Compare and contrast various train routes and trip times.
Go to the National Rail Web site (see link below in Additional Resources) and enter your departure city and your destination city into their Journey Planner.
Travel via Leeds, or choose a faster train route. Be aware that there can be a 90-minute differential between trains and routes.
Buy tickets at any train station. Modern technology lovers can buy tickets online up to 120 days in advance of travel at the National Rail Web site (see link below) using a major credit card.
Avoid ticket lines and hassle by buying a BritRail pass ahead of time. These passes allow you to simply check a timetable and step onto your train of choice. You can buy these passes online at the BritRail Web site (see link below).
Buy a ticket on the train itself if you are carrying enough cash; but this can be a bit of a hassle if you are juggling luggage, kids and foreign currency.
Book over the phone by calling National Rail. From the U.S., call 011 (+44) (0) 20 7278 5240; from the U.K. call 08457 48 49 50. Or, call RailEurope at (888) 382-RAIL or visit their link below.
Be aware of which station you will be departing from when you book your travel. Trains from Manchester to Newcastle leave both Manchester's Piccadilly and Oxford Road stations.
Choose a train route that involves the fewest number of train changes for a more relaxing trip. Keeping luggage to a minimum and carrying snacks and cash for beverages is another easy way to maintain your comfort.
Take ferries to Norway and to Amsterdam from North Shields, a coastal town eight miles from Newcastle. The Tyne and Wear Metro Line will connect you to this international ferry terminal.
