Train tickets

Smurphington

Hi all, I am due to go away at the end of May and I wondered when the best time to get cheaper train tickets is ? (If any!) I have been looking for the last few weeks but they have not changed much. Can anyone offer any money saving advice?

Fire_Fox

Article on the main MSE site.

Owain_Moneysaver

Approx 12 weeks, depends on the operator, but (a) there is a timetable change in early may (b) end of May you may have engineering work on the holiday weekend.

Current availability is shown here (National Rail) and some of the train operator websites will let you sign up for an email alert when your desired date is released.

MandM90

Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com .

agrinnall

The prices may not be changing because all of the cheap tickets were sold back in February and the only ones available now are tickets that are always available.

tryin

I've never heard of the price of train tickets going down. The best time is probably ASAP!

heatherw_01

Train tickets only ever go up in my experience

p00hsticks

tryin wrote: »

I've never heard of the price of train tickets going down. The best time is probably ASAP!

heatherw_01 wrote: »

Train tickets only ever go up in my experience

As previous posters have said, train companies issue a limited number of cheap advance tickets, restricting you to travel on particular trains. These usually become available around 12 weeks before the date of travel, but their release can get delayed if timetable changes are due or engineering works scheduled.

So when buying tickets it's always worth checking if the advanced tickets have been released for the date(s) on which you wish to travel, If they haven't then you may be able to get cheaper tickets if you wait until they are.