Virgin trains Cheapest PEAK travel Manchester to London once a week

lesshassle

Hi, please help, I'm very desperate!

I recently relocated from London to Manchester whilst keeping my job in London. I now commute to London every Wednesday morning at peak time and return on Thursday evening off-peak. I need to be in London for 10am at the latest. When I started booking my tickets 3 months in advance (or whenever Virgin wish to release the tickets) I was able to get singles each way for £13. I check almost every day to book journeys but always seem to miss the £13 tickets now. Recently I have only been able to get tickets for £44 peak with the occasional £20.50 peak ticket.

This is costing me a fortune as the costs have escalated from £26 to £65 a week. I enjoy my job and want to keep it but I need to travel peak every week. I also work 2 days at home in Manchester.

Has anyone got any advice? I've tried everything I can think of but the cheap tickets seem to go so so quickly now as opposed to before. I tried registering with trainline as they say that they offer a free update when cheap tickets are released. However, I have never received this email despite registering and when I have called to complain it's the same old scenario - foreign call centres and 'technical difficluties' with their website.

I was told by a trainline employee that travel agents can block-book the advance tickets I am trying to buy - anyone know if this is true?

If anyone can help I would really appreciate it. I am paying through the nose to keep my job. I work for a tiny company and think it would be pushing it to ask if my boss can pay travel expenses as he has been good to allow me to relocate.

Many thanks,
Ben

Livingthedream

http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/buy_tickets/seat_reservations/default.aspx

This is the virgin website for when they release their Cheap advance tickets

£20.50 for Peak Weds 7th 05:55 or if you can leave a bit later then £8 for peak leaving 10:15
£8 for off peak advance Thrusday 8th Jan leaving 20:00

Don't Buy from trainline buy direct from any train company ie virgin trains or NXEC they don't charge you extra for your tickets

lesshassle

Thanks, I use that link but can never see the £13 advance peak tickets any more - does anyone know if they still exist? I managed to book a train to arrive at 9.23 this morning for £20.50 as soon as the tickets were released. I never ever see the £13 advance tickets any more though.

lesshassle

*BUMP* ahem