Virgin West Coast Advance Tickets Release Date

RichyRich

I'm looking to book a ticket from Liverpool to London on 1st May. I booked the outward journey for 29th April about a fortnight ago, but advance tickets for the return still don't appear to have been released.

I usually travel on East Coast and they're generally released once a week 12 weeks before travel. I appreciate that there will be differences, so wondered whether anyone had any idea when the tickets are likely to be released? I rang to find out and was just advised to 'try next week or in two weeks'...

Thanks in advance

wealdroam

RichyRich wrote: »

I'm looking to book a ticket from Liverpool to London on 1st May. I booked the outward journey for 29th April about a fortnight ago, but advance tickets for the return still don't appear to have been released.

I usually travel on East Coast and they're generally released once a week 12 weeks before travel. I appreciate that there will be differences, so wondered whether anyone had any idea when the tickets are likely to be released? I rang to find out and was just advised to 'try next week or in two weeks'...

Thanks in advance

Weekend tickets are often a little later due finalisation of weekend engineering plans.

Keep checking every day.

RichyRich

Thanks, that could explain it. I hadn't thought of that: I'm just so used to booking the outbound one week and the return the week after on EC. It never crossed my mind that it might be different for other TOCs (or that weekend release dates might vary. I'm not saying it doesn't happen on EC, just that I've never seen it). I'll keep checking daily - I don't trust the alert email I set up not to go to my spam box!

dzug1

London Midland also run (slow) trains on that route - something to consider if the advances on Virgin go wrong for you

alistairstubbs

As the 2nd is a bank holiday you will probably find there are engineering works that week end. I had the same problem last year. From experience I found that VTWC were releasing the tickets between 10am and 11am but I didn't get the email until the following day so it is worth checking each day.

Quentin

dzug1 wrote: »

London Midland also run (slow) trains on that route - something to consider if the advances on Virgin go wrong for you

Sometimes at weekends when there is engineering work causing diversions, the cheaper LM tickets are for journeys that take the same time as the more expensive VT ones.

RichyRich

Thanks for the tips. I'll keep checking and make a choice once I see what options are available. London Midland's not available yet either so I assume both operators are hanging on for the engineering timetable to be announced. Ho, hum, if the trains run slow because of engineering we'll just pack up a picnic and make the most of it.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

If there are engineering works then try going via Sheffield - may take a bit longer but could be cheaper anyway


also don't forget about https://raileasy.trainsplit.com/main.aspx

Kite2010

Looks like that Sunday the line between Stafford & Crewe is closed (engineering works relating to the new flyover being built around the Norton Bridge area most likely), so the hourly VT from Liverpool is being diverted via Manchester.

RichyRich

Thank you all for your replies. The tickets were released today and I am very pleased to report that I bought them in the 'Seat Sale' at £10 per person, which is 55p cheaper than the outbound. £41.10 return from London to Liverpool for two people is quite the bargain!