Inside the World of Travel: Rail tickets: the deals of the season

Britain's railways are offering a host of deals for the winter traveller. We offer our Top 10 best buys - plus a few tips to help you on your way. By Mark Stratton

WINTER IS about to begin - at least as far as Britain's railways are concerned. The new timetable sees the post-privatisation expansion of services continuing, and more and more tricks to fill them. These are the top 10 bargains that we have tracked down:

TOP TEN BARGAINS

10 Between London and Llandudno Junction for pounds 26 return, if you book by seven days in advance. Virgin Trains, 0345 222333.

9 The Family Funday Sunday special on ScotRail, where you can travel anywhere at half-price - providing you are accompanied by a child, who pays pounds 1. ScotRail, 0345 550033.

8 Anywhere in West Yorkshire, buses and trains, for two adults and up to three children for pounds 6 any day. (Mon-Fri after 9.30am). A single person's ticket is pounds 4.50. Leeds Tourist Information, 0113 242 5242.

7 ScotRail offers a Family sleeper ticket for two adults plus two children for pounds 220 return from London to Edinburgh. It must be booked at least seven days in advance. ScotRail, 0345 550033.

6 The Freedom of Wales for eight days' train travel in any 15 for pounds 75. Valid for Wales & West, Great Western, Virgin Trains and Ffestiniog Railway. Ffestiniog Railway, 01766 512340, will book the ticket.

5 Manchester to London Euston for pounds 15 each way, or pounds 25 return, on First North Western Trains. No advance purchase required. First North Western Trains, 0161-228 4696.

4 Anglia Plus one-day pass: the freedom of Suffolk and Norfolk for pounds 8. Anglia Railways, 01473 693919.

3 Night out offer between Newcastle and London for pounds 19 return. Travel after 3pm and next morning before 9am. GNER, 0345 225225.

2 Connex sells a day return to Brighton, including entrance to the Pavilion, for pounds 17.75. A pounds 10.66 return from London to Chester includes admission to three local attractions if you set off before 10.30am. Book both through Connex, 0870 603 0405.

1 Anywhere on the Northern Ireland Railways network for pounds 3, valid on Sundays only, purchase before 3pm. Northern Ireland Railways, 01232 899411.

How do you find out about these deals?

It is very tricky; since British Rail was broken up, there has been no central publicity department. The best source is a free e-mail newsletter called RailWatch: RailWatch@lists.infoservice. com.

What are the pitfalls?

Many of these deals have very specific availability restrictions - you can travel only on certain trains, outside peak periods, and sometimes you have to book in advance, anything from a few hours to a fortnight.

What happens if you miss the train?

That depends - with some of the deals you can just catch the next train, with others you have to pay extra. Usually anything with an advance booking requirement is inflexible.

How do fares for buses and planes compare?

Long-distance buses have competitive fares, and few of the restrictions that trains have for cheap fares. Planes, particularly between Scotland and London, can be competitive - but you have to pay pounds 10 tax. To kickstart its new service between Luton and Liverpool, easyJet (www.easyJet.com, 0870 600 0000) is offering a fare of pounds 26 return for those who book on the web.

The best three foreign jaunts:

1 A mid-week Eurostar day-trip from London to Lille for pounds 49 return is available between 21 September and 19 November.

Available from Eurostar, 0990 186186.

2 Connex offers a cheap three-day return via rail and Hoverspeed to Bruges. Adult return is pounds 29, children pounds 18 (or pounds 15 if aged 4-11). Rather slower than Eurostar, but much cheaper. Details from Connex 0870 603 0405.

3 From the Midlands, a return ticket to Paris, travelling with Midland Mainline and Eurostar, will cost pounds 69 until 19 December. Tickets must be booked at least seven days in advance from Midland stations such as Leicester, Derby and Nottingham (details 0845 001 1125).