exHowfener wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2024 11:22 pm Have they mentioned "split tickets" for your rail journey? You can often save quite a bit using them.

That’s the primary issue. The itineraries I’ve been presented with are devoid of info on the cost side. All I see is a total cost. That’s it.

Of course there is also the option of enjoying time in London then travelling to Edinburgh through the night on the "Caledonian Sleeper" arriving in time to enjoy your first day in Edinburgh.

Drew, have a look at the website thetrainline.com to give you an idea of the options for tickets for your specific date. It will at least give you a comparator against what your agent tells you, but it's also very easy to use to book the tickets yourself through that site. You'll get an electronic ticket emailed to you, which you just show the conductor on the train on your phone so he/she can scan the barcode.

If you're struggling to get to grips with the UK train complexities (and I wouldn't blame you at all if you are) then I'm happy to look into the options for you - and maybe jump on a Teams/Zoom call together one evening UK time and walk you through booking it yourself.

exHowfener wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2024 11:38 pm Of course there is also the option of enjoying time in London then travelling to Edinburgh through the night on the "Caledonian Sleeper" arriving in time to enjoy your first day in Edinburgh.

Don’t even go there! That was the initial itinerary, per my request!

^^^ let us know what your agent comes back with.

The journey itself is straightforward: Southampton to London (don't pay to use first class), London to Edinburgh (definitely consider first class. Price may determine outcome, and is a trip of a lifetime).

Take comfort that UK rail fares *are* complex and nothing makes much sense even to local, seasoned UK commuters and rail users.

All the advice here has been spot on. You'll make the right decision, at the right time and have an AMAZING trip.

gannet wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2024 9:32 pm Others might have more experience with long distance train journeys than me, but the trains in and around London the first class is but just a part of the same carriage separated by a door...

I wouldn't want to pay extra for that.

That part of the journey in the tin worm, aka London Underground, will all be cattle class. The intercity, long distance, parts of the journey will be where you spend most of your time.

A standard ticket does not guarantee you any seats and certainly doesn't guarantee that you'll be sat together.

Standard ticket seats might be airline style with not much leg room.

You might be in a carriage of alcoholically excited teenagers or football hooligans or a pipe band warming up on their way to Scotland. Or maybe just noisy people braying away on their cellphones. We do have "quiet carriages" you can make a reservation in for this reason.

First class will be better. Better seating, better quiet, better refreshments.

Tell me, where'll you be on the airplane - right up front or right down the back?

If it's a one-in-a-lifetime trip I'd want it to be memorable IN A GOOD WAY.

^^^ Excellent advice

Sorry for only just seeing this thread Drew.

Solid advice as always from people.
Although I dont drive passenger trains now (im on freight), I still travel on passenger services fairly long distances 2 or 3 times a week.

The main benefit of 1st class is the peace & quiet. You'll be able to enjoy a conversation and take in some sights as you pass, without hassle. And there will be carriage drama in cattle class on a journey like that for sure! Always is!!!!
The leg room isnt much different but as has been said, its far less chaotic and you get a bit of a feed! Id personally pay the extra for reserved seats in 1st (if I paid for rail travel.... Sorry!!!!)

Trainline.com is your best bet for booking. Im not sure on your relationship with your agent or if the train leg of your journey will affect the overall price of the package you are getting, but im happy to help from this side to give you an accurate cost for the tickets. Depends on how much your agent is putting on for their efforts...!

Booking a few weeks or month or so in advance will probably fine so dont stress at all if this is a summer trip. You literally have months to sort the train out


Happy to help

Drew, it sounds as though your travel agent is either not very satisfactory - or at least, you aren't very satisfied (so far) with the work they have done for you. You seem to be sorted now with the getting to and from the U.K. and it's just the travel and accommodation once you get here that's causing you stress.
Have you considered using a travel agent on this side to arrange things for you? As an example, Ffestiniog Travel seem to be very good at this sort of thing https://www.ffestiniogtravel.com/. I've never used them, but dropping them an email outlining what you want may get a sensible response. If not, well - you've lost about 10 minutes.
Just a thought.

welshlad wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 12:08 am If you're struggling to get to grips with the UK train complexities (and I wouldn't blame you at all if you are) then I'm happy to look into the options for you - and maybe jump on a Teams/Zoom call together one evening UK time and walk you through booking it yourself.

Thank you for the offer, I really appreciate that. Let’s hope there’s no need to take you up on it. The struggle is not with making sense of tickets (I managed just fine getting train tickets for our trip to Wales last summer), but with making sense of the proposed travel itineraries I’m getting through the travel agent!

I’ll keep everyone posted!

exHowfener wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 1:42 pm Drew, it sounds as though your travel agent is either not very satisfactory - or at least, you aren't very satisfied (so far) with the work they have done for you. You seem to be sorted now with the getting to and from the U.K. and it's just the travel and accommodation once you get here that's causing you stress.
Have you considered using a travel agent on this side to arrange things for you? As an example, Ffestiniog Travel seem to be very good at this sort of thing https://www.ffestiniogtravel.com/. I've never used them, but dropping them an email outlining what you want may get a sensible response. If not, well - you've lost about 10 minutes.
Just a thought.

I think this is it in a nutshell. At this point I’m prepared to just book the hotel direct and buy my own train tickets when they become available. I’m talking with my agent this morning. We’ll see how it goes.

I'm intrigued to see the agent's proposed itineraries!

RichM wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 2:35 pm I'm intrigued to see the agent's proposed itineraries!

In defense of my agent, this is someone I’ve used before to plan a trip to Istanbul, and it was fantastic. Also, my parents have used her multiple times, once for a big family trip to London.

In this particular case, the issue isn’t with my agent, it’s with who she’s been working with about train tickets. I posed a number questions to her in an email. Her response back ended with this, “We can always break it apart and do everything separately. No problem.” That has me feeling much better already.

I just looked up who she’s working with, and it appears to be a group that specializes in putting together rail based package trips - not quite the same thing as simply booking tickets for transfer from one place to another. As I mentioned previously, I’m going to request we just book items separately. Heck, I’ll go ahead and purchase train tickets myself when they’re available.

By the way, the rail journey was Southampton to Birmingham, then change trains to Edinburgh.

Again, THANK YOU all! I really was a bit of a mess yesterday about all this, and while this post was just about the merits of 1st class vs standard, the comments, supportive language, and generous offers of assistance have been of more benefit than you could know. Thank you!

Thanks for the update! So.... are you any the wiser about the merits of 1st class v standard?!

FWIW... Southampton to Birmingham to Edinburgh is absolutely a valid route (and I'm often at Birmingham New Street stn through work so happy to be a guide there if timings coincide) and Birmingham is an easier connection than having to cross London.

RichM wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 3:39 pm So.... are you any the wiser about the merits of 1st class v standard?!

I think so! We’re going to stick with 1st class.