Sally pretty much said it all when she pointed out that there are different train companies with different price ranges and different advance booking requirements to receive discounts.

I usually travel Midland Mainline when in the UK, and they have required a week's advance purchase to receive a *significant* discount when traveling first class, which I recommend. Since I usually don't have a week after arriving in London before needing to travel by train, I find it useful to buy my train tickets in advance to take advantage of the generous discount.

Midland Mainline has an Internet site and I make my ticket purchases online there before leaving the US. The train company holds the ticket for me for pick-up at St. Pancras station in London, my departing point. All I have to do is show the credit card I used to purchase the tickets online to get them.

It may be worth your while to check out if the train lines you may be traveling on offer a similar online ticket purchase service. I found it saves time, money, and assures getting the seat you want.

-- Mary Ann Fairfax, Virginia

Mod's Note: URL for Midland Mainline is http://www.midlandmainline.com/