Interrail use in UK

[jthjth]

I’m contemplating an all countries pass for Interail. I’m a UK resident. The conditions state that the pass is valid for one outward and one inward journey within your own country. I’ve also read somewhere that this can be to an airport - I intend flying to and from Switzerland. I also intend purchasing the first class version of the ticket. So within the UK can I double check that I can travel to/from home to Heathrow? Also, can I treat the Interrail ticket as an Anytime, ie hop on whatever train takes my fancy (within the bounds of a sensible route to the airport)? Finally, is it valid on the Heathrow Express (in May 2019 if that is important).

Thanks

 

[Indigo Soup]

I’m contemplating an all countries pass for Interail. I’m a UK resident. The conditions state that the pass is valid for one outward and one inward journey within your own country. I’ve also read somewhere that this can be to an airport - I intend flying to and from Switzerland. I also intend purchasing the first class version of the ticket. So within the UK can I double check that I can travel to/from home to Heathrow? Also, can I treat the Interrail ticket as an Anytime, ie hop on whatever train takes my fancy (within the bounds of a sensible route to the airport)? Finally, is it valid on the Heathrow Express (in May 2019 if that is important).

Thanks

Unless it's changed since I did InterRail, the single outward and inward journey within your own country is conditional on the railway authority in your own country agreeing to it. At that time, it wasn't allowed by ATOC, so the UK was the only country where you couldn't take advantage of this.

 

[cactustwirly]

Unless it's changed since I did InterRail, the single outward and inward journey within your own country is conditional on the railway authority in your own country agreeing to it. At that time, it wasn't allowed by ATOC, so the UK was the only country where you couldn't take advantage of this.

No you can use Interrail for a journey in the UK, I used it in the summer to get to St Pancras.
HEx is showing on the Interrail journey planner, so I assume you can use it.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Yes it has changed.
See the info at
https://www.interrail.eu/en/interrail-passes/what-is-interrail/travel-your-own-country

...We want our Passes to be as flexible as our travellers, so if you're travelling with an Interrail Global Pass, you can now use it to travel in your country of residence during one outbound journey and one inbound journey that occur during travel days at any point in your trip...

and in the FAQs at
https://www.interrail.eu/en/interrail-passes/global-pass

Can I travel with Interrail in my own country?
If you have an Interrail Global Pass, you can travel on one travel day to leave your country of residence (outbound) and on one travel day to return (inbound). You can use these journeys in your country on travel days at any point in your Pass’ validity

I used it myself, 1st class with free food Doncaster-London. The ticket inspectors didn't cause any grief, and seemed to know all about it.

 

[Haywain]

Unless it's changed since I did InterRail, the single outward and inward journey within your own country is conditional on the railway authority in your own country agreeing to it. At that time, it wasn't allowed by ATOC, so the UK was the only country where you couldn't take advantage of this.

This has changed quite recently - no more than a couple of years ago, if my memory serves correctly (which it does sometimes!).

 

[CyrusWuff]

When I started, it was a 34% discount in your country of origin and "Passholder" fares on Eurostar (which weren't particularly competitively priced compared to the normal public fares IIRC).

 

[Polarbear]

I recall the UK availability on Inter Rail tickets started at the beginning of 2017. I’ve certainly used them on a few occasions & the only time I’ve even had one inkling of a challenge was at the barrier at Euston on my return leg.

Once passport was produced along with E* reservation, I was allowed on my merry way.

 

[gray1404]

Are they valid on E* too?

 

[rg177]

Ironically I'm actually doing on Interrail in a couple of weeks. Out via Manchester Airport, back via London St Pancras.

Obtained reservations (for a train to York then another to the Airport, and one through from London to Newcastle) at the Newcastle ticket office yesterday with very little fuss.

Called Eurostar earlier to get the reservation (as website was on the blink) and it was £26.50 from Lille to London (versus £58.50 advance fare). Of course it's that price from Brussels or London too.

 

[matt]

Are they valid on E* too?

If you pay the €30 reservation fee then yes.

 

[gray1404]

So quite a saving on E* then

 

[ASharpe]

It's quite a bargain really. Me and the Mrs were going to do use a Benelux pass last year but ended up getting a global pass so we could get from Yorkshire to Brussels a lot cheaper. And we took full advantage of the Kings Cross FC lounge in both directions.

 

[superalbs]

It effectively serves as an ALR for the outward and inbound journey dates.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

It effectively serves as an ALR for the outward and inbound journey dates.

Well, not quite, as you can't do more than one journey - you can only make the one, and presumably you might be looked at with a little suspicion if you were doing a very roundabout, non-permitted route. I used mine to go from London to Fort William, as that's pretty much the longest you can do in one 'day'!

 

[westv]

I remember when you had to be 26 or younger to get an Interrail pass.