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When to book?

Hi, couldnt find an exact answer to this so thought I might ask if anyone knows how long in advance you can book rail tickets?

I saw somewhere it was 12 weeks but is this exact, because Im going away in the new year and want to book as soon as I can to get the best price.

Thanks
:beer:
Old Faithful we roam the range together,
Old Faithful in any kind of weather,
When the round up days are over,
And the Boulevard’s white with clover,
For you old faithful pal of mine.

Comments

  • alanrowell
    alanrowell Posts: 5,371 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It's a maximum of 12 weeks before the date of travel.
  • dzug1
    dzug1 Posts: 13,535 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    There isn't an exact answer - it varies

    http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/44703.aspx tells you what tickets have been released. Be aware it isn't updated daily so can be a few days out of date as to the actual situation

    You may be able to sign up for an email alert from the company that operates your route. Even these may take a day or two to arrive
  • Booking tickets for work, I notice a definite shift at three weeks to go, so if you can book at least 22 days in advance, you are definitely saving some money.
  • p00hsticks
    p00hsticks Posts: 13,586 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Freebyman wrote: »
    Hi, couldnt find an exact answer to this so thought I might ask if anyone knows how long in advance you can book rail tickets?

    I saw somewhere it was 12 weeks but is this exact, because Im going away in the new year and want to book as soon as I can to get the best price.

    Thanks
    :beer:

    Note that in my experience the cheapest (advance) tickets sometimes don't go on sale straight away - so if you look 12 -13 weeks in advance you may indeed be able to buy standard or off peak tickets, but the cheaper advance tickets can then get released some days/ weeks later. So don't necessarily jump in the moment tickets appear on sale.
  • If you don't know the fares on that route you should put your journey into a ticket website for a variety of dates to get an idea of what the cheapest fare usually available on that trip is.
    All you can do is wait for those fares to become available.

    I am waiting to buy some tickets on SWT. I know the fare I am after is £18; we are down to less than 12 weeks and the fare is showing at £62 - I'll keep waiting :D
  • Thanks for all your replies, I will hopefully get the tickets I want at the price I want. So whats the best website in your experience to buy tickets from?
    Old Faithful we roam the range together,
    Old Faithful in any kind of weather,
    When the round up days are over,
    And the Boulevard’s white with clover,
    For you old faithful pal of mine.
  • dzug1
    dzug1 Posts: 13,535 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    All charge the same basic fare

    Avoid thetrainline - it charges fees - plus any other that is charging you for normal delivery or card usage

    The website of the company that runs the trains sometimes offers a discount for booking through them
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