Around the UK network

[John Ashworth]

In the last couple of weeks while on holiday in UK I've travelled on trains from quite a few Train Operating Companies: Chiltern, First Capital Connect, First Great Western, Gatwick Express, Heathrow Express, London Midland, National Express East Anglia, Southern, and South West Trains.

Generally I was very impressed. Trains were neat and clean, on time, and pretty fast. Staff were friendly and seemed to know what they were doing. On one Sunday journey we had to take a bus for part of the journey due to an engineering possession, which increased the journey time, but we knew about it in advance, the bus was comfortable and efficient, and there were staff to help us. All in all full marks for the British national rail network.

Fares are not cheap, but I bought a Network railcard for GBP 25 which gives me (and up to 3 other adults travelling with me) a one third discount on most off-peak journeys in the south of England. Jane and I recouped our twenty five quid outlay in just a couple of days!

Here are a few photos from around the network taken in September and October 2009 by John Ashworth.