Taking a long train journey can certainly be a bit stressful, especially when you’re taking an unfamiliar route. Of course, we believe that taking the train should be a fun and enlightening experience, which is why we’ve put together a list of six top tips that will help to ensure a safe and smooth train journey.
Buy Tickets Online
One of the easiest things to do when trying to ensure a smooth train journey is to book train tickets in advance online. This means you don’t have to join a queue for tickets on the day. Even better, download your tickets straight to your phone, to avoid the queue at the ticket machine for a pickup!
Use The Far End
A lot of people arrive at the train station just in time for their train and board the cars that are directly outside of the ticket barriers. A lot of people also crowd towards the front of the train, in an effort to avoid the queue at the centre of the carriage. Head to the back of the train, and you’ll be able to get straight on and walk down the coach to find your seat.
Reserve Your Seat
When you book your ticket, make sure you get a seat reservation as well. Usually, these are free of charge if made at the same time as you booked your ticket, and will mean you have a guaranteed seat for the duration of your journey. You can also book in any preferences, such as a window seat, facing forwards, or being near a plug socket.
Travel Off-Peak
Not only will tickets be cheaper when you travel off-peak, you’ll also find that the train station and the train itself will be much quieter. Off-peak hours vary depending on where you are in the country, but it’s generally agreed that outside of London, off-peak begins at 9:30 Monday to Friday, and ends at 4pm, beginning again at 7pm.
Bring Your Own Food
Food and drinks on the train can be expensive. It can even be expensive to buy food from the train station sometimes. If you’re going on a long journey, we suggest buying some snacks and drinks from a local supermarket before you climb on board. We do suggest staying away from anything that’s particularly potent, to be a respectful passenger.
Think About Your Luggage
When travelling by train, you need to think about the logistics of getting your luggage from A to B. The aisles on trains are narrow, and there is limited luggage space in a luggage rack. Ideally, you need to bring a case that will fit in the storage space overhead, or underneath your seat.
We hope that by taking on board these tips and tricks, you feel able to travel on your next train journey with confidence and find some time to relax too. You can book train tickets in advance on our website today.
If you have any more advice to make a train journey as smooth and safe as possible, make sure you leave it in the comments!
