Why I Love The UK Rail Network

The UK rail network seems to be in the news all the time, usually for negative reasons. The recent confirmation that the HS2 high-speed rail network will go ahead has caused even more controversy with critics arguing that the project is a white elephant that is likely to cause British taxpayers billions.

However, people seem to forget that our rail system is one of the best and safest in Europe and the world and although I agree train tickets can be pricey, locomotive travel is still one of the best ways to get around.

Where can a train take me?

The UK rail network is comprehensive and there aren’t many places that you can’t get to, or at least very near, by train. Trains are the best and cheapest way for long-haul travel across the UK too with things like sleeper trains making traveling up to Scotland easy and convenient.

Now it’s also possible to get to Europe without going near an airport by using the Euro Tunnel which has opened up an entire continent and made it easily accessible from the UK.

How can I get cheap train tickets?

The best way to get cheap train tickets is online. You can order tickets directly from the rail company and in general, the earlier you book your tickets the cheaper they will be. 

In fact, I would recommend that you always pre-book your tickets as last-minute purchases can cost significantly more. So if you know when you’re taking a journey book the ticket as far in advance as you can to get the best price.

You can also look on other websites like Trainline to see whether or not you can get cheaper tickets but prices on these sites are generally not much different than prices on the train company’s main site.
If you travel by train regularly or if you’re planning to do some traveling around the UK and Europe you can book advance train passes which will work out pretty cheaply, particularly if you get a student discount.

Before you travel always find out if you are eligible for any other subsidies, for example, if you are retired, because you never know what sorts of deals you could get.

Rail Safety

Thanks to innovative use of new technology and constant maintenance the UK has one of Europe’s safest rail networks and is also one of the most efficient.  

By ensuring that rail safety is at its best, train accidents in the UK are rare and that’s thanks to things like digital monitoring systems, better tracks, and more efficient trains.

Ian works as part of a rail safety team to ensure that all trains are safe to travel on. For more information go to www.arbilrail.co.uk/