Cheap Train Fares guide discussion

Wanting to travel from Lincoln to London and back, out AM 10 May and back late PM 11 May.

No evidence of any cheap (say £13) seats on the Virgin East Coast site (£36 each way) but the following message comes up before you go through to the prices:

To help you get the best deal for this journey, you can book up to 24 weeks ahead (rather than the usual 12). Your booked train times may change very slightly, but in the unlikely event that this happens we’ll let you know well in advance and be happy to change or refund your booking with no fees.

Does anyone happen to know whether the cheap seats have come and gone already, or if they're still to be released at the 12 week point? VECs a little unusual in allowing you to book at all that far in advance, but it does leave me wondering at what point they release the cheaper seats.

miller wrote: »

Try putting in Retford or Newark North Gate. I think the problem is VT East Coast services are limited to Lincoln so you are seeing EMT prices.

Thanks! I see what you mean - so the only way of booking at the moment would be to get separate tickets from Lincoln to Newark, and Newark to London. Much appreciated.

Hi all,

I have looked into splitting my tickets for a journey London to Manchester and have been able to do this, however, for the splits I remain on the same train but have been given different seats? Is this the norm and would I need to switch to the other seat for the 2nd leg (Stoke to Manchester)? - Virgin Trains

Thank you

danielledisco123 wrote: »

Hi all,

I have looked into splitting my tickets for a journey London to Manchester and have been able to do this, however, for the splits I remain on the same train but have been given different seats? Is this the norm and would I need to switch to the other seat for the 2nd leg (Stoke to Manchester)? - Virgin Trains

Thank you

The change of seats is normal, and you needn't worry about it. You can sit in any unreserved seats you like - but you'll probably have to move to the 'new' seats if the 'old' ones have a reservation on them, which they may well have.

danielledisco123 wrote: »

Hi all,

I have looked into splitting my tickets for a journey London to Manchester and have been able to do this, however, for the splits I remain on the same train but have been given different seats? Is this the norm and would I need to switch to the other seat for the 2nd leg (Stoke to Manchester)? - Virgin Trains

Thank you

I was able to pester Virgin via their live chat and get some seats booked a while back. They gave me a booking reference and it spat out a zero fare ticket with the reservation I wanted. You could ask for the same seat(s) as one of your existing reservations.