Britrail England Flexi Pass

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1. "Very easy to use and convinient"

Patrick
(Brisbane, QLD)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Suitability: 5/5

2. "Turn up any time and ride first class excellent value"

John
(Salter Point, WA)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Suitability: 4/5

3. "Very good value"

Wayne
(Pakenham, VIC)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Suitability: 5/5

First class flexi pass: Heathrow Express very good Gatwick express good East Coast (Kings Cross to Newcastle)excellent. Definately recommend. Virgin (Carlilse to Euston) very poor - would not travel with again if it can avoided.

4. "Flexibility is the key to Britpasses"

Christopher
(Perth, WA)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Suitability: 5/5

I have now used a Britpass over 10 times in the last 7 years. As I spend a number of days in a month in the UK, I always use the FlexiPass as I can pick the days over any 2 month period. I used a Standard Pass first time and learned the hard way never to use it again. Standard Class is often packed, cramped airline style seats, seats don't line up with windows, overloaded luggage racks, internet is cost per hour, food is petrol station prices and being 195cm tall I often had poor legroom. A First Class Pass usually means legroom, lots of vacant & larger seats, a table instead of an airline style tray, free internet, food ranging from tea, coffee, water and nibbles through to full meals with drinks. FlexiPasses let you decide when to travel and where. You can just turn up on most trains and find a seat (be sensible about rush hour and likely heavily congested routes and times). You can book a seat (will not work online as they want you to buy a ticket so best to call or visit a station beforehand). Beware when booking a seat that they usually put all prebooked seats in one carriage and then when you get to the train, that carriage is packed while the others are empty!!. If you can make the time, book the sleeper services (my favourite is the London Euston to Fort William). There is a 43 pound supplement to the BritPass for 1st class (Standard is cheaper but you may share a berth with a stranger and there is no breakfast). You leave at a sensible time of 9pm - can use the 1st Class lounge while waiting. You arrive at Fort William at 10.00 am after rolling through the Scottish Highlands from about 6.00 am onwards (which you can enjoy from the 1st Class lounge/observation car). Do this in summer, not winter as the daylight can be 19 hours out of 24 in a day. Virgin are the best for food in 1st Class - if you time it right, you get breakfast or dinner and they always have sandwiches. Most others (Great Western, East Coast, Cross Country, Trans Pennine and Midland Mainline) just do the hot drinks, water biscuits and crisps - many have downgraded this over the last 3 or so years with the GFC. NatEx East Anglia from London to Norwich & Cambridge give you nothing at all in 1st Class so don't forget to BYO. Many smaller lines (regional railways) will also give you nothing, but a lot don't have 1st Class anyway. The best trip one my last visit (June/ July 2011) was a day trip to Bath from London. Well worth doing (though hide the credit cards from the shopaholics). Check the National Rail Enquiries website Journey Planner, get a timetable and then stroll around the shops, pubs and the Roman baths so you can time the finish when you want to catch a train (they are at least every 30 minutes).

5. "The only way to travel"

Susan
(Brighton, VIC)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Suitability: 5/5

We have used the British Rail Pass many times now. Particularly purchasing a 1st Class Ticket, means you can get on any train at any time without having to reserve a seat which is often hard to anticipate when you are on holiday. After 3 trips, we already our value for money and we purchased an 8 day Travel Pass with a bonus of 1.

6. "Very good value if travelling a lot by rail"

Catherine
(BOOROWA, NSW)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Suitability: 5/5

I found that in a lot of cases, ticket prices varied according to the time of day you travelled, having a Britrail Flexi Pass did away with having to adjust my time of travel because of cost. Very easy to use. You can reserve seats (not all trains) free of charge or just take the chance. On some trains there were more tickets sold than seat available. I had 8 days of train travel and found the Pass very worthwhile.

7. "Freedom, flexibility and convenience!"

Corinna
(Wellington)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Suitability: 5/5

This was my second BritRail England FlexiPass. It is wonderfully easy to use, and I really love being able to take any train, anywhere. The only hassle is the unpredictable number of people on the train - sometimes it's standing room only. An unexpected hitch for people like me who get queasy when facing backwards - many carriages had very few seats facing forward... and then twice the train reversed out of a station and then kept going in the same direction! (Going north at Derby, and south at Birmingham New St). There is also limited space for big suitcases, and when travelling with my family we had to spread ourselves and our luggage across two carriages sometimes.

8. "No queues, first class for seniors, easy to use and GREAT value! value"

Anne
(Heathridge, WA)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Suitability: 5/5

9. "Wonderful way to get around England"

Catherine
(Kew, VIC)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 4/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Suitability: 5/5

We had a 4day pass, but only really needed the pass for two specific days of travel...even that represented value-for-money. But we used the extra days for shorter day trips from London. We loved the flexibility, the fact we could choose to travel where and when we wanted, and could enjoy the service in First Class.

10. "Railpass made the holiday so much more enjoyable and hassle free.e"

John
(TORQUAY, VIC)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Suitability: 5/5

This is the 4th time I have used a railpass and each time it has saved money and made rail travel so much easier. With the 1st class railpass, arriving in London Paddington at 5.30am, we were shown to the 1st class lounge with complimentary newspaper,o/juice, tea/coffee, croissants ,rolls,fruit etc. On board, unlimited tea/coffee,biscuits, water from the trolley passing the seat every 40mins. Seat reservation was easy (and necessary even in 1st class) and service from railway staff was excellent at stations and on train. TIP 1: Do reserve seats as rail system is busy and request forward facing seats. TIP 2: Don't hesitate to ask all staff any questions eg which platform? Service is much more courteous than in Europe.

11. "An English Story - point to point"

DEBBIE
(VIC)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Suitability: 5/5

Whilst on an educational in 1999, our coach brokedown so we had to catch the train from London to Manchester, we were all very excited as they put some of us in first class and we thought well its better than a coach!!! So on we popped to start our journey, we set ourselves up in our first class seats and four of us sat around a table to play cards. Then this, what was a lovely gentlemen, decided to give us a few pointers, as we were all in our early 20's at the time, we were blissfully unaware who was helping us, and nodded graciously and when he walked away started laughing saying "silly old man would have no idea how to play cards", well as it turned out he was one of the Worlds top poker players, his name was never given to us, but when we found out we were all a bit embarressed and started using some of the tips he gave us. I am sure he thought "stupid young people, if only they knew!!!".

12. "Local travelling made easier"

Brenda
(Stretton, QLD)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 3/5
Ease of use: 4/5
Suitability: 4/5

The reason I have the product at mid point in value is that I did not use it for long journeys with the result that financially it was "line ball" with what was on sale locally. Had I used it for a longer journey(s) then it would have been greater value for money for me.

13. "Easy to use"

Helen
(Yarra Glen, VIC)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 4/5
Ease of use: 4/5
Suitability: 3/5

Enjoyed the train, able to sit back and relax. Unfortunately did not get to fully use our pass.

14. "Pleasant and easy way to see much of England in a short time"

Jennifer
(Maryborough, VIC)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 3/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Suitability: 4/5

15. "first class service,would recommend"

Mary
(Invercargill)

Recommend:
Overall rating:

Value for money: 3/5
Ease of use: 4/5
Suitability: 4/5

On my first 3 trips I was directed to the standard class carriages, and didn't realise I should have been on the first class ones. No ticket person on the trains redirected me so in my ignorance I travelled in the wrong class! Whilst purchasing an extra trip to Edinburgh the ticket seller in York informed me of my mistake, so I was then able to enjoy the first class rides (only two left unfortunately). My mistake, but it would have been appreciated if I had been redirected to the first class carriages in the first instance. Thank you.

Moderator: "On the outside of the carriage you will normally find a 1 or 2 indicating first and second class"

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Search Tips

1. "Very easy to use and convinient"

2. "Turn up any time and ride first class excellent value"

3. "Very good value"

4. "Flexibility is the key to Britpasses"

5. "The only way to travel"

6. "Very good value if travelling a lot by rail"

7. "Freedom, flexibility and convenience!"

8. "No queues, first class for seniors, easy to use and GREAT value! value"

9. "Wonderful way to get around England"

10. "Railpass made the holiday so much more enjoyable and hassle free.e"

11. "An English Story - point to point"

12. "Local travelling made easier"

13. "Easy to use"

14. "Pleasant and easy way to see much of England in a short time"

15. "first class service,would recommend"