem.
Tracy Collins (05:26):
Yeah, so absolutely, he loves to do that.
So that's the first problem,but we've solved it for you.
So we will put links to all ofthose resources in the website.
And, of course, don't forget,we do have other podcast
episodes about train travel andwe also have the website, where
we have a whole train section.
So do make use of all that wealso, if you subscribe to our
(05:48):
newsletter, you will receiveinformation about train travel.
So we've got a huge amount ofresources that you can use.
Just stick with us.
We know what we're talkingabout.
We know all about train travel.
Doug Collins (05:57):
That's it.
We'll see you around.
Tracy Collins (05:58):
Right.
So now the second mistake wesee people make, and this is one
I know you talk about all thetime in the Facebook group.
So tell us what it is.
Doug Collins (06:09):
Yes, it's Sunday travel, plain and simple.
The Sunday train travel in theUK is at best unreliable, at
best unreliable.
You have some good days wherethings were entirely to plan,
but over many, many, many yearsof myself traveling and
commuting to and from work,sundays was always the day that
(06:30):
created most problems.
It's a question of risk.
The risk on a Sunday ofengineering work impacting your
journey, the risk on a Sunday ofbeing short staffed, the risk
on a Sunday of diversions andcancellations is much higher
than the other six days.
So, unless you're traveling ashorter distance, really not the
best of ideas to travel a longdistance, because the trains for
(06:51):
some bazaaries are also veryfull, because on a sunday
timetable there is less trainsrunning on that day, and so it
stands to reason there's gonnabe more people travel.
Yeah, but it's not the idealday to travel because there's
engineering works, they have towork.
Yeah, but it's not the idealday to travel because it's
engineering works, they have towork.
At some point I was involvedwith this myself overnight work,
and overnight work can be on afriday, saturday and sunday
(07:14):
night, and sometimes it overruns, sometimes it goes into a
saturday, goes into a sunday.
So sunday is the day where therisk is highest of cancellations
and delays.
So if it's possible in youritinerary to avoid the Sunday
travel, do so.
Now I have to add to that itgoes without saying.
Sometimes it is unavoidable,sometimes you have no choice,
(07:37):
sometimes you've just got to doit.
In that case, I would advisetry and travel in the middle of
the day.
Make sure you book your seatreservations and other things
which will come across mistakesthat people make.
But do a search.
The topic of conversationsregards sunday travel I have
covered so many times on ourfacebook group seven times, I
(07:59):
think it's the most common umthing that we we comment on when
people ask a question.
Tracy Collins (08:08):
In fact you've solved that problem many times
when we've done itineraryconsults where people are trying
to juggle days and we'll go notry and avoid particularly a
long trip on a Sunday becausepotentially it can be
problematic and I know whenwe've spoken in trip reports
when people have had problems itis tended to be around the
Sunday travel.
Doug Collins (08:24):
It is because I think what people do in their
itineraries they see Sunday is anice, convenient day for
traveling between places yeahand it's a nice, easy day for
travel.
Sometimes it, you know, can beon the roads.
Certainly it can be less travel, less, less people traveling.
But Sunday by train is the dayI would avoid okay, I think
(08:47):
we've covered that one reallywell.
Tracy Collins (08:48):
Um, so that's the mistake traveling on a sunday
and the workaround is to try andavoid traveling on a sunday if
possible, or I could access themiddle of the day those sort of
strategies put in place.
Tip number three, or mistakenumber three, I should say, is
bringing too much luggage, and Iknow this can be really, really
difficult, but honestly, Ithink you really need to
(09:12):
consider, if you're planning atrain uh itinerary around the uk
is to consider how much luggageyou're going to have yeah, so
it's easy to bring too muchluggage because you know if you
can carry a lot more luggagethan the next person, you're not
carrying too much luggage,because if you can carry a lot
more luggage than the nextperson, you're not carrying too
much luggage, plain and simple.
Doug Collins (09:28):
But it has to be what you can safely manage and
lift onto trains and put ontoluggage racks and stacks or
behind seats.
So it's what works for you,plain and simple.
Really, because there islimited space on board trains,
and particularly the trains fortrain stations themselves, you
(09:50):
know, we know from our ownexperiences that the lifts on
the escalators may not beworking yeah, absolutely, and so
you have to be prepared to beable to lift your luggage if
need be yeah, considering, ifyou've got to climb, take it
upstairs, you've got to take itdownstairs, um, are you going to
be able to do that?
Tracy Collins (10:08):
are you going to be able to lift it onto the
train, get it off the train, um,you know.
So that's something that weconsider really carefully.
Now there is a, I guess, onething we would recommend.
For example, if you're startingyour itinerary in london and
ending your real itinerary inlondon, you could actually leave
some of your luggage in a leftluggage in London or in a hotel
if you're going back to the samehotel.
(10:28):
And we've done that in numerousdestinations around the world.
Doug Collins (10:30):
We have done that.
Tracy Collins (10:32):
So that is a possibility, but just try.
I just know that as you travel,the further you travel, when
you've got too much luggage,whatever that looks like for you
, the luggage just becomes apain.
Doug Collins (10:51):
It just becomes something that is just so
stressful.
Tracy Collins (10:52):
It's awful, it is true, and the reality is the
less you carry, the moreenjoyable your real experience.
Yeah, I absolutely agree withthat.
So, uh, mistake number fourthat we see is not booking
assistance if you need it orleaving it too late that's right
.
Doug Collins (11:04):
There is a great passenger assist system settled
in the uk and it works very,very well.
But what you do need to have,you need to make sure you book
that assistance at least really24 hours in advance.
Okay, so the the assistancethat you book.
It takes the form of assistancewith a member of staff helping
(11:27):
you onboard the train andgetting off the train, helping
you to your seat, making sureyour luggage is stowed correctly
and you're comfortable.
Make sure you are comfortablebefore the train goes, before
the train leaves.
The train goes before the trainleaves, so that, if that means,
(11:48):
uh, you're able to walk andthey'll just help you with your
mobility to get on board andonto the seat.
Or it's actually physicalassistance with a wheelchair, in
which case ramps are used toboard trains.
So, but the secret there is ais to be aware that you do need
assistance and acknowledge thefact, and B is actually book it
in good time.
There's a very good page onNational Rail Enquiries actually
(12:11):
gives all the phone numbers youcould possibly need to arrange
that.
Tracy Collins (12:14):
Okay, so we'll link to that in the show notes
as well.
What about if I was arriving ata station and then I had to
change platforms and get ontoanother train?
Will they help assist with that?
Doug Collins (12:23):
Yeah, that's all part of the book.
In advance they will.
You'll include your railitinerary and so what they'll
say is somebody will meet youand say the station concourse at
one, the first station and theywill help you board that train.
They'll take the platform, waitwith you until that train comes
in and then I'll help you boardthe train.
And then you stay in your seatwhen the train arrives at your
(12:46):
next station and somebody with aramp will be there to meet you.
They'll know exactly which door, which carriage you are sitting
in, so it'll help you out tothat one and onto your next
train as well.
Sometimes, if you're usingmultiple train operators, that
is all aligned through thenational rail inquiries.
They will be communicating withthe next service and is that a
(13:08):
free service?
that is a free service okay, sothat's a.
Tracy Collins (13:11):
That's a great one to use.
Doug Collins (13:12):
If you, if you need assistance, make sure that
you book it, yeah it's importantto have your rail tickets
purchased in advance of bookingthe assistance okay, okay, and
again, it's 24 hours.
Tracy Collins (13:23):
Is what you're saying?
Doug Collins (13:23):
yeah I mean you can risk it later on closer to,
but really as a rule of thumb,24 hours is really when you need
to make sure those places,those that that help is in place
.
Okay, cool right.
Tracy Collins (13:35):
So mistake number five, we see, is not exploring
the different different tickettypes and not being aware of all
available rail cards or passes,because these can save you a
lot of money if you know aboutthem that is true and I do have
a lot of sympathy.
Doug Collins (13:49):
Uh, it's taken me years to fully understand all
the different ticket types, thenational rail cards,
availability and the types of,say, brit rail passes.
There's a lot there.
There's a lot to take on board.
There's a lot to get your headaround when you're doing your
research.
So it comes back to the samepoint talk to the experts, talk
to us.
No question you ask.
(14:10):
As regards ticketing, we havenot or have not experienced
before and, as I say, with helpof the two other moderators in
my, our training group, we cananswer every single question.
There's nothing that's gonna beasked that we have not
encountered before well, therejust seemed to be a bit of
confusion.
Tracy Collins (14:26):
I know when we've had questions about the brick
rail pass and then people aretalking about then booking a
ticket that's right.
Doug Collins (14:35):
That comes up quite often, isn't it?
Yeah, um, it's so.
They've done that level ofresearch and quite possibly, as
you said on the first part is,they've talked to somebody,
they've read somewhere, you know, under the impression of that,
yeah, you buy the brick rail andthen you've got to go and buy
more tickets, which sort ofdefeats your business.
Tracy Collins (14:55):
It'd be very expensive way to do things yeah,
it's.
Doug Collins (14:59):
It's those little things that we take for granted
as being obvious, but if youdon't know, it's not obvious at
all.
Tracy Collins (15:04):
Well, it's also if you don't know, you don't
know what you don't knownecessarily.
But I think that there doesseem to be a lot of confusion
around that and I know you'vejust recently published an
article on the websiteexplaining that yeah, that's
right.
Doug Collins (15:15):
So just to sort of clarify as to how Brit Rail
Pass, for example, works, howyou validate it and what
coverage of the Great Britain itactually includes.
Tracy Collins (15:26):
And now, what about information about the
different rail cards?
I know that you've includedthose in your e-book.
Doug Collins (15:32):
Yeah, that's right .
There's quite a few differenttypes of National Rail card and
they are mostly for one for oneyear or bit.
There is a additional ones forthree years and the price of
that is 35 pounds If you qualify.
There's so many different times, just two together.
Rail card.
There's friends and family railcard.
This is the senior rail card,and not to mention the student
(15:53):
rail cards as well, because he'savailable for people not just
in the UK.
Tracy Collins (15:57):
Yeah, I was rail cards as well, because these are
available for people not justin the uk.
Yeah, I was going to ask you.
That I was going to say is thatif I live, if I live in america
or live in australia, like wedo, or live in new zealand or
live in singapore, can I getaccess to those?
Doug Collins (16:05):
yeah, you can you can buy these online before you
arrive, and so what the thenatural rail cards tell you to
do?
You still buy your traintickets, but you are listing the
fact you have a rail cardalready and that will give you a
third off the ticket price,which is really good.
Tracy Collins (16:20):
I remember actually you were doing a small
YouTube video about how to usethat, how to actually purchase a
ticket from the train line ifyou actually have already got a
rail card.
Doug Collins (16:31):
Yeah, that's right .
Tracy Collins (16:32):
Because that's something else we often get
asked in consults.
When we say about you couldqualify, you could buy this rail
card, then there's a bit ofconfusion about then purchasing
a real ticket and then how doyou kind of get the discount.
Doug Collins (16:46):
That's right, and some of the the websites for
purchasing the tickets.
They're not the moststraightforward, so, like the
youtube videos that we have,they explain that visually yeah
because sometimes you look atthese websites and you're
looking all around it and youjust can't find what you're
looking for.
So you need somebody to helpsignpost you to exactly where
you need to be.
Tracy Collins (17:06):
So I will put a link to that YouTube video as
well in the show notes.
Now okay mistake number six isnot arriving at the station
early enough.
And I can attest this one notarriving at the station in early
enough.
And I can attest this one on my, my sister a few years ago, who
arrived, uh, with not enoughtime to spare, thought she had
to get to the station as the,and she kind of waved it bye-bye
(17:30):
on the platform, um.
So this one is something thatyou talk about all of the time,
isn't it about arriving in?
Doug Collins (17:37):
Yeah, it's one of those things that sounds very,
very simple and we would alwaysdo it, but no, it's so easy to
underestimate the time it takesyou to get to that station,
whether it's public transport orrelying on other people, but
also when you get to the station.
Some stations in the UK, asthey are around the world, they
(17:57):
are huge.
Yes, really complicated ifyou've got multiple entrances
and exits.
If you arrive into that mainstation, concourse area,
departure area you don't knowwhere to go.
It's now what, what?
What do we do?
So you've got to make sure youallow yourself so much time,
especially especially if you'vegot plenty of luggage or
traveling with others that mightneed some assistance, or
(18:19):
children.
It's you've just got to relythat added time to get there.
I mean, you maybe want to go tothe shops as well to buy some
refreshments.
So you just got to allow plentyof time to get there.
And the other thing is there'sa security element to that as
well.
You need to be on the ball.
You need to be paying attentionto what you're doing.
So, yeah, the big stations orall stations really, but
(18:42):
particularly the big, bigstations in london like king's
cross, waterloo, victoria,houston give yourself a lot of
time to get there also I wasgoing to say about that, um is,
there is a website that I cansee a plan for each of the train
stations.
Yeah, there certainly is.
The National Rail Enquiries isa very, very good resource when
(19:03):
it comes to looking at stationlayouts, whether that's
entrances, where the taxi rankis, where the shops are, where
the toilets are, where the rampsare, for any accessibility to
aid, accessibility if there'slifts anywhere as well.
It's an incredibly, very goodresource.
Every time look at the nationalrail inquiries, there I seem to
find something different and itis the one go-to side if you
(19:28):
need specific stationinformation because I'm going to
put my neck on the line, Ithink the station information
for every single station inGreat Britain oh, wow, I think
they have.
I mean, some stations arebigger than others, obviously,
but I think even you know mylocal station where I'm from,
burton-on-trent.
It's got all the informationthere.
Tracy Collins (19:48):
Yeah, I think I've checked that before and it
tells you things like if taxisare available.
Doug Collins (19:52):
That's right if there's luggage lockers.
Is there toilets?
Is there disabled toilets there?
Tracy Collins (19:56):
So that's an amazing resource to tap into.
And also, we do have an articleabout London's main train
stations as well on ourLondonTravelPlanningcom website,
which has got photographs ofthe different stations as well,
so it's worth also checking outthat article.
Now, mistake number seven thatwe see is not reserving a seat
(20:17):
on long distance journeys.
Now I highly recommend that youdo this, because sometimes,
honestly, the trains can getincredibly full and you do not
want to end up standing that'sright, um, seat reservations are
free to make in the uk.
Doug Collins (20:31):
When you buy a ticket online through different
operators or open accesscompanies, they should come with
the option to make a seatreservation.
But if you're driving a trainstation and it's very busy
because, let's face it, most ofthe London terminal stations are
very busy so when the platformopens for people to be able to
(20:51):
move down towards the train,there can be a bit of a rush,
and if you've got a seatreserved already, you can go
your own safe pace and it's somuch worth.
It gives you peace of mind.
If you've got a preference towhich side of the train you want
to sit on what are the keythings to see on on route, which
is all information on ourwebsite as well.
We cover that.
It just makes for a wholeall-around better rail
(21:15):
experience.
If you've got your seat there,you've got your seat preferences
that you prefer, and a veryimportant one.
There is.
Most people, myself included,rather sit and face the
direction of travel and ifyou're just chancing to a seat
which again you can do if it'syour preference, you could be
sitting anywhere and you canreserve a table as well if you
(21:37):
want to keep your.
Tracy Collins (21:38):
That's right, yeah, together yeah, yeah,
that's right.
Doug Collins (21:41):
It's whatever your preference is, but for a long
distance journey and by longdistance I mean anything really
over two hours I would certainlybe looking to make a seat
reservation well, I'll just havea little anecdote on this one.
Tracy Collins (21:53):
I actually traveled from edinburgh down to
l London in I think it wasFebruary, and I did have a
reservation, but I decided to goon an earlier train because I'd
finished doing what I was doingabout three hours before.
So I managed to get onto thetrain beforehand, but I did not
have a seat reservation and itwas absolutely packed.
It was so full.
(22:14):
Now I somehow miraculouslymanaged to pick a seat that,
even though it had reserved onit, nobody jumped on it to take
the reserved seat up.
But, believe me, every time Ipulled into a station where it
was a change of reservationbecause it was a long trip, so
there was, the seats have beenreserved numerous times I was
stressed out to the max becauseI thought if somebody gets on
(22:35):
and they've got this seat, wheream I to go and sit?
So you know, even I've madethat mistake before.
So it's free to make a trainreservation on see to get your
seat.
So just do it that's what do it?
Doug Collins (22:46):
yep, and it's.
It makes a great peace of mind.
If you purchased a bit wellpass, for example and if you
know all the trains and youryour real itinerary, just make
all the reservations.
When you arrive, you can go toany staff train station and make
your seat reservations andyou've done that before I know.
Tracy Collins (23:03):
We've had people in consults, we've talked about
that and given that tip.
Doug Collins (23:05):
Yeah, and the feedback we've had, that has
worked so so well.
And I also have to point out ifyou plan on catching a certain
train and, for whatever reason,you don't catch that train, if
you've got a brick rail pass,for example, jump on the next
one.
You know that's, that's not aproblem.
Go make another seatreservation, you know it doesn't
matter.
Tracy Collins (23:23):
It doesn't matter okay, so mistake number eight
is not using helpful appsproperly, and we've just
actually spoke about, uh, thenational rail inquiries app,
which I know you, you just thinkis a game changer.
Doug Collins (23:35):
I think the national rail inquiries uh,
particularly their live trainsfunction is absolutely fantastic
, and it frustrates me a littlethat people do not use that more
often, because you could be onone train and you're making a
connection and you want to knowif your train that you're
catching is on time, or evenfrom which platform, and you can
look at that one and you canfind that information.
(23:57):
You know which platform you'regoing to.
Okay, yes, you need to doublecheck that as well, but you know
if it's running on time, andthat can make life so much
easier.
I mean, I could use an anecdoteas well for that one.
On my last visit, going fromBirmingham New Street, the
connection I was making, thetrain was about 20 minutes late.
(24:18):
So once I arrived at BirminghamMoore Street I was making, the
train was about 20 minutes late.
So once I arrived at BirminghamMoore Street, I was going to
walk up to Birmingham New Street.
I didn't need to rush, I knewthat the train I was catching
was running a little late.
So I sort of strolled in niceand leisurely onto the platform
which hadn't changed, and, yeah,it makes life so much easier.
Use the information that'sthere, use the tools available.
You know that's a national railinquiries, um live trains app
(24:43):
train line, also very, very good.
And in london, the tfl, thetransport for london.
They have the go app, which isfantastic when it comes to
journey planning and also um howeach service or different lines
, how they're working at thatmoment in time.
You know, use the informationthat's there.
It can make such a difference.
Tracy Collins (25:04):
Absolutely, and the train line we do recommend
it's just because it keeps allyour train tickets in the same
place.
It's just easier and moreorganized.
Doug Collins (25:11):
That's right.
Yeah, the train line is a verygood one to use if you don't
know the individual trainoperators in the UK, because you
know there's over 22 of them,and then you've got the open
access companies as well and youwouldn't know which operators
operate on which line.
Tracy Collins (25:28):
So the train line , everything's under one hat and
you can just go through thatway perfect, okay, so mistake
number nine we see people makingis not planning for food or
drink on board.
Now you need to remember thatnot all trains have a catering
trolley or buffet service,especially on Sundays, and we've
actually been on trains as wellwhere the trolley has not
(25:48):
actually been able to make it toour carriage because it's been
so busy.
Doug Collins (25:50):
So busy, that's right.
So what I said earlier aboutgetting to the station in time,
get there in plenty of time.
Earlier about getting to thestation in time, get there in
plenty of time.
But also stockholm, most of thethe large stations, all the
ones in london, have um marksand spencers or wx.
They have shops there that youcan go and fill up and get some
food and drink.
You know there's a bottle ofwater is an absolute minimal,
(26:11):
because I've also been on trainsmany, many times, not just the
uk, all around the world whenit's been delayed, it stops,
doesn't move.
You know all times a year.
And even in the middle ofwinter inside those trains,
especially the busy, can getvery, very hot it's true so
always make sure you have abackup drink.
Tracy Collins (26:31):
And also it's a good idea to take a reusable
water bottle, because I knowmany places now there are free
kind of water refill places.
Doug Collins (26:38):
That's right, yeah , environmentally friendly.
There's lots of water refillstations.
Tracy Collins (26:43):
I know in Birmingham New Street.
We saw one in London Houston.
Doug Collins (26:46):
Probably most of the stations now A lot of
stations have these now.
Tracy Collins (26:49):
So you can just refill your water bottle before
you get on the train.
Doug Collins (26:51):
I do that then.
Tracy Collins (26:52):
You do, yeah, okay.
So then tip number 10 ormistake number 10, we'll give
you the tip is not keeping aneye on your belongings.
Doug Collins (27:00):
That's true, and you know, I do have a lot of
sympathy with this one, becauseit is so easy to take your eye
off all your luggage and you'rein unfamiliar surroundings.
You're not familiar with thestations, you're not familiar
with the, the um, the stations,you're not familiar with the
station departure boards and howthey work, particularly if you
you're an overseas traveler tothe uk and english may not
(27:23):
necessarily be your firstlanguage as well.
So it's so easy to take youreye off, particularly in large,
large stations, in the departurehalls.
So, but unfortunately, we, youknow we have stories of this,
don't we?
Tracy Collins (27:37):
yeah, well, yeah to us where things have been
stolen, um, unfortunately, trainstations throughout the world
or somewhere where criminalswill hang out to try and steal
your belongings.
So they're pickpockets and ifthey see that you're stressed or
confused and it's busy or youknow, it's a perfect mix,
(27:58):
unfortunately, for somebody totake your bag or to you know, to
pickpocket you.
So we always recommend I mean,I use a crossbody bag, you use a
crossbody bag don't you, I do.
I have a lanyard for my phonejust so.
Then it keeps my hands free aswell, so that I can be moving
the suitcases around, if we'vegot suitcases.
Doug Collins (28:18):
But we have a tried and tested method, don't
we?
Tracy Collins (28:20):
when we're travelling together.
Yeah, we do.
Doug Collins (28:22):
And so what we always do is have the
conversation before we arrive,which one of us is watching the
luggage at all times and whichone of us is looking at the
departure board.
And you know, tracy and I weboth have also traveled
independently, so what I do andTracy does as well when you
arrive at the station is try andstand a little away, with your
(28:44):
back to the wall, somewhere youcan physically watch all your
luggage at the same time aslooking at a departure board.
It's so easy to or, if you'renot easily able to do that, go
and talk to station staff, askthem for assistance.
Tracy Collins (28:58):
Yeah, and it's just really important.
Make sure you know where yourbelongings are, keep your most
precious things on you in yourbag.
I always use a travel-onbackpack or a pack-safe backpack
or cross-body bag.
I've been using them for years.
Between the two of us, we'vegot I don't know how many um,
but we just find that it givesyou a little bit more peace of
(29:19):
mind that when you're having toconcentrate on lots of things at
the same time it's easy to bedistracted, yeah you don't have
to worry too much about likehaving to have your hand on
absolutely everything becauseit's kind of safely in your bag,
um, but really, yeah, don'ttake your eye off your
belongings.
That's a, it's a mistake if youdo that, and you I mean not
guarantee that something's goingto happen, but I would just say
(29:41):
just be aware, just be aware umsame actually on the train,
because we do, once we're on atrain, we will keep an eye on
where our suitcases are mostcertainly.
Doug Collins (29:49):
Yeah, I always, if possible, try.
If I've already got a seatreserved, I try and board the
train.
So I'm facing my luggage if I'mputting it in luggage racks at
the end of the carriage or onthe overhead racks as well, on
the length of the train and alsobecause I'm a great advocate
for using the luggage spacebehind seats as well and closer
(30:10):
to it, ideally right behind me,so I can put my hand on my
suitcase.
Now and again I can keep my eyeon if other people try and push
luggage on top of it yeah,we've all seen yeah yeah, um.
So just keep your eye on it, youknow, stay on the ball, stay on
the ball okay, so then mistakenumber 11, we see, is relying on
onboard wi-fi to stay connectedyeah, that's right, even the,
(30:33):
the new trains, the new poshyeah, that's right, even the the
new trains, the new posh,bright and shiny, fast trains.
Their wi-fi can still be alittle bit patchy, particularly
at high speed, particularly inrural areas and really obviously
in tunnels as well, but itworks best at stations.
So really the idea is to notrely on it, yeah, and have your
(30:58):
own wi-fi device yeah, but eventhen, to be honest, you can lose
.
Tracy Collins (31:02):
I've found that you lose signal, and so you know
you need to be prepared,because I have seen there's a
couple of things that I've seenhappen on trains is that a
ticket collector will comearound and the person can't.
There's no signal, they can'tget access to the ticket, yeah,
or, and I've also seen asituation where their phone had
the battery died and theycouldn't switch the phone on.
So there's a couple ofsuggestions you've got for that
(31:23):
yeah, the ideal one is.
Doug Collins (31:25):
Ideal one is to download your tickets, so you're
not relying on a signal, butalso take a screenshot of it
yeah and even if you do that, ifyou, but if your phone runs out
of juice, you can have aproblem.
So make sure you take a powerbank with you yeah, we always do
that.
Tracy Collins (31:43):
Make sure you actually and this is something
that I doug always reminds me ismake sure that your power bank
is charged.
Doug Collins (31:49):
I was next thing.
I was going to say having apower bank is one thing, but
making sure it's charged isanother I kind of depend on doug
to remind me on that one,because I yeah, you said have
you got the power bank?
Tracy Collins (31:58):
I mean, yeah, I've got a power bank.
Is it charged?
Uh, maybe not, um, but if youare going to use onboard wi-fi,
it worth also just mentioningthat.
Um, you know that is anunsecure network, so make sure
you have a vpn if you are goingto connect to public networks,
because that will protect yourprivate data.
The last thing you want issomebody hacking in when you're
checking out your bank, or evenon Facebook having a look, and
(32:23):
that's why you need a VPN.
You don't want to be on apublic network.
Doug Collins (32:25):
Most definitely.
I mean a lot of the new trainsdo have charging sockets and
USBs or whatever.
Tracy Collins (32:32):
Don't depend on it.
Don't depend on it becausewherever you travel in the UK
there is still some older trainsout there, older coaching stock
, which really does have nothingavailable for public use.
Okay, so let's go on to mistake.
Number 12, is not planning theonward journey from the station.
Doug Collins (32:47):
Yeah, and this is a thing that we've experienced
many times when we've done theitinerary consults on this going
from Edinburgh to London orLondon to Edinburgh, and the
catching X train arrives X or Ytime and you say, well, how you
gonna get to your hotel?
Well, not thought of that,we're not even consider that
yeah, it's making sure that youplan that onward.
Tracy Collins (33:08):
You know, once you actually arrive at the
station, you still got the restof your journey to go and if you
think, if you're arrivingsomewhere at night or somewhere
a bit more rural and you know weoften get asked a lot, I know
what comes up.
A lot is actually going out toHighclere.
You could go to HighclereCastle, downton.
Abbey is getting a train fromLondon to Newbury, and then we
get asked a lot and actuallywe've got it in the article yes,
(33:29):
there are taxis outside Newburytrain station, but you know,
you don't know that, do you?
You don't know which is why weget asked.
So we don't know that beforeyou go, and you might not know
that for any train station.
Doug Collins (33:39):
Yeah.
So a little bit of preparationwork, a bit of research, again
talking to the experts, We'llgive you that advice.
Tracy Collins (33:45):
Yeah, we do that research, don't we?
Doug Collins (33:47):
Yeah, I mean, if you're arriving late at night
and your accommodation is 50minutes away, it's a good idea
to have something alreadyplanned.
Tracy Collins (33:56):
Yeah, absolutely yeah.
I mean that's something that wealways check out and we know
what we're doing, especiallybecause you don't know if the
train might be delayed, that'sright.
Or you know you might arrive,and it's, you know, half past
ten at night and you've got tothen find your accommodation.
Know exactly how you're goingto get there.
Doug Collins (34:12):
Most definitely, and you know exactly how you're
going to get there.
Most definitely, and also thatmakes for peace of mind as well,
because it can be quitestressful if you're arriving
into a new town or city you'venot been to before and you've
got to get somewhere a long wayaway.
It can be quite stressful.
Tracy Collins (34:29):
Okay, so mistake number 13 is not exploring all
route options.
Now, I'm definitely going toget Doug to explain this,
because he's the expert on this.
Doug Collins (34:37):
That's right.
I mean, we've done a podcast onthis before and all the
different routes between Londonand Edinburgh, for example in
Scotland.
But because the East Coast, forexample, is the fastest way to
get there between the two cities, they don't explore all the
other options.
(34:58):
So whenever I'm doing a planand a journey not just the UK
but anywhere we do like circulartrips, don't we?
Tracy Collins (35:06):
Yeah, we do.
We want to go a different routeand see different things.
Doug Collins (35:09):
Yeah and agreed.
It may not necessarily be thequickest, most straightforward,
but sometimes, for example inthe UK, you can go up the East
Coast main line, you can go viaYork to Edinburgh and then when
you come back you can maybe stopoff on the West Coast main line
and go to the Lake District.
Tracy Collins (35:25):
Yeah, so you've got different options but.
I think and we see that quiteoften and it depends on time.
If you're on a rush, weunderstand that you maybe want
to go on the East Coast MainLine because it takes you
straight up there and back downagain.
But honestly, if you have thetime, it's worth exploring the
route options because there'ssome great train routes that you
can take.
Doug Collins (35:44):
That's right.
So I mentioned the East CoastMain Line and the West Coast
Main Line.
I also like taking thecross-country route.
I do not just because it goesthrough my hometown, but also
you're going through like theindustrial midlands and it's
just seeing something different.
You know it's not they say notthe fastest, but it just gives
you a whole different contextperspective of the uk yeah
(36:09):
perfect.
Tracy Collins (36:10):
So mistake number 14, we see, is not giving
enough time or leaving enoughtime for connections between
trains.
Doug Collins (36:19):
That's right and if you're putting a search in,
well, I use the example if I'mgoing from into Birmingham, from
Birmingham Moore Street, andI'm changing at Birmingham New
Street, and then for journeys toNewcastle, they were just
plotting their whole journeyroute from the starting point to
(36:40):
the end point without realizingyou can change that time
between connections on what?
Tracy Collins (36:46):
what if you're?
Doug Collins (36:47):
doing using National Rail Enquiries, or even
if using the train line or anyothers.
If you split your journey up,if you don't know how to
actually change your transfertime between trains, you can
always do your search asindividual or split the journey
okay, so you could work out.
Tracy Collins (37:06):
So if I want to go I don't know from, say london
to york, and then I wanted tothen go from york to Liverpool,
I'm just throwing ideas out here.
Instead of doing it London toLiverpool, I can just do London
to York and then York toLiverpool, and then I can decide
(37:26):
I want, say, two hours in York,or five hours in York, or ten
minutes in York, or whatever.
Doug Collins (37:31):
Exactly, and you can set that time yourself,
because if you feel rushedbetween platforms, you know this
.
You'll give an example in asecond.
That's what you know.
Escalators and lifts aredangerous places, and we've seen
, I've seen people fall or tripover suitcases, and so you've
got to give yourself a safetynet yeah you've got to put that
(37:52):
time between platforms as muchas safely you can walk or
transfer between the two Well,because you know I refuse to run
.
Tracy Collins (38:00):
I refuse point blank to run where we have to
change trains.
I fell a few years ago andsince then I've just said no,
I'm not rushing.
So Doug knows that we have tohave a reasonable amount of time
.
Now, only you will know what isa reasonable amount of time for
you to go between.
You know, give yourself thetime to go between the platforms
.
What I just want to be sure ofand clear off here, doug, though
(38:22):
, is where do I put this timethat I want?
So if I want to have a 20minute, so I understand that I
can book each of the legs, so Ican put in london, new york,
york to liverpool, for example.
But if I want to do the wholething, and I put it in and we're
talking here National RailEnquiries if I put in London to
Liverpool and I wanted time inNew York, where do I put that?
(38:45):
Is that on the actual?
Doug Collins (38:46):
website yeah, it's on the website and on the app
you can set it transfer time forshort, medium time or long time
.
You can actually specifyexactly how long you want it to
be.
Tracy Collins (39:00):
How many minutes?
Doug Collins (39:01):
In intervals yes, oh, okay, oh that's really
useful.
Tracy Collins (39:04):
Well, that is a really good one, and I usually
depend on Doug to sort ourconnections out.
But I know, and we have beenasked numerous times actually,
and you've been asked a lot inthe Facebook group recently
about do I have enough time toget even changing train stations
in london?
You know, have I got time to gofrom london to king's cross and
(39:24):
then I've got to go to stpancras to catch a train?
Um, you know I've got fiveminutes.
Is that going to be enough time?
Um, well, we can tell youstraight away that wouldn't be
um and doug's expert, he willknow that sort of information.
So it is worth asking if you'reunsure.
But again, I think it'scalculating yourself what would
work for you.
Doug Collins (39:43):
There's one thing in the example you've just given
when a train arrives say, atrain is due to arrive at 10.30
and it pulls in at 10.30, insome scenarios it can be 10
minutes before you've even leftthe train.
Tracy Collins (39:56):
That is true, that is absolutely true.
Doug Collins (39:58):
Yeah.
Tracy Collins (39:59):
If it's a lot of people on that train yeah and
everybody's trying to get off.
Doug Collins (40:03):
Particularly at a terminal station.
Tracy Collins (40:05):
And then you've got to show your ticket to get
off the platform.
Doug Collins (40:08):
Then you've got to orientate yourself when you get
off there, Before you're evenactually walking out of the
station.
In concourse you can't betalking 15 minutes.
Yeah, that's true.
Tracy Collins (40:15):
So you've got to take that into consideration.
So I know we've given you themistake.
We've given you lots of optionsto think about with that, but
make sure that if you are havingto do a connection on train,
that you give yourself enoughtime, even if it's just changing
platforms.
Doug Collins (40:31):
That's it, but do not rush Now mistake number 15
and we, we.
Tracy Collins (40:36):
This comes up a lot in consults actually, and I
think this is probably wherethis came from, when, when we
were kind of talking about whatwe, what were the mistakes that
we hear most often or comeacross, and that is booking a
flight out of the uk,particularly from heathrow, on
the same day as you're taking along train journey, for example,
getting down from edinburgh tolondon in the morning and then
(40:59):
flying out in the afternoon.
Or even taking the caledoniansleeper, say, from inverness um,
and then leaving the followingmorning flying out.
Doug Collins (41:07):
We never, ever, ever recommend doing that no, we
almost cringe when we read, orhear about that.
Tracy Collins (41:13):
Well, it stresses me out.
Doug Collins (41:15):
Yeah, yeah, I mean it's just too much of a risk.
Tracy Collins (41:19):
It's a risk.
Doug Collins (41:19):
yeah, it's really too much of a risk.
I mean, there was one a coupleof weeks ago.
Somebody was actuallytravelling on a Sunday from
Edinburgh.
They were flying out of Gatwickin London and they were
planning on travelling downearly Sunday morning.
And I answered the question.
This was in the Facebook group.
I went probably not the best ofideas.
Tracy Collins (41:40):
No, definitely not that would just stress me
out.
Even just you telling me aboutit stresses me out.
And I mean we know in theCaledonian Sleeper, because
again, we do hear people thinkall right, I'll tell you what.
We'll get the CaledonianSleeper on the Monday night,
arrive in London on the Tuesdayand then I'll get the plane out
on the Tuesday afternoon.
Doug Collins (42:00):
It's a nice plan.
I mean, we just know.
This week, for example, theCaledonian sleeper didn't make
it up to Inverness.
A tree fell on the line anddamaged the overhead cables,
yeah.
Tracy Collins (42:04):
So can you imagine how stressed it would be
if you were coming down fromInverness to catch a flight that
next day and you didn't getdown to Inverness, I mean with
fully understanding.
Doug Collins (42:12):
You know.
If your itinerary is packed andyou're short for time and you
want to enjoy an extra daysomewhere, I totally understand.
I totally understand the motivebehind it.
But you've got to think if youmiss that flight out, you're
creating a lot more problems foryourself.
Tracy Collins (42:30):
Yeah well, a lot more costs which again is why,
if you have an itinerary consultwith us, it will be something
we would advise on and we haveadvised on this numerous times
and looked at itineraries andchanging things around so that
you have maybe the last coupleof days in London, so then
you're not stressing out allEdinburgh or wherever you're
flying out from, so that youdon't have or you are much
(42:51):
closer to the airport on thelast couple of days rather than
kind of depending on well, whenwe do the itinerary consults,
you know we always streamline,uh, everybody's itinerary.
We usually save on time andmoney anyway, yeah absolutely,
absolutely well, that's what weaim to do and we always get
fantastic feedback on theconsultations, which I will say
(43:13):
are open at the minute.
So, if you are considering aconsult, there are bookings
available and we're actuallyjust going to start a waiting
list as well.
So if you want to put your nameon the waiting list and then
we'll send you an email whenthey do open, because we don't
offer them all year roundbecause of our own kind of
things that we've got to do but,yeah, you can do that, your own
(43:34):
commitment.
But yeah, I think we've coveredpretty much kind of those top
15 mistakes that we hear aboutand giving you the solutions.
Doug Collins (43:43):
Um, so we hope you feel more confident about
planning your uk real adventureyeah, I mean, they're all easy
to fix and you know once youknow what to look out for.
Tracy Collins (43:53):
Yeah, for sure now if you want to dig deeper,
as I said, Doug's Guide to UKTrain Travel eBook will walk you
through everything tickets,routes, apps, passes, some
scenic journeys to do, somefantastic train journeys to do
in the UK and it also includesitineraries.
I think there's 12 itinerariesthat you developed, train
itineraries already done for youin that eBook.
(44:14):
Yeah, definitely, and if you'dlike help plan your specific
itinerary, I offer one-to-oneconsultations where I can map it
all out for you, saving youtime, money and stress and we'll
also invite you to join ourfree Facebook group, which is
run by Doug, which said UK traintravel tips, and you've got
thousands of people in thatgroup now really a few thousand
(44:35):
yeah so that's good, and he'salways there answering questions
, sharing tips and giving outadvice every week with you and
your moderators, which is great.
I will put links in the shownotes to the Facebook group, the
eBook, doug's itinerary consult.
So that's atUKTravelPlanningcom forward
slash episode 157.
(44:56):
As I said, we also have plentyof other podcasts about train
travel, as well as articles onthe website, so do check that
out.
As always, thanks for yoursupport, thanks for listening to
this episode, and that justleaves Doug and I to say until
next week.
Doug Collins (45:12):
Happy UK travel planning.
Tracy Collins (45:18):
Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode
of the uk travel planningpodcast.
As always, show notes can befound at uktravelplanningcom.
If you've enjoyed the show, whynot leave us feedback via text
or a review on your favoritepodcast app?
We love to hear from you andyou never know, you may receive
a shout out in a future episode.
But, as always, that justleaves me to say until next week
(45:40):
.
Happy UK travel planning.
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