I’m starting to pplan our trip to England in November. Rick says that a train trip from London to Liverpool nominally costs around $120. On the National rail site it quotes an advance trip price of $32. Am I missing something? Are there hidden costs for an advance ticket? Also, when does an advance ticket increase in cost? Thanks
Posted by
Lake District, England
5817 posts
The nominal cost of $120 will be for an 'open single'- one which is available on any off peak train and can be bought until a few minutes before departure on a turn up and go basis.
The $32 ticket is available on a specified train only and has to be bought ahead of time. Miss that train and you are buying a $120 ticket and have lost your $32 ticket.
It is impossible to say when an advance ticket increases in price. Conventional wisdom is to buy as soon as issued- which is between 8 and 11 weeks before travel.
That advice is out of date. I have empirical evidence that the 'sweet spot' is between 3 and 4 weeks out. But yesterday I travelled from Milton Keynes to the Lake District (a journey of 290 miles) on a £12/$15 ticket purchased 2 weeks before travel, and do the same next week from Coventry to the Lake District on an £11/$14 ticket, purchased two weeks ahead. Those are not unusual examples- and they are both on peak evening trains. Last week I did London to the Lake District for £24/$30 purchased 2 weeks ahead.
It is a matter of luck, and judging when best to buy. I had been monitoring each of these 3 trains, and watching the price fall about a month out, and just judged when best to book.
Looking for 4 weeks time tomorrow I can see several London to Liverpool trains for £20/$24.
I don't think you need to hammer the cost that low-$32 to $40 is still a keen price for your journey.
If you are prepared to travel on the slower London North Western Trains to Crewe, and change there, there are frequent fares of £10.20 + £13.80= £24 ($29) on many trains
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2512 posts
Essentially thee are three ticket types: Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime.
This is a good explanation https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tickets-railcards-and-offers/ticket-types/
Advance tickets increase in cost as they sell out. The other types do not sell out and are walk-up fares.
Posted by
Lake District, England
5817 posts
I wonder how many mistakes there are on that link.
There are certainly three- Northern Rail advance sales stop 5 minutes before train departure, not at 2359 the previous night as stated. The 2359 deadline only applies to very short distance advance fares- around 8 to 15 miles. The kind of journeys where you wouldn't expect advance fares in the first place. AFAIK 8 miles is the shortest distance an advance fare is offered for by Northern (or any train operator?)
East Midlands Trains (London Routes) is the same story- does NOT close at 2359 but a few minutes before departure.
Nor do LNER close 40 minutes before departure- 5 minutes is the actual fact.
Three errors, you seriously lose confidence.