Booking train for a station thats before you get on

Owain_Moneysaver

veryintrigued wrote: »

This time though we will be nowhere close to internet access when the journey is released 12 weeks before.

Book at a railway station - they can offer Advance tickets at the same price as online (excluding any online-only special offer)

Book by phone

Get a friend to book the tickets for you if you're away (and collect the tickets for you if they use their credit card)

yorkie2

veryintrigued wrote: »

The journey is from Doncaster to Kings Cross return on an advanced. A journey we make dozens of time a year.

Then you will be paying more if you book from York, than if you waited.

The fares from Doncaster are lower than York, especially given that there is more competition (Hull Trains in addition to Grand Central) and it's a much less 'premium' market.

You'd also have no valid seat reservations. What time are you thinking of travelling? Some trains can be busy.

veryintrigued wrote: »

This time though we will be nowhere close to internet access when the journey is released 12 weeks before.

Any access to a phone? Or can a friend book?

veryintrigued wrote: »

Tied in with that is the need to book bike spots too.

Platform staff need to unlock the doors on many of the trains between DON & KGX. What time train are you looking at? They may refuse to do this if your reservation is from York.

veryintrigued wrote: »

We could book York to Kings Cross (return) for the date right now with a cycle spot.

What price are you being quoted?

veryintrigued wrote: »

We've used the cycle carriage before we've never been asked to prove that we are getting on at the correct (later) station

Some staff ask to see reservations.

yorkie2

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Get a friend to book the tickets for you if you're away

Agreed....

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

(and collect the tickets for you if they use their credit card)

....Or you can collect the tickets yourself. Here's how:

1) Purchase e-vouchers in advance http://tickets.virgintrainseastcoast.com/ec/en/Landing/PurchaseGiftVoucher?WT.z_dr=1
2) The person booking the tickets uses the e-vouchers (you can "dip in" to an e-voucher any number of times; the remaining credit doesn't expire)
3) As the ticket was booked with an e-voucher, and not a specific card, any card can be used to collect the tickets.

This is handy for people who are not in a position to see the person who bought the ticket before they travel, and various other scenarios.

yorkie2

daveyjp wrote: »

Advanced tickets conditions:

Break of journey

You may not start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station except to change to/from connecting trains as shown on the ticket(s) or other valid travel itinerary.

True. Starting short isn't permitted, and an excess fare of the difference between the fare paid and the lowest priced walk-up ticket that would be valid at the time of travel, may be charged.

But it is rail industry policy not to actually make such a charge in the specific circumstances described by the OP. However, it's still unwise, for various reasons, especially with a bike.

[Deleted User]

I bought a return ticket from Essex to York (via Kings Cross), but I was in Leeds when it was time to go home, so I bought a single to Doncaster and then used the York ticket from there. I checked at the enquiry desk and they told me this was OK, but I made sure that the train I got on at Doncaster had started out from York. That was in Jul/Aug 2014.

Bobcrowther

Travelling with bikes? String em up.

veryintrigued

Bobcrowther wrote: »

Travelling with bikes? String em up.

We normally use bungee straps. Far more secure.

veryintrigued

Thanks for all the replies here.

Looks as though we'll have to delegate the booking to others when the time comes.

Still feels unfair that the (cycle) reservations may have already gone due to the customers with longer distances being able to book months before us.

Thanks again

yorkie2

jack_pott wrote: »

I bought a return ticket from Essex to York (via Kings Cross), but I was in Leeds when it was time to go home, so I bought a single to Doncaster and then used the York ticket from there. I checked at the enquiry desk and they told me this was OK, but I made sure that the train I got on at Doncaster had started out from York. That was in Jul/Aug 2014.

No need; a return ticket from somewhere in Essex to York is valid via Leeds. It also makes no difference where the trains originate/terminate. So your ticket was valid.

yorkie2

veryintrigued wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies here.

Looks as though we'll have to delegate the booking to others when the time comes.

Still feels unfair that the (cycle) reservations may have already gone due to the customers with longer distances being able to book months before us.

Thanks again

What train are you looking at getting?