Below are some frequently asked questions that may help you further:

Can I use Tesco Clubcard Vouchers?

Tesco Clubcard Days Out Vouchers can only be used on standard travel days (highlighted in blue or green on our timetable calendar). They are not accepted for special events, which include Day out with Thomas and Santa Specials. (Special events are generally highlighted in red or yellow on our timetable calendar). Nor are they accepted for Dining trains, Real Ale Trains or Footplate Experiences. They can only be redeemed on the day of travel at the booking office and cannot be used for advance bookings either by telephone or online. Please remember that these vouchers have an expiry date and we cannot accept them if they are out of date.

Real Ale Trains

The RAT is effectively one long bar carrying 350 people, so we are unable to reserve seats. Due to the adult nature of the RAT we do recommend that you do not bring children under 18. It is not permissable to bring your own food and drink. Due to the internal dimensions of our RAT carraiges, physically disabled persons can only be accomodated if they are not confined to a wheelchair.

Do you have Disabled concessions?

Yes � if adults or children who are registered as disabled with their local Social Services Department visit the Railway, accompanied by a carer, the disabled person is charged the appropriate fare and one carer travels free. Ideally, the Disabled person will have proof issued by their local Social Services Department. This may be a card, similar in size to a Bank Card.

Please note:

� This concession is not linked to any Social Security Benefits.
� This concession can be claimed on the day of travel or in advance by calling reservations on 01962 733810 to book tickets � it is not available for online ticket sales.
� Our Booking Office staff and Travelling Ticket Inspectors will take a commonsense approach, but you can help them by being ready to produce appropriate proof � disability is not always obvious.
This concession is available on all of our services except Santa Specials.

For further details about disabled access to help plan your day please go to our facilities page.

Why can't I see the service 1 and 2 timetable?

The service timetables are displayed in pop up windows, which your web browser may be blocking. To see the window either hold down the Ctrl key as you click the link, or on the browser bar near the 'back', 'refresh' buttons etc click on the 'pop up' button and this will allow all pop ups from our site. Pop ups from other sites will still be blocked.

What is a pop up window?

Most web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, routinely block 'pop ups' so that you are not bombarded with advertising. However, most retail websites use pop ups as an effective way to display extra information about a product without taking you away from the page you are on - so that you are not endlessly moving backwards and forwards from page to page on the website.

What are the different ticket types?

As well as travel tickets giving all day unlimited travel, we also have tickets for single journeys and intermediate fares for passengers only travelling between two or three stations. We also issue platform only tickets, which as it implies do not cover a ride on the trains. These ticket types are not valid for our special events.

How can I buy a ticket as a gift?

There are two ways to purchase gift tickets. You can buy open dated gift vouchers for our offerings, which are valid for 12 months from date of purchase, which the recipient redeems with us for a date of their choosing. Gift vouchers display the recipients name and do not display the value, but please note that they need to be delivered to you the purchaser as the receipt will be included.

Alternatively you can buy dated tickets as a gift. At the end of the ordering process you can enter the recipients name, but if you wish to give without the recipient knowing the value of the tickets please call our reservations team on 01962 733810 with your order number to arrange for an additional 'gift ticket' to be printed. Again, please note that the receipt will be included in the envelope.

Do I book a seat on a train?

Our daytime travel tickets are for all day unlimited travel and are not seat or train time specific, you just arrive at your leisure and catch the next available train. This gives you the freedom to explore our stations and the nearby towns as you wish.

Why can't I find timetables for special events?

To cater for the increased visitor numbers at special events we often run our trains more frequently. We do not publish these timetables far in advance of the event, especially for galas, when there are so many variables that can alter it up until the last minute. A working version is usually posted online a week or so beforehand and on arrival you will receive an information leaflet detailing the days timetable, things to see and do and railway facilities.

Are dogs allowed on the railway?

Dogs are allowed on the trains with a Rover Ticket at �1, which can be purchased at the ticket office on arrival. They must be kept on a lead at all times and are not allowed on the carriage seats. Dogs are NOT allowed on Santa, RAT or Dining trains. Guide Dogs are of course allowed on all trains, but we do request that they remain under tables if food is being served.

Can I bring the pram / puschair?

These must be folded and travel in the Brake coach, they are not allowed in the carriages for health and safety reasons. You may find it easiest to use a baby carrier or travel system for small babies. During 'Thomas' only we have a buggy park at Ropley station. Prams and pushchairs are not allowed on Santa Specials.

Why are children under 5 not allowed on the Countryman Dining trains?

This is for safety reasons. Children under five routinely need a highchair or booster seat to allow them to eat at the height of our dining carriage tables. Due to the design of the carriage seating we are unable to secure booster seats and we have neither space nor fixing for highchairs. We cannot allow children to travel in unsecured seating on a moving train that may need to brake unexpectedly. Due to the restricted space between seats and tables on our dining trains we also regret that children may not be conveyed on their parents lap.

Are bicycles allowed on the railway?

Bicycles are stowed in the Brake coach with the pushchairs at no extra cost. If you are coming with a cycling group please contact Reservations on 01962 733810 to ensure we will have enough room.

When does the 12 month Footplate Experience voucher period start?

The Footplates voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, but this will be extended if, for example, the attendee cannot partake within the period through illness or because we are fully booked. The 12 month period is for booking the experience, not necessarily doing it, so the attendee could book in month 12 to actually do the footplate experience some months later. When booked the voucher takes 5 - 7 working days to reach you. If you need it in a hurry you can book over the phone and it can be processed in 48 hours. Gift vouchers display the recipients name and do not display the value, but please note that they need to be delivered to you the purchaser as the receipt will be included.

How does the Advanced Driving and Firing work?

For the advanced course the train does 3 round trips of the line in the day, effectively giving us 6 x 10 mile journeys (each needing a driver and a fireman). We can therefore take 6 participants and each does one complete 10 mile journey firing and one complete 10 mile journey driving (plus a footplate ride over one downhill section each). So that participants do not spend two whole round trips as passengers, this is splt up over the day. So, for example, you may fire on the first journey up the line on the first round trip, take a ride on a section on the second round trip and drive the return journey on the last round trip. When not on the footplate participants are actively involved in all other aspects of hauling a train, and are able to discuss things with the guard whilst travelling in the carriages. Thus each participant does the full 20 miles driving and firing (10 miles of each).

Please note that you need not have completed the introductory course first; you are simply booking for a full day on the railway rather than half a day. You may also make a double booking to experience driving and firing 20 miles each.

For a one to one whole day lesson please contact Reservations on 01962 733810.

Santa Specials:

Ages and Gifts

Your child will be asked their age by Santa when he visits to ensure they receive an appropriate gift. Babies receive a gift to ensure Santa treats every child equally - something that is very important to a believer! If you are unsure of the childrens ages when you book, or you realise you have got them wrong, please DO NOT worry - the information is purely to help us load up more than enough of each gift type in the morning and it does not affect your ticket purchase, so amendments do not need to be made to your tickets.

Prams and Pushchairs

For Health & Safety reasons these are strictly not allowed on Santa Specials and we do not have storage at the stations. If you wish to use a baby carrier please note that it may need to be held on your lap.

Are my personal details secure?

This website is hosted on a secure server and all of your personal details are held in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Once your credit card payment has been processed your card details are automatically removed from the booking system.