national rail enquiries non-geo number is 0845 7484950 but you could access this number on 0207 2785240, number obtained from this site.  I tried it today but received a message that this number is for international callers only! It seems that they have now blocked access on this number-does anybody know an alternative?

[edit]by Dave: The thread for National Rail's TrainTracker service is here.[/edit]

You can get through on 0191 218 8004.See the recent link in Geographical number chat, entitled
SNEAKY RAIL ENQUIRIES.

wrote on May 25^th, 2005 at 4:19pm:

national rail enquiries non-geo number is 0845 7484950 but you could access this number on 0207 2785240, number obtained from this site.  I tried it today but received a message that this number is for international callers only!

And how did they know you weren't calling from abroad?

They have some sort of equipment on one of there switches that reads the incoming number, that can tell when the call is coming from a uk landline!!! Read the thread in geographic chat (SNEAKY RAIL ENQUIRIES!!!)

the 0191 takes a while to answer around this time of the morning thou

Many thanks guys. I guess they will try to filter out calls from within UK but we can only keep trying.

wrote on May 25^th, 2005 at 8:48pm:

They have some sort of equipment on one of there switches that reads the incoming number, that can tell when the call is coming from a uk landline!!! Read the thread in geographic chat (SNEAKY RAIL ENQUIRIES!!!)

I phoned the Inland Revenue (or whatever they're now called) on a geographical number the other day and spoke to a very helpful man!

During the conversation, he mentioned that he knew I was calling from abroad!

I hadn't the heart to tell him that I was just using the 18866 prefix!

wrote on May 25^th, 2005 at 8:48pm:

They have some sort of equipment on one of there switches that reads the incoming number, that can tell when the call is coming from a uk landline!!! Read the thread in geographic chat (SNEAKY RAIL ENQUIRIES!!!)

The lengths that these cretins go to in order to stop people circumventing their rip-off numbers is truly staggering. Like many others that live outside the UK, I occasionally use voice-over-internet systems to connect to UK numbers. Many of these will present a standard UK number on CLI equipment. As I can't call the non-geographic number in the first place, the rail enquiry system wrongly detects that I am calling from the UK and refers me to the rip-off number. Clueless. If UK businesses put as much effort into customer service as they do to stop people getting round the extortion numbers, then they could really benefit. They won't as businesses and other orgz appear to be administered by complete numpties. When will they ever learn?! The UK will decline in terms of international importance, and not a moment too soon. Ofcom - what a laugh. Incompetent and impotent fools. Shameful.

wrote on May 26^th, 2005 at 4:02pm:

Incompetent and impotent fools. Shameful.

Just spotted that impotent con is an anagram of incompetent  :)
I really need cheering up when I now see so many lists for international use and find that only the UK contact numbers are revenue share. What a shabby little country we are becoming :'(

Just rung them now and it definately works. 0191 is Newcastle isnt it?

You can look-up train times via the web at www.nationalrail.co.uk. If you have a wap enabled mobile phone you can look them up on there at wap.nationalrail.co.uk.  ;)

0191 is newcastle. They use BT's Call Centre next to the River Tyne.
Think one half is BT 150 and the other is NRE. Well it used to be anyway, may have changed since bangalore  99p an hour wages came into it.

im sure its 20p a day now?  :o

What a swizz !    With the half page article about 0870 and 0845 etc numbers in yesterday's Daily Mail, maybe these robber companies are getting wise to saynoto0870 and therefore blocking them to UK callers.
Diabolical !
From  >:(lavender

Dave wrote on Nov 30^th, 2005 at 7:25pm:

You can look-up train times via the web at [url=www.nationalrail.co.uk[/url]]www.nationalrail.co.uk[/url]. If you have a wap enabled mobile phone you can look them up on there at wap.nationalrail.co.uk.  ;)

Yes you can, but I much prefer www.thetrainline.com

Quicker and less down time.


juby

lavender wrote on Dec 7^th, 2005 at 4:49pm:

What a swizz !    With the half page article about 0870 and 0845 etc numbers in yesterday's Daily Mail, maybe these robber companies are getting wise to saynoto0870 and therefore blocking them to UK callers. Diabolical ! From  >:(lavender

They are not blocking the 0191 number mentioned in this thread. ;)

juby wrote on Dec 8^th, 2005 at 9:48pm:

Yes you can, but I much prefer [url=www.thetrainline.com[/url]]www.thetrainline.com[/url] Quicker and less down time.

thetrainline quicker? I usually buy tickets from them, but it's often anything but quick. Also, try buying a ticket to London using Firefox - the screen where you can buy a travelcard just doesn't appear. I've contacted them about it but to no avail.

Dont you know? Have you not herd of the...
"Government Website Policy"

"....websites must be made compatiable for MSIE which the majorty of our users use...."
"....FireFox is a waste of time, as microsoft has told us (and they supply our free software)....."
"....websites are to be made as annoying as possible to other non IE users..."

lol......

Someone in the unverified numbers has suggested that using 0844 8379130 (Calls 2p/min all times from landline) to access the National Rail Enquiries.

Is this one an access number that you have to put in the 0845 7484950, or another of theirs that you can use the 0161 2363522 alternative supplied ?? I am unable to find it or any information about it.

dialing 0121 634 2040 and pressing option 1 also works if you wanna get around the 0845.

Just tried the 0207 2785240 number from Skype out, which apparently shows up as 'international', connected no problem.

I have tried both the numbers for National Rail. The 0191 number is not in use & 0207 says that its for international calls only. Can anyone help me with a number please.

Hi

Does anyone have an alternative number for the national rail enquiries?  The one listed on the site is no longer valid and is unrecognised.  :'(

Thanks

Hutch wrote on Jan 7^th, 2007 at 5:37pm:

Hi Does anyone have an alternative number for the national rail enquiries?  The one listed on the site is no longer valid and is unrecognised.  :'( Thanks

See the thread a few items down this page†:-

www.saynoto0870.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.cgi?num=1116613395 ::)

~ Edit by Dave: † This post and the one above by Hutch have been moved to the Geographical Requests section. The above link is for the Sneaky National Rail Enquiries thread in the Chat section.

I`m new to computers so please bear with me. I am looking for an alternative number for national rail enquiries. I have reported that the alt. number given is now unavailable. I have tried google and it seems that all the train companies are separate. If I am being a complete clot I apologise. Having said that, does anyone have an alt number for national rail enqs.? :-[
~ Edit by Dave: Post title amended

caddyman wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2007 at 11:43pm:

... I have reported that the alt. number given is now unavailable. ...

I've just called 020 72785240 using 18185 and it works OK. It also allows you to be put through to TrainTracker, the automated system which has is accessible using a 10p/min 0871 number. If you call the 020 number via BT, even if you withhold the number, it says that the number is for international callers and that you should redial the 0845 number.

If you are after timetable enquiries, then I suggest that you use the website at [url=www.nationalrail.co.uk[/url]]www.nationalrail.co.uk[/url] and if you are out and about and you have your mobile, go to the National Rail WAP site at wap.nationalrail.co.uk where you can look up timetables as well as live departures. You will be charged for accessing the WAP site, but this will be most probably be cheaper than calling 0845.

~ Edit by Dave: Post title amended

Dave wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2007 at 8:05am:

caddyman wrote on Jan 22nd, 2007 at 11:43pm: ... I have reported that the alt. number given is now unavailable. ... I've just called 020 72785240 using 18185 and it works OK. It also allows you to be put through to TrainTracker, the automated system which has is accessible using a 10p/min 0871 number. If you call the 020 number via BT, even if you withhold the number, it says that the number is for international callers and that you should redial the 0845 number. If you are after timetable enquiries, then I suggest that you use the website at [url=www.nationalrail.co.uk[/url]]www.nationalrail.co.uk[/url] and if you are out and about and you have your mobile, go to the National Rail WAP site at wap.nationalrail.co.uk where you can look up timetables as well as live departures. You will be charged for accessing the WAP site, but this will be most probably be cheaper than calling 0845. ~ Edit by Dave: Post title amended

I've just tried the advice from an earlier message on this thread. It works fine direct from a landline or mobile

mc661 wrote on Dec 19^th, 2005 at 5:30pm:

dialing 0121 634 2040 and pressing option 1 also works if you wanna get around the 0845.

;D

mc661 wrote on Dec 19^th, 2005 at 5:30pm:

dialing 0121 634 2040 and pressing option 1 also works if you wanna get around the 0845.

I have just checked this also, dialled from my landline using 141 - once answered with the pre-recorded message just ignore and press 1 ~ it works...... for now anyway !

IAVOID0870 wrote on Mar 8^th, 2007 at 9:08am:

I have just checked this also, dialled from my landline using 141 - once answered with the pre-recorded message just ignore and press 1 ~ it works...... for now anyway !

This number is now listed in the verified database.  ;)

I came across the following Rotherham number for NRE - 01709 768621. I've never had any reason to call it, but I dunno if anyone wants to try it and see if it works.

jgxenite wrote on Feb 1^st, 2008 at 5:33pm:

I came across the following Rotherham number for NRE - 01709 768621.

Googling reveals one page that makes reference to that number:

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/answers2/frontend.php/question?qid=20071112032125AA7m0Vo

It is also unconfirmed in our database - hence my asking if anyone had had chance to try it :).

I'm on hold now....

And it works. I can confirm.

Cheers!  ;)

The 01709 number? Cheers for that Minardi.

We have 01709 768621 which goes straight through to on-hold music (NOW). A try of nearby numbers reveals:

600 as 621
601 as 621
602 straight to operator
603 as 621
604 as 621
605 as 621
606 busy
607 busy
608 "Welcome to National Rail Enquiries..."
609 "Welcome to National Rail Enquiries..."
610 "Welcome to National Rail Enquiries..."
611 "Welcome to National Rail Enquiries..."
612 as 621
613 busy
614 as 621
615 busy
616 busy
617 busy
618 "Thank you for calling National Rail Enquiries Customer Relations..."
619 as 621
620 as 621
622 as 621

I suggest that 01709 768 608 to 611 be listed instead.

Once again Dave, thanks for your investigative work - it is much appreciated :).

jgxenite wrote on Feb 13^th, 2008 at 10:50pm:

Once again Dave, thanks for your investigative work - it is much appreciated :).

So are we sure that 01709 768621 goes through to National Rail Enquiries rather than NRE Customer Relations? What is the NGN for "customer relations"?

I don't know, I've never had need to call either :).

If 608 (etc.) are equivalent to the 0845 number, then those are the ones we are looking for really.

The IVR (menu) on National Rail Enquiries' 0845 748 4950 number has recently changed. It used to offer two options: Train Tracker or speak to an agent.

The structure is now:

1. Train Tracker
2. Recorded information on how services are affected - gives recorded operating bulletins for all TOCs (same as 0845 301 7641)
3. Hold to speak to an advisor:
  1. Travelling today and need times and fares information or need train company or station information
  2. To check how your train is running
  3. Travelling on another day, or require season ticket information
  4. All other enquiries, including customer feedback

Option 3 followed by either option 1, 2, 3 or 4 all gets through to speak to an agent. There is presently bad snow and on selecting 3 followed by 1, 2, 3, or 4 it goes through to the hold music. A second or too in to the music, a message cuts in about high demand.

All four of these sub-options are interupted by the same message, and there is only one alternative in the 020 7068 0500 to 0526 range which matches this and it is 0519. I have therefore listed it as the main alternative.

Others like 0500, 0503, 0504, 0507 go to the hold music but aren't interupted by the message. This suggests that the 0845 number channels all calls to 020 7068 0519, and they are perhaps distributed between the other numbers from there. At certain times, some of these numbers seem to have longer waits than others.

What this does suggest is that the four sub-options go through to the same place, and the four second level options are probably put there more for statistical purposes; that is, they allow NRE to see what types of enquiries people are calling and requesting to speak to live agents about. Clearly the aim is to automate as many enquiries as possible, and knowing if people are speaking to agents when they could be listening to recordings is going to be useful to NRE.

I think this has been mentioned before, but London Midland's number, 0121 634 2040, allows access to NRE's main menu (as 0845 748 4950) by selecting option 1 followed by option 1. I've put this back in the database.

There's a typo in the verified database here:

National Rail Enquiries       08172004950       0845 748 4950       020 7841 8028      

+ 4 spurious "hanging" entries in the unverified database for 0845 748 4950.

kasg wrote on Oct 20^th, 2011 at 7:28pm:

There's a typo in the verified database here: National Rail Enquiries       08172004950       0845 748 4950       020 7841 8028       + 4 spurious "hanging" entries in the unverified database for 0845 748 4950.

Thanks for letting me know

I will check out the UnVerified section shortly.

kasg wrote on Oct 20^th, 2011 at 7:28pm:

There's a typo in the verified database here: National Rail Enquiries       08172004950       0845 748 4950       020 7841 8028       + 4 spurious "hanging" entries in the unverified database for 0845 748 4950.

Thanks for pointing this out. I've corrected the erroneous 0871 prefix and removed the submissions without alternatives.

I recently contact NRE with regards to the soon to be implimented CRD,  asking when they intended to change their number and was given this rather interesting reply:

"Dear Mr XXXX

Thanks for your email regarding our contact number.

The 0845 number is classed officially as a “local NTS number” which is better known as, ‘Local rate - Number Translation Service’. The call cost to 0845 numbers can, and does, vary between operator and tariff.  I’m pleased to let you know that it should not cost more than a call to a geographic number, as calls from landlines to a geographic number are typically charged up to 10p per minute.

National Rail Enquiries is an information enquiry service. The Consumer Right Directive applies to organisations which retail, sell products or merchandise. Consequently, there is no requirement to change from the current number.  I trust I have now clarified the issue raised in your email.

Thanks for contacting us. I trust this information is helpful.

Regards"

Not exactly the information I was hoping to get..

So the question is: are they exempt from being required to change their number or not?  :-?

National Rail Enquiries are part of ATOC

Who say they do sell tickets.

"We handle an average of two and a half million journey planning enquiries every week day through our contact centre, mobile, apps, website and through information services supplied to 3rd parties. We offer journey planning, ticket sales, real time information, fares information and a range of rail-related information to rail customers.

http://www.atoc.org/about-atoc/national-rail-enquiries/

bigjohn, indeed they are and have been since the inception of ATOC.

The previous "rail enquiries bureaux" was set up and managed by BR.

:)

CJT-80 wrote on Jun 5^th, 2014 at 8:22pm:

bigjohn, indeed they are and have been since the inception of ATOC. The previous "rail enquiries bureaux" was set up and managed by BR. :)

Yes indeedy.  :)

The point i was trying to get over was they are not just a travel info service if they are in the business of selling tickets.They carry out a retail role.

And they were on the list of Traders currently standing in breach of forthcoming regulations to prohibit use of expensive telephone numbers SCV   published here.

http://www.fairtelecoms.org.uk/uploads/1/1/4/5/11456053/traders_in_breach.pdf

No doubt he will be interested to here their response to you.

Apologies,

Indeed I was stunned at their rather blunt response.

So I need to come back at them with a equally blunt reply..

:)

I thought I would pop on and give everyone an updated regarding National Rail Enquiries (NRE).

I decided today to type in on Google National Rail contact number... and low and behold what did I find....?????

They have FINALLY (albeit not sure when) changed their advertised contact number to.... DRUM ROLL PLEASE ....

0345 7 48 49 50 .. that's right... it has a 3 after the 0 not the usual 8.

Please pass this on to anyone who may need to call NRE for any rail info.. It was checked TODAY and works.

:) :) :) :)

Hey hey hey,

Even better, National Rail Enquiries have now issued an official geographic number to go with their 03 number.

It's listed at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/1736.aspx

I'll copy and paste the key bits below:


Quote:

Got a question? Please phone us. A member of our team is waiting to take your call. Phone: 03457 48 49 50 (Open 24 hours every day except Christmas Day) From overseas: +44(0)20 7278 5240

When called from the UK, there is no difference in cost between calling the 03 number or the 020 number.

When calling from abroad, it is sometimes not possible to call 03 numbers, so the alternative 020 number is required.

One error. From overseas the number is +44 20 7278 5240. The leading 0 is not dialled and should not be mentioned. At all.

Skoorb wrote on Jun 6^th, 2017 at 8:22pm:

Hey hey hey, Even better, National Rail Enquiries have now issued an official geographic number to go with their 03 number. It's listed at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/1736.aspx

Hello Skoorb

National Rail Enquiries has had an overseas contact number for a while, the Wayback When Machine has a screen shot from April 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20140423021123/http://www.nationalrail.co.uk:80/46608.aspx

As Ian01 pointed out, it's the same cost to call from the UK regardless of using 034 or 020.  Both are geographically charged or inclusive in minutes packages (as long as they are called from within the UK).

Previously calls to the 020 number were rejected if dialled from within the UK, this may have changed.

:)