| Hello. |
| Um... my family and I are staying here in Trebirch for a week or two |
| and we wanted to know about the train services. |
| We're hoping to do a few local trips. |
| Okay. |
| Well, I can give you lots of details about all the trains going from Trebirch in the South West. |
| This leaflet will be very helpful |
| but I can tell you some of the main things. |
| We've got two main train stations in the town. |
| King Street is for local commuter lines and regional services. |
| What about trains to London? |
| I'll need to go there on business for one day. |
| Then you need to go to Central Station - |
| that's for all the national services. |
| There are regular trains to London. |
| They leave Trebirch every half hour on weekdays and every hour at weekends. |
| It takes about two hours, a bit longer on Sundays. |
| You've got a choice of first and second class and there's a buffet car - |
| though refreshments are included in the cost of a first class ticket. |
| Ah, right. |
| Um, and have you got any information on different ticket types? |
| Yes. |
| There's a range of ticket prices depending on when you travel and when you buy your ticket. |
| There's a standard open ticket which doesn't have any restrictions. |
| This can be bought in advance or on the day. |
| You can also get various discounted tickets. |
| A popular one is called the Supersave |
| and, er, this is OK for travel after 8.45. |
| Then there is the Special ticket, |
| which is valid for travel after 10:15. |
| The Special tickets are also valid for travel at weekends. |
| The cheapest tickets are called Advance |
| and you have to buy them at least six days ahead. |
| Only a certain number are available |
| and you have to make seat reservations for these. |
| Thanks. And are there lots of places to go to around here? |
| Oh yes. |
| You can enjoy many days out. |
| Um there's the Merthyr Mining Museum, |
| which is only half an hour from Trebirch by train. |
| Your children will find it just as fascinating as any theme park |
| and they can ride in the original miners' lifts and on the coal trains. |
| There are special excursion tickets which include entrance fees. |
| Mainline trains also offer direct services to Bristol, |
| where you can visit the docks or spend a great day out with the children in the zoo, |
| which is set in the parkland that used to surround the old castle. |
| Er, special family awayday fares are available for this service now during the school holidays. |
| Er, alternatively, you can be in Birmingham in only an hour and a half, |
| where there's lots to see and do including the new and internationally-acclaimed climbing wall |
| built on the site of the old aquarium. |
| We will also be running a special service to Newport |
| when the new science museum opens next year, |
| as we anticipate a lot of visitors in the opening weeks. |
| I'd advise you to call early to book your tickets. |
| Is that OK? |
| Yes, thanks. |