BritRail Trip

[sgraIRL]

I have just returned from the UK after an 8 day BritRail tour. They do a 'low season pass' which is On sale: October 17th, 2018 - February 22nd, 2019. Passes are valid for travel between November 1st, 2018 - February 28th, 2019. Excellent value at €292 in 1st class.

I managed 201 individual journeys, so if we work it out that way its €1.45 a trip. I didn't calculate mileage, but I went London to York with LNER, London to Doncaster with Hull Trains, London to Birmingham & Manchester with Virgin, Cross Country Birmingham to Cardiff, GWR Cardiff to London and both Heathrow and Gatwick Express - as well as numerous other connecting trips.

The pass in 1st includes;
All food, alcohol and other offers in 1st class (some operators better than others!)
Access to 1st class lounges (space permitting)
You can reserve seats via BritRail but I never bothered and never had an issue with a seat

A fantastic 8 days out and very, very good value. Apart from a tragic incident which delayed everything out of KX on Monday 14th, the overall impression was very good, punctuality wise.

Revenue protection was hit and miss, some operators better than others. I was not asked for my passport to prove my entitlement to the BritRail pass when the ticket was activated (you must get it stamped on Day1) - but I started at Birmingham International and I have found at airport stations they don't question things - assuming you just got off a plane. I did carry my passport at all times and I was asked to produce it once - at the gate line in Birmingham New Street.

One of the downsides of the BritRail pass is that it is a large paper ticket so will not operate gate lines. It is is not valid on London Underground, so when in London I bought a paper TravelCard anyway - and often used this to operate the gate lines at terminal stations even if I was travelling using the BritRail - just made live a lot easier.

Happy Travels

Si

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

I have just returned from the UK after an 8 day BritRail tour. They do a 'low season pass' which is On sale: October 17th, 2018 - February 22nd, 2019. Passes are valid for travel between November 1st, 2018 - February 28th, 2019. Excellent value at €292 in 1st class.

I managed 201 individual journeys, so if we work it out that way its €1.45 a trip. I didn't calculate mileage, but I went London to York with LNER, London to Doncaster with Hull Trains, London to Birmingham & Manchester with Virgin, Cross Country Birmingham to Cardiff, GWR Cardiff to London and both Heathrow and Gatwick Express - as well as numerous other connecting trips.

The pass in 1st includes;
All food, alcohol and other offers in 1st class (some operators better than others!)
Access to 1st class lounges (space permitting)
You can reserve seats via BritRail but I never bothered and never had an issue with a seat

A fantastic 8 days out and very, very good value. Apart from a tragic incident which delayed everything out of KX on Monday 14th, the overall impression was very good, punctuality wise.

Revenue protection was hit and miss, some operators better than others. I was not asked for my passport to prove my entitlement to the BritRail pass when the ticket was activated (you must get it stamped on Day1) - but I started at Birmingham International and I have found at airport stations they don't question things - assuming you just got off a plane. I did carry my passport at all times and I was asked to produce it once - at the gate line in Birmingham New Street.

One of the downsides of the BritRail pass is that it is a large paper ticket so will not operate gate lines. It is is not valid on London Underground, so when in London I bought a paper TravelCard anyway - and often used this to operate the gate lines at terminal stations even if I was travelling using the BritRail - just made live a lot easier.

Happy Travels

Si

Sounds excellent. I understand you can now also get BritRail passes on a mobile app, which displays a barcode that will permit you through ticket barriers without having to show your BritRail document manually. I wonder if they would ever intentionally reject a BritRail pass such as to enable a check of documents?

Also, I don't know why they insist on a passport, other than for identification purposes (a la season tickets). A passport doesn't prove residency, and eligibility for a BritRail pass is based on residency and not citizenship!

 

[Journeyman]

Sounds excellent. I understand you can now also get BritRail passes on a mobile app, which displays a barcode that will permit you through ticket barriers without having to show your BritRail document manually. I wonder if they would ever intentionally reject a BritRail pass such as to enable a check of documents?

Also, I don't know why they insist on a passport, other than for identification purposes (a la season tickets). A passport doesn't prove residency, and eligibility for a BritRail pass is based on residency and not citizenship!

I'm UK resident but have dual UK/Irish nationality, so I have an Irish passport. Have I just spotted a loophole here?

 

[sgraIRL]

Sounds excellent. I understand you can now also get BritRail passes on a mobile app, which displays a barcode that will permit you through ticket barriers without having to show your BritRail document manually. I wonder if they would ever intentionally reject a BritRail pass such as to enable a check of documents?

Also, I don't know why they insist on a passport, other than for identification purposes (a la season tickets). A passport doesn't prove residency, and eligibility for a BritRail pass is based on residency and not citizenship!

Half right! The 'M-Pass' is available for the 'regional' BritRail passes - so I used a BritRail England M-Pass last summer. The All Lines' pass, simply called the 'BritRail Pass' is not currently available as an electronic M-Pass.
It was a bit hit and miss - the QR style barcode on my phone would not operate gate lines at London Terminals last summer - but it did at Liverpool Lime Street! The great benefit of the electronic ticket is that its delivered immediately, instead of waiting for postal delivery.

Your point about passport is very true - As I am a legitimate visitor I can always produce additional proofs, airline tickets, board cards, Irish drivers license if I was challenged. Given the huge value of the ticket and how much use I get out of it I don't mind it being policed to avoid abuse. Half of England is trying to get an Irish passport these days, so it doesn't prove much!!

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

I'm UK resident but have dual UK/Irish nationality, so I have an Irish passport. Have I just spotted a loophole here?

It does say that they reserve the right to require additional documents for verification of citizenship, and that it is permitted for UK expats to use a BritRail pass. So I presume you would need to show something like a bill or statement at a foreign address.