When's the best time to buy a train ticket?!

LustForLeith

First up, sorry if this is in the wrong area - feel free to move!

Me and my wife and two kids are flying out from Manchester Airport in June and coming back to the same airport in July. Living in Edinburgh we'll be getting the train there and back.

I believe that tickets go on sale twelve weeks before the intended travel date, but is there a particular time they go on sale? Is it a case that tickets go on sale for the week commencing or is it a case of being released on a day by day basis? And do they do go sale at midnight?

I've been checking on Transpennie Express and there seems to be a variation on the prices quoted. If I was to use earlier days as an example the cost can be either £68 thee and back (using a rail card) or just over £200 there and back - big difference!

Just wanted to check and try and get the best deal!

Thanks

Owain_Moneysaver

Advance fares are released approx 12 weeks before travel, usually weekly, but it's up to each train operating company to release its fares onto the system. Sometimes engineering works or general incompetence means that fares don't get released simultaneously.

Doshwaster

It's usually 12 weeks but this page keeps track of when each company has them available:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/44703.aspx

I'd set yourself a reminder to check back 12 weeks before departure.

LustForLeith

Cheers folks!

Reminders set!

p00hsticks

LustForLeith wrote: »

I've been checking on Transpennie Express and there seems to be a variation on the prices quoted. If I was to use earlier days as an example the cost can be either £68 thee and back (using a rail card) or just over £200 there and back - big difference!

Bear in mind that the cheapest ('Advance') ticket services are only valid on a particular specified train, with seat reservations required.

If you have links to/from flights you might consider that it's worth paying a bit extra for the added flexibility of anytime or offpeak returns, as these will let you travel on a number of different services in case your inward flight is delayed or you realise close to your departure that you need to allow extra time on your outward journney. You can simply buy such tickets on the day of travel.

joerugby

p00hsticks wrote: »

Bear in mind that the cheapest ('Advance') ticket services are only valid on a particular specified train, with seat reservations required.

If you have links to/from flights you might consider that it's worth paying a bit extra for the added flexibility of anytime or offpeak returns, as these will let you travel on a number of different services in case your inward flight is delayed or you realise close to your departure that you need to allow extra time on your outward journney. You can simply buy such tickets on the day of travel.

With Transpennine Express "airport advance" tickets you can travel on a train up to 3 hours later than booked if your inbound flight is delayed

LustForLeith

Cheers for this - very helpful!

Our travel down would be on a Tuesday and our travle up on a Thursday.

I've tried to judge it using random Tuesdays and Thursday but I'm noticing the closer it gets to June for looking at these days the more expensive it gets.

I was playign about and noticed that it was about £68 for single tickets down and back. for 2 adults and 2 kids (using a family railcard right enough) that's quite a good deal - £34 each way!

But when I try it in June it's just over £100 there and £100 back with a return being £217 (this might be the better option if our flight isdelayed coming back)

So am I right as summer approaches the price of trains get more expensive? Or is this the train fare rises I've heard about?

thanks in advance (pardon the pun!) again!

Poolie

12 weeks would at the present take you to the end of May. Although people say 12 weeks before, I have found that the cheapest fares are not always available till 10 weeks before the dates you wish to travel. So do not assume you will get the cheapest at 12 weeks.

LustForLeith

Poolie wrote: »

12 weeks would at the present take you to the end of May. Although people say 12 weeks before, I have found that the cheapest fares are not always available till 10 weeks before the dates you wish to travel. So do not assume you will get the cheapest at 12 weeks.

Thanks for that. I see what you mean.

If i searched just now for travel in twelve weeks time then again for travel in ten weeks time there is a difference over the price.

I think I'l try initially twelve weeks before I'm due to go. From then I'll have an idea if there is a good price available. If it works out at about £100 I can hold off for a couple of weeks to see if the price drops. If not, I'll just need to settle for the £100!

thanks again. Much appriciated!:T

Doshwaster

Just found that TheTrainLine do an Advance ticket alert service. Pop in your journey and they will send you an email when the Advance fares are available:

http://www.thetrainline.com/ticketalert/