First Great Western Trains

[Jules001]

DD and friends have booked to travel on FGW trains and although requesting seat reservations at the time of booking this hasn't been done as apparently the seating plans haven't been released yet. I don't know why I have it in my mind that these are normally released 12 weeks prior to travel periods and have contacted FGW to ask for confirmation on this point. In the reply I received, there was a lot of waffle but no real answer about the 12 week point, I was told that they are currently reserving seats up to 18th August which doesn't cover the period of travel we are interested in and to keep checking their website for up to date info, but I can't see where they give this information other than going through the booking procedure which we don't need to do. Also I notice that that they will then charge an extra £5 for seat reservations not made at the time of booking which I think is unfair as if it's not possible to reserve at the time of booking why should you wait and pay a higher price for your ticket by booking nearer the date of travel.Can anyone 'in the know' tell me when the seating plans are released for 23rd August and beyond?
Many thanks.

[sddsddean]

As you say, its normal practice not to be able to book UK trains until 12 weeks prior to travel, but it does vary a bit. Keep trying...should be sometime this week.

[mushroom25]

it's not that the train company like being awkward, but they don't receive notice of the engineering work pattern from Network Rail until 12 weeks out, so until then they've no idea if they can actually run the trains they want (so can't sell seats).

[dzug2]

But you won't pay a higher price by waiting until nearer the date of travel - the fares you see now for your dates are the same as you will pay if you buy on the day. There's really no reason for anyone to buy them.

If you wait a week or two the cheap advance fares will become available with free seat reservations

The booking horizon is there on FGW's web site - home page, bottom just left of centre. It says 18 August at the moment.

The 12 weeks is to be taken with a large pinch of salt

[jno]

not quite sure I follow all this... how can they have already booked if FGW haven't released the seats yet and don't know if the tracks will be open?

[dzug2]

If they have already booked it will be full price flexible open tickets. It doesn't matter whether the train on which they have notionally booked runs or not - they can travel on any train or substitute bus, possibly subject to off peak restrictions.

http://www.nationalra...booking_horizons.html

may be useful

There are some FGW routes on which advance fares are never offered - depends where they are travelling as to whether they have actually paid too much or not

[jno]

thanks for that, dzug - I'm not a great train traveller but hoping to become one, so it's useful to know how the system works (or not). Sorry to sidetrack your thread a bit, Jules.

[Jules001]

We have already bought, paid for and received the tickets, it was just the seat reservations that was the issue. Dzug2, you are quite right in saying that we have flexible open tickets and I can see your point now about the cheaper advance tickets As we have previously booked a ticket in advance and then checked the prices again as someone else was going to accompany them and the prices had increased considerably, so this is why we have booked in advance plus they wanted to book accommodation and needed to make sure that they had travel arrangements in place at the same time, however the cheapest tickets at the time were the flexible open tickets. We are new to this train travel malarky and so are still learning the ropes - I think we have got it right this time as they want to be flexible with their travelling around. I can also now see the booking horizon date on FGW website, it just didn't make it clear to newbie travellers what this date meant ;) thanks to everyone.for all your help.

[dzug2]

I think the only point to consider now is whether to bother reserving seats when bookings open. You'll have to call/go to a station to do this, it can't be done on line

I personally wouldn't bother, but it may be worth it with a group, depending on destination/desired times