Travelling by train in October

smitchy73

I see most train tickets are only available from 12 weeks, can you purchase cheap tickets more than this in advance anywhere, I know my dates etc, but because travelling at weekend(going to American Football at Wembley) usually means to decent deals to be had.
Have tried every year for the past three years to go by train, but when you're getting charged about £150 each return it's cheaper to drive, less than £80 for fuel.
Any thoughts, travel down Glasgow to either Milton Keynes/London on Sat 30th Oct, return Monday 1st November, again either from MK/London, happy to go to either!
Cheers in advance.

TimothyEBaldwin

Only London - Avignon and London - Bourg Saint Maurice trains may be booked that far in advance. That the wrong direction for you.

An off-peak return Glasgow - London costs £108.40 - and can be brought immediately before travel. The lowest fares seem to be on East Coast trains for £18 each way, typically an hour slower than Virgin (west coast).

For better value for money consider the sleeper train, or scenic Settle to Carlisle railway.

KeithP

This National Rail webpage gives some idea when the cheap tickets become available.

Have you considered flying?
Although cheap flights may not be available yet either.

smitchy73

Hi thanks for all the replies so far.

Though about flying but i'm about half an hour away from either Glasgow International/Prestwick, so if I go the cheapy airlines I'm still looking at a couple of hours for check in and travel to airport, then at the other side there is the problem of getting to Wembley, is it easy from say Heathrow to Wembley(i'm assuming thats the closest airport).
Would like to go by train and enjoy the chill out on it, mind you saying that being the weekend when going there will probably be works going on for the next 20 years or so!

Simon11

Hi

Your best bet is to put in your diary 12 weeks before going to London to buy your tickets!

Looking 12 weeks in advance, I've seen a fare for £17.50 on a weekday leaving at midday! So make sure you put it in your diary to check 12 weeks before buying tickets. I'd also add that at the weekends you can upgrade to First Class for only £15 on the day with Virgin!! Bargin I say if you can grab them!

I work in the railway industry and companys have no option to have tickets for sale ealier due to restictions imposed by network rail.

From Heathrow to Wembley by tube would require several trains. Picadilly to Acton Town, another pic train to Rayners lane, then a met line to Wembley.

Another travel option is the heathrow express, however this goes to Padding and would require a future 2 tube trains to get to wembley.

Your best option instead is to take the train with Virgin. From Euston its only a 20mins train ride to Wembley.

david39

Train tickets are normally only released 12 weeks before the travel date because timetables are only finalised twelve weeks ahead.

If you are looking to travel on a specific date, you should go to the web page of the train operator themselves. Start looking 13 weeks before you want to travel, but look for a train 12 weeks from then (that is the week before you really want to go.) That way, you will see the sort of price you can expect to pay and the train times. They are unlikely to be any different for the following week but it will give you time to make other arrangements if you find the train unsuitable.

You will need an Advanced Ticket (they are the cheapest) and these are only sold as single journeys, so you will need to book the whole trip as two separate singles. Book as early as you can - there are a limited number of seats at the low price, and the lowest prices are for off-peak times.

If you search for return tickets, you will only be offered standard returns - they might suggest that you look up the price of two singles, but then again they might not!

The train-operator's own site usually sells the tickets at a couple of £s cheaper than the Trainline and other sellers and there is usually no booking or credit card charge.

I bought Advanced singles Leeds to London recently at £26 for the whole journey there and back- best return ticket at the same time of booking was about £67. Sometimes, East Coast rail offer very low prices between any two stations on the London-Edinburgh route - they've been advertising York to London for £10 single recently for April travel.

Livingthedream

Sign up to the East Coast Advance ticket alert, it will send you an e-mail when the cheap advance tickets are released for your journey.

Or check manually using this website watching the dates for Virgin trains (Direct) or East Coast (Direct via Edinburgh)

deb76

What about megabus, they are meant to be very cheap

smitchy73

Hi there, thanks again for all your advice. Wouldn't go on bus, just couldn't cope being cramped up like that, cheap yes, but totally against it after a couple of trips on coach to London years ago.
I've got the date on my phone calendar to check it 13 weeks before travelling, as mentioned in orginal post, it's travelling to London on a Saturday, and back on the Monday, may even try travelling part of the way on the Saturday see where I can get cheap and book a cheap hotel for the night, then travel the rest of the way to London on the Sunday morning, can't do that from Glasgow as the first train isn't until almost 11am, unbelievable I think in this modern day when they are trying to get people to leave cars at home!!
Thanks again all, and if any new posters have better thoughts, let me know.