Advance Train Tickets

[katystar]

I know advance train tickets go on sale 12 weeks before travel date but can anyone tell me what time of day they are released?My journey is on July 15th (12 weeks tomorrow) Thanks

[boxtops]

No I can't, but I think it's midnight tonight - I lost the chance for advance tickets last week because we didn't try until 10am, by which time all the cheapies had gone.

At the station they told me that sometimes the dates are released in batches to them - I could see cheap prices which weren't yet on the station's computer. You just have to keep trying.

[granny grump]

How does this work katystar/boxtops?

Do you book on line for these cheaper tickets or go to the railway station?

[ladyalex]

I use redspottedhanky.com for train tickets and usually get bargains.
Cannot tell you about timigs etc, but have a look at the website.

[katystar]

Thanks Boxtops I'll check at midnight I think! It cost me a fortune last year for return rail tickets to Devon so wanted to make sure I got best price I could.I'm going to Tonbridge wells via London so will have to see if its cheaper to "split" my ticket as well!

[katystar]

I look on line first then usually go to the station but thats because I reserve a seat for my Mum who travels free (Dad worked for railway).If I was travelling alone I would book online as I use a cashback site.

[ojread2]

I've tried redspottedhanky and the ticket sales advertised on TV and both came up dearer than buying on the day at the train station

Does it matter how far you travel? Is it the further you go the cheaper it becomes?

RSH was a £1 dearer and the trainline was £8+ more expensive

[katystar]

The staff at the station ticket office are usually very helpful at getting the cheapest tickets.When I visited my daughter in Liverpool on line ticket was £42 but buying cheap day return to Preston then another from there to Livepool saved me £10.Its nice speaking to a person for help too.I wouldnt have found that ticket myself on line!

[dzug2]

12 weeks in advance is a myth - it's roughly that, true, but not exactly

And there is no absolute time of day - it varies

Plus many companies release in weekly batches - typically Thursday or Friday

So there's no one rule.

Do not be panicked into buying a full price ticket - you can do that on the day if the worst comes to the worst

What's your particular journey?

[katystar]

Its Carlisle to Tonbridge wells on Monday 15th July returning Thurs 18th

[dzug2]

As of last Friday both Virgin and Southern had released tickets up to 11 July - according to National Rail - but on Virgin's own site it actually appears to be sometime in late June

That suggests Virgin release tickets weekly on Thursdays

Bear in mind that you are returning on 18th - if advance tickets are not released for both directions you will only be able to buy them one way.

[boxtops]

Dzug, thanks - I'm travelling Dover-Birmingham - the cheap tickets would have been £12, full price is £76 each. We'll take the car.

[dzug2]

Boxtops - if you were trying exactly 12 weeks ahead then the cheap tickets weren't there yet, not sold out. They just do not sell out that quickly on this particular trip

Every day I've looked at in July up to 11th has £12 tickets. Even next week (this month) has £16.50 tickets

12 July onwards - no cheap tickets - yet. They will appear. Really.

[boxtops]

I looked again today, dzug, only the full price is showing up

[dzug2]

What date is your trip boxtops? From what I can see there are cheap tickets every day up to 11 July and none after that - which means they are not released.

[boxtops]

out 6th July, back 7th - I'm looking at the National Rail site.

[dzug2]

That would explain it - those are weekend dates, and weekend tickets are frequently released out of synch with weekday ones - generally a week or two later, sometimes more. The previous weekend (29-30 June) £12 tickets are available on just about every train. If you are patient they will become available for your weekend as well.

My guess is by the end of this week - Thursday or Friday. There's no rush - they won't sell out the moment they go on sale, and the £76 tickets (which I know you don't want) will never sell out anyway

[boxtops]

Ooh - thank you - we'll keep looking then. That explains how the 4 and 5 July were there for £12 for days, but not the weekend ones. We can live in hope! - thanks, dzug.

[granny grump]

Thank you

[boxtops]

I hope dzug2 notices this - I am delighted with your advice, we have just been able to buy the tickets for £12 each way - so thanks hugely for encouraging us to keep looking in at the site! AB at its best!