Use London's local trains and Overground network to travel across the city and beyond the Tube.
London's local trains are rail services that crisscross the city and extend beyond the Tube network. Most local train lines connect efficiently with the Tube and accept payment by Oyster card.
London Train Service Information Transport for London (TfL) does not operate rail services in London, but journeys by trains and other modes of public transport can be planned online using the Tfl Journey Planner
National Rail Enquiries provides detailed information about rail services in London, covering routes, timetables and fares. A full list of train operating companies, including network maps, is available on the website.
Train Tickets and Oyster Cards You can use Oyster on all suburban trains stopping in Zones 1-9
Local rail services are typically covered by Travelcards including those on Oyster cards. Pay as you go Oyster is accepted on nearly all local rail services* including London Overground. Using Oyster pay as you go on National Rail is cheaper than paying cash for a paper ticket. How much you pay depends on which lines you use.
You can add money to your Oyster card and buy single or return paper tickets from ticket offices and machines at train stations.
*You cannot use pay as you go Oyster cards on the Heathrow Express and a few other services, see the Oyster website for details.
Railcards for Discounted Fares Several different types of card are available offering up to a third off train fares:
Young Persons (aged 16-25) £30 Family and Friends Railcard (up to 4 adults and 4 children aged 5-15) £30 Senior Railcard (aged 60+) £30 Network Railcard (off-peak services in South East England) £30 Disabled Persons Railcard (disabled people and their carers) £20 Please note, that Network Railcard discounts are not available on Oyster pay as you go. For more information see the Railcard website
Accessibility Information and the Disabled Persons Railcard The National Rail Enquiries website provides detailed information about rail services in London, covering routes, timetables, fares and access to stations and trains.
A map showing rail stations in London and the South East that have step-free access can be found on the National Rail Enquiries disabled passengers page.
The Disabled Persons Railcard qualifies you for up to a third off fares, see the Disabled Persons Railcard website
Like the Tube, access to platforms at rail stations will normally involve using stairs. Additionally, there will generally be a step of a few inches between the platform and the train. Arrangements can be made for passengers with mobility impairments, including people who use wheelchairs. Train operating companies can usually arrange for staff to meet you at the station, accompany you to the train and see you safely on board. Ramps can be provided for people using wheelchairs, to get on and off trains easily.
Local Train Operators in London For airport services see To and From London's Airports. The main rail operators connecting Greater London to the city centre are:
Silverlink First Capital Connect SouthEastern Railway Southern Railway London Overground Greater Anglia For train travel from the rest of the UK and Europe to and from London see our pages on mainline trains to London and Eurostar.
Left Luggage Services in London Most of the large mainline London stations have left-luggage facilities available. The Excess Baggage Group offers a baggage forwarding facility at Paddington, Euston, Waterloo, King’s Cross, St Pancras International, Liverpool Street, Victoria and Charing Cross stations. For more information see Left Luggage Facilities.
