Trains - EDI to London and back - late August - none?

Generally released 3 months in advance, except for things like Eurostar. Not surprised that tickets aren't available yet, unfortunately that's how it is.

Or even two months 😬

Set an alert up u get notification. Buy direct from operator u don't pay a fee.

Weird. I was looking at trains for April earlier today. Scotrail, West Coast, not London.

Edit: ah yes - 3 months only.

Good to know. So from a planning perspective (lining up aged parents etc) can we optimistically assume that the general timetable will be the same????

It's a major mainline service there should be multiple services an hour, they might not be exactly the same but much of a muchness.

I believe trains operate summer and winter timetables. Hence why a few years ago there was massive upheaval when the launched a new timetable, designed on a new system, and it didn't work.

In general though, there's not that much difference, but extra trains go to seaside resorts.

The current rail strikes mean that some tickets aren’t being released until 4 weeks in advance! If you’re travelling with a child, see if you can get a family rail card - it saves a decent amount on adult tickets when you travel with a child. Personally I avoid the Trainline like the plague, booking direct is better, at least from inside the UK. Most operators have an app you can download to get tickets easily.

Good to know on booking direct. It's early days and we're trying to sort out what the rough plan is (days here, days there etc) as opposed to actual tickets so I was hoping trainline would give the full set of options.

National Rail are best and IIRC will point you towards the cheapest ticket options anyway (barring split tickets).

Do Google split ticketing, can save considerably if you are prepared to have some minimal hassle

Generally released 3 months in advance, except for things like Eurostar.

Or even the week before as I found out late last year when booking tickets for the manchester to London route.

OP, turn up, you’ll be able to get a ticket unless the country is closed for business, there’s a strike, or the wrong kind of weather is affecting the lines.

Compared with the price of some rail tickets and the convenience of journeying a taxi can be a surprise bargain. But that just brings back bad memories of being let down, repeatedly, by BA.

Just look to book direct through LNER, and whilst you might not be able to book as far in advance as you'd like, you should still be able to get 1st class tickets at or around the same price as standard (as long as you avoid some of the standard commuter/business times).

^ I book direct with LNER, its a journey I do every 6-8 weeks or so. The faster trains London to Edinburgh will be the same timetable year around.

I always book direct with operator and pre-register for delay repay, you then get compensated automatically for any delay.

Appreciate strikes are on, but my recent trips to Edinburgh and London were either cancelled or delayed.

If planning a trip with children I would leave a fair degree of delay time. If u buy a through ticket with changes, it doesn't matter as if delayed you can carry on as normal.

Sometimes first class is cheaper than standard.

One of the few remaining sleeper services in the UK operates between Edinburgh and London,  https://www.sleeper.scot/

LNER app auto delay repay = the nuts.

@OP search up dates and times for 10 weeks out to get an idea of cost for the cheaper/est advance purchase tickets. Then set a notification and calendar event for your actual dates and as first-in, enjoy a bargain!!

The trains tend to be super busy in August because of the Festivals and European Tourists (who due to the shite pound can afford Edinburgh), and will be even more so this year with all the Cycling World Champs events in Scotland.

I have yet to try the sleeper, have always wanted to--I see they do allow booking up to 12 months in advance:

"Caledonian Sleeper Tickets

These rail tickets are only valid for travel on the Caledonian Sleeper and include a reservation for your chosen type of accommodation.

You can buy these tickets up to 12 months before you travel from this website or from our Guest Service Centre."

https://www.sleeper.scot/tickets/

so that might help the OP if dates and times need to be pinned down a bit?

some August ticket options on the sleeper already sold out!

cheers,

Keith

Booking direct saves the fee from Trainline but I think the operators only let you pay with a UK card.

Friends and family railcard is definitely worth it, you’ll save much more than the cost with the journeys you have planned. You need a UK address but can use your parents for that, the railcard is just on your phone.

All the info you need is here:

https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-britain.htm

Thread bump.

Is the bike set up on LNER a bit rubbish but manageable, not going all the way to London, Edinburgh to Peterborough then onto local services.

Will have panniers.

It's pretty shite - I tend to remove the front wheel and hang the bike on the hook provided by the through axle.

I'll enjoy trying that with a QR bike, bars a pretty wide too. At least the bike is fairly cheap.

I’ll enjoy trying that with a QR bike, bars a pretty wide too. At least the bike is fairly cheap.

On the new trains you don't stand a chance.

The space isn't big enough for 2 road bikes let alone wider and longer MTBs.

If you do try it then be prepared to take wheels out, spin the bars, etc.  And get some of those hiplock zip-tie locks or at least a cafe lock or some sort.

And get to the station well in advance.  Even if you have a reservation it's a faff because someone else will have got there first without one, or it will be filled with luggage and pushchairs.

I'm going to be traveling down, probably 4 times a year, this could get annoying quite quickly going by train.

I have multiple reminders set in my work diary to book trains at 89 days ahead of when needed, usually the tickets are released on 90 day marker, but often it varies a few days.

And bikes - I took mine to London (and Winchester) once and decided to never do it again and just use the town bike rental services...And MtB's on the trains are a nightmare - keep a multi tool on you.

The only way my 29er hardtail would fit was to wedge it in with the front wheel at ~45deg and lash it i with the straps. That was after I'd extracted all the luggage that had been stored there.  Thankfully the other bike in the rack was a BSO but I still felt guilty as the only way to get both in was to be a bit rough with them.

I miss the old 125 / 225's with their guards vans for bikes and oversized luggage. And the seats were 1st class by comparison!

Anyone know what the rules are on National Express / Megabus?  I know they don't take "bikes", but does that extend as far as bikes in 'bags'?

Anyone know what the rules are on National Express / Megabus? I know they don’t take “bikes”, but does that extend as far as bikes in ‘bags’?

No bags needed:

Just book here, problem solved.

And

around Scotland, book with these electric bus routes. I use them all the time.

I think I might just leave my gravel bike, which is the most appropriate for the available riding at the destination. It's my parents house and there's an Asgard store with a bike space available. Be a few occasions where it's not available to me, but some fast tyres on the hard tail/rigid 29er isn't a reasonable option for.