Frequently Asked Questions

Am I allowed to bring my dog on the train?
Small family dogs are permitted in the standard section of our trains (1 per booking). Unfortunately dogs are not permitted in 1st class.

Can I buy my ticket on the day?
Some seats are available to 'Pay on the Day', just turn up at your chosen station on the day of travel and purchase tickets from the guard on the train. PLEASE NOTE: these operate on a first come first served basis and cannot be guaranteed or pre booked. We strongly recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment, especially if you are wishing to travel on The Jacobite as tickets do sell out early.

When can I buy tickets for 2010?
The timetable for 2010 is not yet finalised for all of our trips. Jacobite and Cambrian bookings are now being taken, please check back later on in the year if you wish to book on one of our other trips.

My seat numbers say B & F, are these together?
It is most likely that these seats will be together. The ‘B’ and the ‘F’ determine which side of a table you are seated, therefore as an example seat 1b is seated opposite (over a table) seat 1f. Please also note that for most journeys seat ‘b’ would be facing backwards on the outward journey and forwards on the return journey. Also seat ‘1b’ is generally next to seat ‘2b’ and seat ‘1f’ is generally next to seat ‘2f’.

Can I book over the phone?
Yes, please call the booking office on 0845 128 4681 to book over the phone.

What are the seating arrangements?
In the first class carriages there are tables for two and tables for four. In standard carriages there are tables for four only.

What are the benefits of a 1st class seat?
1st class seats are more comfortable and larger than the standard seats, giving you extra leg room. The carriage is more luxurious than the standard carriages with nicer furnishings. On the Jacobite only you are also served with complimentary tea and coffee for both legs of the journey.

If I book in advance will I be given a set seat?
Yes, you will always be allocated seat numbers when booking in advance.

How do I make sure that my seats are all together?
When booking online you will be allocated seats together. The system will not let you book unless there are enough seats for your party to sit together.

Do you offer a discount for concessions?
Unfortunately we do not offer concessionary fares for senior citizens.

Are your trains suitable for a wheelchair user?
Our steam train carriages are old style traditional stock so they are only suitable for a wheelchair user if the person is able to leave their wheelchair with aid to sit in a carriage seat. It is also essential that the wheelchair can fold up. A wheelchair with seated occupant unfortunately would not be able to travel on the Jacobite.

Can I bring my bicycle on the train?
There is a limited amount of storage on our trains, so we can only accomodate a maximum of four bicycles in one day. However, wheelchairs will take priority. Please note that it is not possible to board with a bicycle at all stations. Please call 0845 128 4681 at your time of booking to let us know if you are planning on bringing bicycles.

How do I book for more than 6 passengers?
The website only allows bookings of up to 6 passengers. For group booking please call our booking office on 0845 128 8634. Special rates are available to parties of 10 or more adults, these rates are only attainable when booking over the phone.

Are pushchairs permitted on the train?
As long as your pushchair can fold up then it should not be a problem to bring this on the train with you. Please be aware however that as wheelchairs take priority there may be limited storage space on your day of travel, in which case your pushchair can be stored in the station.

How do I get through the ticket barriers at Leeds station?
You will just need to show your ticket to one of the attendants at the gate and you will be let through.

Does The Jacobite depart from the normal train station at Fort William?
Yes, there is only one train station in Fort William. The address is: Tom-na-Faire, Station Square, Fort William, Highland, PH33 6TQ.

I don’t have a Paypal account, how do I pay?
If you do not have a Paypal account you can also pay with any major credit card. After clicking “proceed to payment” you will be taken to the Paypal website. Users can log in on the right hand side of the screen. If you do not have a paypal account, on the left hand side of the screen you will see that it says “Don't have a PayPal account? Use your credit card or bank account”. If you click continue you can enter your credit card details and proceed to payment.

I paid by credit card, why have I received a receipt from Paypal?
If you have paid online by credit card, you will still be sent a receipt for your payment from Paypal, as all of our transactions are made through them.

Can I buy gift vouchers?
Gift Vouchers for the 2010 season are available to purchase by contacting the booking office on 0845 128 4681. Opening hours are 8:30am - 4:30pm Mon -Thur, and 8:30am - 4:00pm Fri. With a gift voucher the receiver can choose a date that is convenient for them, as long as there are seats available.

Will my tickets be sent in the post?
If you have booked online then you will be sent a booking receipt via the email address that you have supplied us with. This also acts as your ticket, so please make sure to print it out and bring it with you on your day of travel. If you think that you may not have received this or have lost it, please send us an email and we will send you a new one.

Can 3 year old children travel for free?
If your child requires their own seat then you will need to purchase a child ticket for them. If however they are 3 or under and will be sitting with an adult i.e. on your lap, then they may travel for free.

Can I change the date of my booking?
As long as there are seats available on your desired date and you give us plenty of notice then this can easily be done. Please email us with your booking reference number and we will try and arrange this for you.

I would like forward facing seats, how can I book these?
Unfortunately we cannot guarantee which way your seats will be facing, as sometimes the carriages are turned around without notice. If you are not happy with your seats on the day the best thing to do is to ask the guard if there are any others available that you can swap to.

I would like seats on the left side of the train, how can I book these?
Unfortunately we cannot guarantee which side of the carriage your seats will be on, as sometimes the carriages are turned around without notice. If you are not happy with your seats on the day the best thing to do is to ask the guard if there are any others available that you can swap to.

What food and drink facilities are there on board?
There is a buffet carriage on board which offers hot and cold drinks, and cold snacks.

Are there toilet facilities on board?
Yes, there are toilet facilites on board The Jacobite, The Cambrian and The Scarborough Spa Express.

Can I buy a different day / open return?
To travel on different days you will need to book two singles, one for your outbound journey and one for your inbound journey.

Up to what age is a child eligible for a child’s ticket?
A child is up to the age of 16.

What parking facilities are available for The Jacobite?
Although Fort William Station itself has limited parking, Fort William has several car parks, so it should be no problem to find a place for your car. The car parks are well signed, and there are short stay and long stay car parks.

I would like to book tickets in the ‘Harry Potter’ style compartments, is this possible?
Unfortunately these seats are not possible to book in advance.