London: Public Transport - National Rail

-

London: Public Transport - National Rail

A National Rail Service
Source: WikiMedia
If you plan on venturing outside London or to the suburbs, you may use National Rail trains. They are not operated by Transport for London like the rest of London’s transport; each route is run by a different Train Operating Company. National Rail services are exceptionally busy during the morning and evening peak as commuters use them.

You can buy a paper ticket, use an Oyster Card or a Contactless payment card to board all National Rail services within London zones 1 to 9 (more on zones in our Underground section), and certain other stations. You can also use Oyster Cards and Contactless on National Rail services to and from Gatwick Airport, including the Gatwick Express.

One of the most impressive National Rail journeys is the Southeastern High Speed service from St. Pancras International to Stratford International (for the Olympic Park). This journey takes just 6 minutes; the comparable Underground and DLR journey takes 27 minutes, and the bus journey takes 1 hour 25 minutes.

Oyster Cards and Contactless payments are not valid on the Heathrow Express, and the Heathrow Connect between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow. They are also not accepted on East Midlands Trains, Grand Central, Hull Trains, Virgin Trains, or Virgin Trains East Coast services – these trains do not stop within London anyway, they are services to cities and towns outside the UK which start in London. For these journeys paper tickets are required.

Important: From May 2018, the Heathrow Express will accept Oyster Card and Contactless payments. From this date the Heathrow Connect will be replaced by TfL Rail, and Oyster Cards and Contactless payments will also begin to be accepted.

To book National Rail trains, we recommend using Trainline or Raileasy to find the best prices and availability.

Popular posts from this blog

Working at Disneyland Paris 2014 - Accommodation Options

-
Image
Working at Disneyland Paris 2014 - Accommodation Options Photo: Sofia Nilsen NEW : Want more detail? Download my book about my 16 months spent living and working at Disneyland Paris now on  Amazon . Get the full inside scoop on my time as a Disneyland Paris Cast Member. So, you have your job offer and now it's time to get accommodation. During your interview you will be asked whether you require accommodation, I said yes. If you answer yes there are a few types of accommodation that may be offered to you depending on your contract. If you have a CDD (fixed-term contract) you will be offered accommodation either in a Disney residence (Les Pleiades) or in partner accommodation. No matter which you are put in several matters apply: your accommodation price is fixed and includes all bills (excluding internet and phone), a fully furnished apartment and one roommate. The price at the moment is about 310 euros per month. If you are put into Les Pleiades, these are studio
Read more

A post reminiscing about the Walt Disney World International College Program

-
Image
It’s been about six weeks since the end of my Disney World International College Program contract and I thought I’d write a retrospective piece summing up my experience. I’m going to very quickly get those of you who didn’t read my blog up to speed. Hi, I’m Gio from the UK and this Summer (2013) I participated in the International College Program at Walt Disney World. I was an attractions cast member working at Mickey’s Philharmagic and Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel in the Magic Kingdom. My program was about ten weeks long and I successfully completed it. I had already done one set of working for Disney back in 2011 at Disneyland Paris and I suppose to some extent I expected my ICP to be very similar, but longer. I was prepared for more heat, for more guests and (hopefully!) less of a language barrier in the US. This all proved true - sure Florida was hotter than Paris, yes the Magic Kingdom is the world’s busiest theme park and yes (for the most part) I didn’t have to tra
Read more

London: Things to do and Events in February

-
Image
London: Things to do and Events in February Chinese New Year Image: Paul (Flickr) 18th February 2018 Although Chinese New Year itself is on the 8th February in 2016, the celebrations will be held on the subsequent weekend.  You can celebrate the start of the Year of the Monkey all around the West End with events held on Trafalgar Square and Chinatown from 10:00 to 18:00. London’s Chinese New Year celebrations are the largest outside Asia, with parades, performances and fireworks.  At 10:00 a large lion parade makes its way from Trafalgar Square to Chinatown; from 12:00 onwards stage performances are held; and at 17:20 the grand finale begins as dancers and acrobats take to the stage, and pyrotechnics illuminate Nelson’s Column.
Read more