When can I buy Gift vouchers and how much do they cost?

Gift vouchers for the 2013 season are now on sale, to purchase please call 0844 850 4685, payment can be made by credit or debit card.

Voucher prices, inclusive of the booking fee & postage are as follows:

• Standard return for one adult £37
• Standard return for two adults £70
• First class return for one adult £60 (at table for four)
• First class return for two adults £116 (at table for four)
• First Class table for two £119

• Can I book over the phone?

Bookings for the 2013 season started being taken from Friday 30th November. You are able to book on-line or by telephone on 0844 850 4685.

• 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 store my suitcase on the train?

Yes – however please arrive early and ask the Guard where best to store your luggage.

• 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. 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.

• 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.

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• 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 sufficient seats for your party to sit together.

• Which engine will be used?

The locomotive used on the Jacobite will either be a Black 5 or a K1. Up to date locomotive information will be displayed on the homepage prior to travel.

• 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 carriages were built in the 1950s and 1960s and were not designed to accommodate wheelchairs and it is not possible to take a wheelchair into the seating area. Access to the seating areas and toilets is through narrow doorways. We will however, do our utmost to assist passengers whose mobility is impaired, full details can be found in our Disabled Policy page. Click here to view.

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• Can I bring my bicycle on the train?

There is a limited amount of storage on our trains, so we can only accommodate 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 0844 850 4685 or 0845 128 4685 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 0844 850 4685. 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.

• 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 6EN.

• 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.

• 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. Tickets are available by post (you will need to request this after booking)

• Can 3 year old children travel for free?

Any child requiring a seat will pay the child fare. However, a small infant under 5 can travel free whilst sitting on an adult’s knee.

• 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 note that there is a £15 charge for amends made to bookings, this does not apply when adding additional seats or gifts to the current booking. Email us with your booking reference number and we will try and arrange this for you. Bookings@westcoastrailways.net

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• 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 facilities 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. The Jacobite is a same day return on the same train as it is written in the terms & conditions

• Up to what age is a child eligible for a child’s ticket?

A child is eligible if they are 16 and under.

• 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 it is not possible to book these seats in advance

• Do you have a Disability Policy?

Yes, this is available on our Disabled People Protection Policy page. Please click here to view

• If I miss the train will I be able to use my ticket for another day?

Unfounrtately not, we always advise passengers to be at the station well in advance of the departure time.

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• Job Vacancies

Job vacancies are advertised in the Careers section on the website.

Click on the questions below to be taken to that section on this page:

• Am I allowed to bring my dog on the train?
• Seat numbers B & F are these together?

• Can I buy my ticket on the day?

• Do you offer a discount for concessions?
• I dont have a Paypal account?

 

If we still haven’t answered your question then please contact us by phone on by filling in the form on our contact page