| Scenic Railways Wales UK |
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Featured Article
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| The
Flexible Travelling Companion by
Roger Thomas |
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"These tickets give you the freedom and flexibility you want, combining train and bus routes with travel on the narrow-gauge railways."
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 There's
now a more persuasive reason than ever for getting around Wales
by train. It's in the form of the great-value unlimited-travel
tickets available, which give passengers the freedom of Wales
scenic rail network. And there's more than just rail travel
involved. When you purchase the all-Wales www.walesflexipass.co.uk,
or the South Wales or North & Mid Flexi-Rover and Wales
tickets you'll receive money-saving offers on a whole range
of attractions and services, including buses and narrow-gauge
railways, castles and museums.
 The
rail network in Wales is surprisingly extensive. In addition
to the two mainline services along the south and north coasts,
there are regional lines which travel through the peaceful heart
of the country and along the Mid Wales coast. Three lines in
particular are famous for their exceptional scenery - the Heart
of Wales between Swansea and Shrewsbury, the Cambrian Coast
from Aberystwyth to Pwllheli, and the Conwy Valley linking Llandudno
with Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Many of Wales' top attractions and places to visit are accessible
by train. Rail services not only serve expected destination
such as Cardiff, the cosmopolitan capital city, or the lively
north coast resorts. They also take travellers to places like
Harlech Castle (the station is in the shadow of this spectacular
fortress), Betws-y-Coed in Snow-donia, and the elegant Victorian
spa town of Llan-drindod Wells.
The Freedom of Wales Flexi-Pass allows four days unlimited travel on mainline rail services and eight days unlimited travel on most scheduled bus services in any 8-day period, or similarly eight and fifteen days any 15-day period. It is just the ticket for those who want to see all of the country the relaxing way. Adult prices are £55 (4 in 8) and £92 (8 in 15) peak season (12 June to 18 September), and £45 (4 in 8) and £75 (8 in 15) off-peak (2 January to 11 June and from 19 September onwards). Reductions of approximately one third are available to children aged 5-15 and holders of Young Persons¹, Senior and Disabled Persons railcards. Children under 5 travel free. This ticket covers all rail routes in Wales, together with the line running along the border from Newport through Shrewsbury to Crewe.
For those who want to concentrate on smaller areas, there's the South Wales Flexi-Rover and the North & Mid Wales Flexi-Rover ticket (three days rail travel and seven days bus travel in any seven days). An adult ticket costs £35 (South Wales) peak season and £30 off peak and £30.00 (North & Mid Wales) all year round. Again, reductions of approximately one third are available to children aged 5-15 and holders of Young Persons¹, Senior and Disabled Persons railcards and children under 5 travel free. There are also Day Ranger tickets available.
These discount prices represent huge savings. And there's more
good news for ticket holders in the form of many money-saving
offers. One major bonus is free or discounted travel on many
of Wales' narrow-gauge railways and bus services. There's free
travel, for example, on the Ffestiniog Railway, the longest
of Wales' Great Little Trains, which travels 13 miles from Porthmadog
to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Other narrow-gauge lines throughout North
and Mid Wales offer discounts, mostly of around 20 to 25%.
Discounted tickets on bus services throughout Wales (including
the cross-country TrawsCambria route) are also part of the deal
for Flexi-Pass and Flexi-Rover ticket holders.
The savings don't end there. If you stop off at Welshpool and
visit the National Trust's Powis Castle you'll receive a 10%
discount on the admission price. All National Trust properties
in Wales accessible by public transport offer a similar discount,
along with all National Museums and Galleries of Wales sites.
 These
tickets give you the freedom and flexibility to put together
whatever itinerary you want, combining train and bus routes
with travel on the narrow-gauge railways. What better car-free
way to get from north to south than on the Conwy Valley line
from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog, connecting with the Ffestiniog
Railway to Porthmadog then on by the Cambrian Coast to Machynlleth
to pick up the TrawsCambria bus to Cardiff?
Flexi-Pass or Flexi-Rover tickets are available from most rail
stations, rail-appointed travel agents, selected TICs and gateway
Youth Hostel outlets. Or direct by phone with major credit card
from 01766 512340. Go to www.walesflexipass.co.uk
to find out more. |
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