Trains - Help required

[Gorion]

As someone coming from a train-less country, I need some orientation on how travelling on trains is done.  Specifically baggage, picking up pre-booked tickets, changing trains, which side to wait for a train and all that gibberish.

This is the train ticket summary we will be using to go from March > York.  We'll have two large suitcases with us.  According to the booking email, we have to pick our tickets from March station.

Thanks!


[TABLE=class: TicketDetailsControl]
[TR]
[TH=bgcolor: #CC0000]Outward journey
11 Oct 2015[/TH]
[TD=class: spacer, bgcolor: transparent][/TD]
[TH=class: none, bgcolor: #DEDFE0]Return journey[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR=class: content]
[TD=class: out]Depart:
Marchdep. 11:09
Change at:
Peterborougharr. 11:31
dep. 11:54
Granthamarr. 12:13
dep. 12:25

Arrive:
York, 13:15

Changes: 2    Duration: 2h 6m
Peterborough - Grantham
Seating:
Coach: K
Seats: 31 , 33


Grantham - York
Seating:
Coach: K
Seats: 27 , 29


Passengers
2 Adults
Advance Single (1st Class)£73.50


Only valid on the booked Virgin Trains East Coast services to/from Peterborough and required connecting services.



Valid on chosen train only. Non refundable. Changeable for a fee. Limited access to First Class Lounges.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Departs:   March at 11:09
Train Operator:   Greater Anglia
Arrives:   Peterborough at 11:31
Departs:   Peterborough at 11:54
Train Operator:   Virgin Trains East Coast
Arrives:   Grantham at 12:13
Seats Reserved:   Coach: K Seats: 31 , 33
Departs:   Grantham at 12:25
Train Operator:   Virgin Trains East Coast
Arrives:   York at 13:15
Seats Reserved:   Coach: K Seats: 27 , 29
Ticket Type:   Advance Single (1st Class)
Route:   Only valid on the booked Virgin Trains East Coast services to/from Peterborough and required connecting services.

[TeaLeaf]

1. When you arrive at any station there will be a board up showing which platform your train will be arriving at.   That will tell you which platform to stand at.

2. In most stations, picking up tickets means having the credit card with you that you originally used to book the tickets with, and (usually) a code and then visiting an automated ticket machine.   You press the 'Pick up pre-booked tickets', pop in your card, enter your code and your tickets get printed out for you.

3. There are usually luggage storage areas at the ends of compartments (ie closest to the doors but inside the carriage) on most train carriages, or sometimes between seat backs, depending on the type of carriage you are on.  

4. Changing trains is a repeat of 1.   Look for either a member of platform staff, or leave that platform and look for the info display which tells you which platform you need to move to for your next train.

HTH.

[Penfold]

I would suggest not picking up your tickets but getting them sent (I don't mind receiving them) as then they'll be in your hot little hands rather than worrying about it on the day.

Luggage is not a problem, Virgin Trains are fine and normally have luggage racks at the end of each carriage.

IMHO First Class is nice but not the end of the world if you don't. I've done London to Carlisle several times on day trips to see a client and standard class is fine so it's just down to cost.

If you're getting the train back then book it at the same time as outward bound as it'll be a LOT cheaper.

The only other thing I would consider is that you're booked on ONLY that train. Should you miss one of the two changes I'm not sure what happens. Presumably they'll put you on the next train as you're buying your ticket from start to finish but I'd check as the only 'Virgin' part of the train is from P/borough and a 10 min stopover doesn't exactly give you a whole lot of leeway.

[Penfold]

meh I see I posted exactly the same time as TL. His fingers work better than mine!

[Gorion]

Re tickets pickup, can't they be picked from the train station on Thursday for example?  There doesn't seem to be an option to change how they are picked up/delivered, as I have already purchased the tickets.  What sort of code are we talking about, as I haven't received any codes; booking reference perhaps?

I did book first class, as the price difference wasn't that much.  With wi-fi costs, and free snacks/drinks it would have probably cost more.

Regarding platforms, do those have Eastbound/Westbound or whatnot, or is it straightforward like: Platform numberN to Grantham or something like that?

I guess travelling insurance will make good for the train missing part if it happens due to something not in my control right?

[Sn00ks]

You could go to the station the day beforehand and collect your tickets in advance. I am sure some willing volunteer would be happy to take you and help collect the tickets, as long as it is done before the drinking starts.

[vobler]

I may not be of much help, but last year my wife and I left from March station. We where driven there by TwoBad. The lady at the hotel told us to buy tickets at the station. But when we arrived at the station there was no one there. We found a machine that we could buy tickets from, but it did not work. We ended up just entering the train without tickets.

A fun story is that when we had stowed our luggage and sat down, we saw a sign saying the train going to Stanstead and not Peterborough that I thought we where. OK I said to my wife, no problem just enjoy the ride. Then the conductor came and he wanted to check our tickets. We said we had to buy tickets. OK, Where too? Stanstead we said. ...?? Then you are on the wrong train he said. This train is going to Peterborough. Turned out the sign in the train was wrong. We had a great ride to Kings Cross.

[Tutonic]

TL's advice is spot on. Trains in the UK can get a little weird as it's all run by different operators, but it's generally not very stressful - we'll take you down to the station and make sure you're on the right one if need be

Are you actually going up to York? It's a great city, loads to see

[Gorion]

Thanks for all the help lads.

Yep going to York as the missus has some family there and they asked us to go over.  Been doing some reading on the place and it seems like a nice  historic location.

[faust82]

Having taken trains in a few countries, the UK isn't one of those I worry about. They're not as good at forcing different operators to cooperate as the dutch, but you should be able to get stuff sorted pretty well.
Unless they pull a fast one on you (a favourite with the Norwegian operator as well) and do a bus for train replacement [emoji14]

Happiness is a warm gun!