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Trains and Railways in London

Route maps and booking information for the national rail service, regional trains and the urban train network: to help you find your way around London.

Within Great Britain, there are 22 train companies providing rail services. The facilities available on the trains vary from one company to another. National Rail is the term used to designate passenger rail services in Great Britain.

The National Rail website has train times and information about tickets and destinations. In Northern Ireland rail services are publicly owned, for information see the Translink website.

For further information on train travel in the UK, see the Directgov website
To plan a train journey see the Transport Direct website
For maps of the National Rail network: Click here

Public Transport in London (Tube, Bus, Tram)

London has an extensive underground rail network known as the Tube (another word for "subway" or "metro"). There is also an extensive public bus system (the iconic red London bus), a limited tram service, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and commuter river boat services on the Thames.

For information on this service, see AngloINFO INFOrmation Page The London Underground (Tube)
For information on public transport, see AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Public Transport in London: Buses, Trams and Thames Clippers

Getting Around London by Train

There are a number of train companies operating within London, linking the capital to the suburbs and cities to the north, south, east and west of the capital.

Like much of the city, the public rail network is often described by the destination's direction: north, south, east or west. Understanding this grid makes using the public transport network easier.

The train lines/routes are known by the name of the company providing the service. For example, First Great Western serves the communities west of the capital from London Paddington station heading west through Reading, Oxford and Bristol all the way to south Wales.

Rail lines to/from London

Rail lines in London each serve a different area of the capital and the country. It's useful to establish the line and the main stations it goes through for a specific commute. Generally a rail line has a specific destination/departure station in the capital.

In some areas of London it is easier, and sometimes cheaper, to get around by "over-ground trains", rather than the Tube, for example from north and southeast London.

For a detailed, line map of national rail in Greater London: Click here (PDF)

The main lines include:

Chiltern Railways: Marylebone station to Aylesbury, Banbury and Birmingham
First Capital Connect: St Pancras/King's Cross stations to Luton Airport, Bedford, Wellingborough, Kettering, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield
First Great Western: Paddington station to Reading, Oxford, Swindon, Bath, Bristol, West of England and South Wales
London Midland: Euston station to Milton Keynes, Northampton, Rugby, Coventry, Birmingham and the North West
National Express East Anglia: Liverpool Street station to Harlow, Bishops Stortford, Stansted Airport and Cambridge (north) and Shenfield, Southend, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich (east)
Southern: Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Eastbourne and Worthing
Southeastern: Charing Cross and Victoria stations to Tonbridge, Hastings, Ashford International, Canterbury, Folkestone, Dover, Margate and Maidstone
South West Trains: Waterloo station to Ascot, Bracknell and Reading (west) and Aldershot, Basingstoke, Salisbury, Exeter, Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth (south)

London Overground is a suburban rail network (managed by TfL) which serves many of the city's stations with the main routes being Dalston Junction to West Croydon, Watford Junction to Euston, Richmond/Clapham Junction to Stratford and Gospel Oak to Barking.

For route maps: Click here

Eurostar runs between St Pancras International station and Brussels, and French cities Lille, Paris and Calais. The route crosses the Channel in approximately one hour.

Train stations in London

The main stations include Paddington, Charing Cross, Euston, Victoria, St Pancras, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, London Bridge and Waterloo. Part of getting to, around and out of London by train requires getting from one of these main stations to another by underground Tube or overland bus.

For information on connections between London's main stations: Click here
The national Rail website has information on each station and its facilities: Click here and enter the station name

Train timetables online

For train timetables and to plan a journey in London: Click here
For information on the day's train disruptions: Click here
To find the cheapest train fares: Click here
For information on travel tickets on the National Rail network: Click here
National Rail Enquiries Tel: 0845 748 4950

Train times telephone service

TrainTracker is a paid-for service which provides real-time information by telephone on trains running. Travel planning questions can also be answered. Call the number and, using the voice prompts, request time or journey information over the phone.

Tel: 0871 200 4950 (calls charged)
For more information: Click here

Rail Tickets, Cards and Discounts

Tickets are sold at ticket offices and self-service ticket machines at stations. Staff in the station ticket booth can provide advice on the best route to take and - in large stations - where to find the platform. Ticket prices vary depending on the time of day the journey being made.

Passengers must have a valid ticket when boarding a train; ticket conductors pass through trains checking this. A passenger without a ticket will have to pay the full fare - Open Single or Return. Penalties may also apply. Exceptions apply if there are no ticket vending facilities at the station of departure, in these cases, tickets may be bought on board the train.

London Oyster card

Oyster card is a smartcard that can be used for travelling on the London public transport network. Oyster can be used on the Tube, trams, busses, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and on some boat services. They are valid on trains in Greater London.

Details of travelcards, railcards and passes can all be stored on an Oyster card. Travel credit can also be stored on the card and topped up when necessary (pay-as-you-go). There are thousands of outlets where the Oyster card can be bought or topped up. These include stations, bus and tram stops, newsagents, Post Offices and ticket machines.

For information on where an how to buy an Oyster card: Click here
Oyster cards can be bought online and delivered overseas before travelling to London: Click here

There is a small fee when buying the card; this is refunded as credit for journeys on public transport.

BritRail

BritRail passes are available for visitors to the UK, valid on all National Rail services.

For information see the BritRail website
For timetable enquiries from abroad Tel: +44 (0)20 7278 5240

Discounts for children

Up to two children under the age of five travel free with each fare paying adult.

Children aged five to fifteen get a 50 percent discount on a fare (older children are requested to carry proof of age).

Friends & Family railcards provide further discounts for small groups of children and adults making regular trips together

For details on the Family & Friends Railcard: Click here

Rail Travel for People with Disabilities

Assistance can be made available to passengers with reduced mobility. It is recommended that passengers contact the train company at least 24 hours prior to travel.

For information on train travel for disabled passengers: Click here
For a map of rail stations with access for people with reduced mobility: Click here

Passengers with disabilities may be eligible for a Disabled Person's Railcard. The card entitles the holder, as well as an adult accompanying them, to one third discount on train fares.

For further information on the card: Click here or
Tel: 0845 605 0525
For information on eligibility: Click here

Travelling with Pets

Domestic animals are allowed on trains (maximum two per passenger) if they are not dangerous and are kept under control on a lead or in a suitable container. Animals may not use the seats on public transport.