Transition
GENERAL
Traveline Scotland - This site provides a comprehensive guide of transport options in Scotland, including a handy journey-planner and even a Carbon Calculator so you can work out the most eco-friendly travel option. They also have a free downloadable app for both Androids and iphones/ipods, which has saved me on many occasions! Their phone number (0871 200 22 33) is worth programming into your mobile, as they really are the best one-stop-shop if you end up stuck somewhere and need some advice. App for Android and iPhone
Google Maps - Always useful for working out locations, distances, timings, alternative routes and current weather, Google Maps also provides hours of fun (read procrastination…) trying to spot people you know on the Street View feature. App for Android, Blackberry, iPhone, Nokia and other models
BUS AND COACH TRAVEL
Stagecoach - Operating the majority of the bus routes in East Scotland and much of those over the UK, the Stagecoach website provides journey planners and timetables and the option to buy monthly or yearly Megariders (season tickets). These are surprisingly cheap – a Fife Megarider + (unlimited travel on all Stagecoach services within Fife, Kinross, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Falkirk, Edinburgh City and services into Dundee city centre and Ninewells Hospital) for a week costs only £24. A return to Edinburgh or Glasgow from St Andrews will currently set you back £12.50 (full fare), and a Fife Dayrider (unlimited travel in Fife for a day) costs £7.20. Additionally, you can buy Uniriders online, which are cheaper unlimited tickets for students on certain routes. Note that student fares on buses are only valid if you leave Fife, and not on Dayriders. [Accurate at 12/09/11]
Megabus - Known for their cheap prices and uncomfortable long overnight journeys, Megabus offer travel all over the UK by coach from just £1 (plus booking fee) if booked far in advance. They are the ultimate low-cost option, and offer buses from Dundee to Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Newcastle and lots of other destinations.
National Express Coach - Similar to Megabus in its low-cost long-distance coaches, but slightly different destinations and provision for travel to particular events, National Express Coach is also well worth a look.
RAIL TRAVEL
Top tip: The earlier you book the cheaper it will be, so plan ahead!
Railcard - Not a planning service but something to take note of – the 16-25 Railcard offers 1/3 off most rail fares in the UK to anyone aged 16-25 (inclusive) or any full time student, and costs £28 for a year. You can easily save the cost of the card on one return trip to London, for example, so for most people this is well worth the investment. Some banks offer a Railcard as an incentive to open a student account.
National Rail Enquiries - This is the hub for all rail services in the UK, with online times, tickets and fares, live departure boards, and information on special offers.
thetrainline.com – A one-stop shop for train tickets, including for the Eurostar and all-inclusive theatre breaks, with Advance ticket prices clearly listed on the front page (note these are the same as the Advance fares elsewhere!). App for Android, Blackberry, iPhone, Nokia and other models
Qjump - Another online train ticket purchasing site for those who like to shop around. Simple and effective.
Raileasy – And another… App for Android, Blackberry, iPhones and other models
Caledonian Sleeper - The sleeper train is booked through Scotrail directly, with two trains typically running in each direction overnight between London and Leuchars. Prices start at £19 if you book up to 12 weeks in advance, but for advanced fares they never tend to break to bank, especially if you aren’t too particular about your sleeping position.
CYCLING
Top tip: There will be SkillShare on cycling in Week 1 of Semester 1 – check it out!
Cycle Streets - The journey planner on this is incredible, allowing you to pick a speed then telling you not only the time, route break-down and distance but also the elevations, calories burned, carbon saved, and how busy the route is likely to be.
National Cycle Network - Not the most user-friendly site, but it contains a database of maps of cycle routes which can be searched by postcode to plan your journey.
WALKING
walkit.com - walkit is for urban walking, advertising itself as quick, free, healthy and green, with maps for specific UK cities including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and London. Using the site or the downloadable app you can get a route map between any two points, including journey time, calories burned, step count and carbon saving. App for iPhones
Walk Jog Run – An easy, Google Maps-powered way to calculate distance, pace and calories burned and find member-recommended running-routes or create your own. App for iPhones
CARSHARE & TAXI
The University partners with goCarShare to encourage employees and students to consider sharing car journeys (and so money and carbon) rather than travelling alone. For more information check out the Car Sharing page on this site.
Go-Flexi - A ‘Rural Demand Responsive Public Transport Service’ in East Fife, taking the form of a taxi-bus for rural areas at a much lower price than standard taxi fares. Check out the website for basic routes and booking details.
All Taxi firms in St Andrews are listed on St Andrews Directory – perfect for when you need to get home in the middle of the night and are feeling a little worse-for-wear!
TRAVEL IN SPECIFIC UK LOCATIONS
Transport for London – London’s go-to website for all types of transport is ideal for when you are in the UK Capital and needing to get from A to B (or just to kill some time). You can find out travel details for train, tube, tram and bus trips, order or top-up your Oyster Card (London’s Travel Card), learn about bike hire, find maps, learn about the Congestion Charge, and many other things besides. Multiple applications for transport in London are available for the Android and iPhone, but no specific single tfl app exists – for now
TRAVELLING TO OUTSIDE THE UK (FLIGHT-FREE!)
Seat 61 - The Man in Seat 61 is a site allowing people to explore travel options by train or ship both within the UK and further afield – basically your one-stop alternatives-to-flying site. Some of the options are quite expensive, but for those of us who dream of crossing the Atlantic on a container ship it’s well worth a look!
Rail Europe - The UK’s leading site for tickets to Europe, with InterRailing passes available for those want to do more than one destination or country when they take their continental trip.
OTHER RESOURCES
The University’s Travel Service, located in the Union, is a great place to get help with finding transport info and booking trips. Also check out the travel information on the University website for more details of University-recommended local travel options, as well as tips on reducing the environmental impact of your driving.
Finally, if you are travelling somewhere specific make sure to check out their website – many organisations list helpful information or links to integrated maps or transport details online.
* Transport and Climate Change
* Calculating Your Travel Footprint
* Holidays
