PRIOR TO 1997 THE OVERGROUND NETWORK OF TRAINS THAT RAN NATIONWIDE WAS KNOWN AS BRITISH RAIL. SINCE 1997 HOWEVER THE OVERGROUND INTERCITY SYSTEM HAS BECOME A SYSTEM OF FRANCHISES WITH LINES BEING SOLD OFF ON A LEASE BASIS TO PRIVATE COMPANIES. COLLECTIVELY THIS SYSTEM IS NOW KNOWN AS NATIONAL RAIL. THIS GENERIC TERM SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH NETWORK RAIL WHO ARE THE BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIXED ASSETS OF THE NATIONAL RAILWAY SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDED THE ACTUAL TRACK ITSELF, BUT NOT THE ROLLING STOCK. THE LONDON UNDERGROUND IS NOT PART OF EITHER NETWORK RAIL OR NATIONAL RAIL, IT IS AN ENTIRELY SEPARATE SYSTEM THAT IN PARTS SHARES STATIONS AND TRACK WITH NATIONAL RAIL. NATIONAL RAIL STATIONS ARE TERMED MAINLINE STATIONS WHICH MEANS IT IS PART OF THE RAIL SYSTEM THAT COVERS THE WHOLE OF MAINLAND BRITAIN AND NOT A LOCAL SERVICE. SO IF YOU ARE IN LONDON AND ARE LOOKING TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY YOU NEED TO USE ONE OF THE MAINLINE STATIONS. SOME MAINLINE STATIONS ARE ALSO SHARED WITH LONDON TUBE STATIONS AND THESE ARE SHOWN ON MAPS AS INTERCHANGE STATIONS. TO CONFUSE MATTERS EVEN FURTHER SOME PRIVATELY OWNED AND RUN SERVICES THAT USE THE NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE ARE NOT PART OF THE NATIONAL RAIL SYSTEM. THESE INCLUDE POPULAR SERVICES SUCH AS THE HEATHROW EXPRESS FROM PADDINGTON STATION WHICH IS OWNED BY BAA AND THE EUROSTAR SERVICE FROM ST PANCRAS STATION WHICH RUNS TO PARIS IN FRANCE.
THE MAP OF LONDON TRAIN SERVICES INCLUDES THE NATIONAL RAIL LINES WHICH YOU CAN FIND BY CLICKING HERE
BOOKING AND PLANNING THROUGH JOURNEYS CAN BE A PROBLEM IF YOU ARE TRYING TO OBTAIN ANY SPECIAL DEALS AND IT MAY WELL BE WORTH BOOKING A TRAVELCARD IN ADVANCE.
THE NATIONAL RAIL WEBSITE WITH JOURNEY, PRICE AND TICKET INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING HERE.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A NEW RAIL SERVICE CALLED LONDON OVERGROUND WHICH IS NOT THE SAME THE NATIONAL RAIL OR NATIONAL OVERGROUND ROUTES. ITS A STANDALONE SERVICE RUN BY TRANSPORT FOR LONDON. IT CONSISTS OF THE FORMER LONDON RAILWAY AND THE EAST LONDON LINE (FROM 2010).
SEE LONDON OVERGROUND ROUTE
Saving Money
16-25 Railcard
Its possible to save 1/3 on fares covering much of the overground service including the Heathrow Express and TFL Rail services, Gatwick Express and Stansted Express services with this card. You can also purchase this card if your over 25 providing your in full time education.
Oyster Off-Peak pay as you go Daily Price Cap and Off-Peak pay as you go single fares for journeys on National Rail, London Underground and Docklands Light Railway.
Off-Peak Day Travelcard Zones 1-6 some ticket types offered by individual train companies. Please enquire locally for details
Anytime Day Travelcard Zones 1-6 when bought as part of ticket to London from outside the London Zones area
PLUSBUS give you unlimited bus travel from your start/arrival station with participating operators. Visit plusbus.info or ask at your local station ticket office for further details
Please remember that for all journeys made at or between 4.30am and 10am Monday to Friday, a minimum fare applies. This means that the Railcard is not suitable for most daily commutes to work or places of study. Don’t forget that if you travel regularly between 4.30am and 10am Monday to Friday then a weekly or monthly season ticket is likely to be the best way for you to save money. Railcards do not give discounts on season tickets.
There is NO minimum fare at weekends, on Public Holidays and during July and August. For full details of minimum fares, please ask at your local staffed station and some National Rail-licensed Travel Agents.