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I need to book train tickets for the middle of May. Scotrail/Network Rail aren't selling tickets that far in advance yet, but I can go on to Trainline and buy them already - how does that work? Is there anything to be gained by waiting until Scotrail have them listed?
I'll be book bikes on as well, so with Trainline i'd need to call Scotrail anyway (but can apparently do it online if I get the tickets straight from Scotrail)
Tickets aren’t usually released until 3 months in advance. It must be Trainline taking up a punt at selling for a regular schedule. Are the tickets cheaper than a normal day rate or the same price? I regularly use the fair notification setting on Trainline to get cheap tickets on LNER and never had a problem (that said I’ve never then checked the LNER website at the same time).
No idea how it works but I only use Trainline now as their website seems much better than that of any of the rail networks I’ve tried to use. Never had any issues with them.
Tickets aren’t usually released until 3 months in advance. It must be Trainline taking up a punt at selling for a regular schedule. Are the tickets cheaper than a normal day rate or the same price? I regularly use the fair notification setting on Trainline to get cheap tickets on LNER and never had a problem (that said I’ve never then checked the LNER website at the same time).
That's the odd thing, I'm setup for a 12-week alert but just so happened to go on again and there they were. Don't seem cheaper than I'd expect to pay, so possibly they have taken a punt on the route but I can't imagine its that popular a route/day/time
Any tickets sold at more than 12 weeks out will be at full walk-up fare, Trainline are selling you a ticket for a train that doesn't exist yet. They are gambling on that train running as per the current timetable, which is highly likely but if there are weekend engineering works that affect it then there may be changed schedule etc.
The trainline cannot sell tickets at any discounted rate despite what people say. In fact it is likely to be more expensive than going direct due to card fees.
Also, occasionally, a train operator might have designed a discounted ticket that is only available direct and not via industry systems, so its always worth checking.
Hope that helps
I find this odd. When I have tried trainline I have found they do not sell the tickets until they are in the three month window. There is even a note comes up to tell you this
It is the 3 month book ahead ticket not just a discounted one ( I cannot remeber the proper name)
Not sure if trainline does split tickets but check out https://www.ticketysplit.co.uk/ if you want to save some serious dough. The issue with splits is that if you get a flex ticket (which is all you can get many months in advance) then you need to ensure the train you take stops at the station the split applies. Easy for some routes but less so for others.
More here - https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets/#needtoknow-3
You can book tickets and make bike reservation online at https://www.gwr.com
Only within the approx 12 week window. Test booking showed a £14.50 ticket for Glasgow - Fort William available April 1st for £14.50 with bike space available. Showed as last cheap ticket, full price £34.50.
For May I'd be watching closely around 12 weeks out. I think the cheap tickets usually go on sale AM on Friday.
Edit - further out than 12 weeks it looks like full price tickets are on sale but seat and bike reservations can't be made. So no point buying a full price ticket now then finding later there are no bike spaces left.
Trainline had always been cheaper than Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn. In fact, it has the added advantage that you can book your whole journey on one website.
And... First class is often a few euros more and sometimes cheaper than second class... Booked a return for the next day from London to Munich for the GF after she missed her train by a while day. 355€ 2nd class. 245€ 1st class.
Chiltern Rail for 3.5% quidco and free 1st class delivery too.
Trainline has just started doing split tickets I believe and there are some very good savings on offer