Travel Departures: Cheaper by rail

Britain's railways, meanwhile, are trying to fill seats following the Railtrack/RMT dispute. For next week only (Monday to Thursday), Regional Railways is halving fares in South Wales and the West of England.

If you travel out between 31 October and 3 November, a cheap day return between Salisbury and Portsmouth costs pounds 5.25 (half-price for children) while a Saver ticket, valid for a month, is pounds 11.60 return on the new route between London Waterloo and Bristol.