Can't book train trips online

There are a few posts where that has happened to others. Let me find them and I'll link them here - you might find a solution there:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/credit-card-issue-date-required
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/problems-purchasing-rail-tickets-in-advance

By the way, have you tried using the app? Or are you using a laptop? Have you tried different browsers?

I've bought tickets before from GWR with no problem, so I'm not sure what is going on.

Oh, one last thing. Did you register for an account first? I still have an email from GWR from last year that indicates you need to have an account before you can book a ticket.

Welcome, Mardee. And thank you for registering with GWR.com. Now you've joined us, you can use your account to book, pay for tickets, save your payment card details and add favourite journeys.

Try another Train Operating Company’s website such as LNER. All TOCs sell tickets for all other TOCs.

Adding in that when I went to setup my profile on GW, it stated the app works best in uk and to use a web browser if trying to register and purchase tickets outside the uk. Good luck!

Yeah, the GWR app doesn't work outside of the UK and their website can be glitchy for some outside of the UK for purchases.

Like Camborne2018 says any train operating company can sell any tickets and LNER - https://www.lner.co.uk/ - and Avanti West Coast - https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/ - are really the best sites for UK train ticket purchases from outside of the UK.

I’m in the UK now — something happened to me

GWR won’t allow any transactions for anyone with a non-UK address

But you can book the train on any other company’a site even though it’s a GWR train. So go to Southeastern or Southwestern….your presumably U.S. address will be fine

You don’t need to enter an address to book a train ticket.,

"GWR won’t allow any transactions for anyone with a non-UK address"

I'm not sure where you got this idea, but it's simply not the case. When you are asked for your card billing address, there's an option marked 'International address'- just select that.

And yes, you don't need to register an address apart from that card billing address, but I have - just checked my account and it has my Singapore address on file.

Simon, I did not see that international option…and I was told on the UKTravel Reddit board that GWR won’t accept non-UK addresses, so I took that person at his word since GWR rejected my payments

I’m glad I was wrong - it might make a difference to me in future travels

Thanks

GWR won’t allow any transactions for anyone with a non-UK address" I'm
not sure where you got this idea, but it's simply not the case. When
you are asked for your card billing address, there's an option marked
'International address'- just select that. And yes, you don't need to
register an address apart from that card billing address, but I have -
just checked my account and it has my Singapore address on file.

Camborne, for the payment

You don’t need to enter an address to book a train ticket.,

I was able to buy a ticket from GWR last month from the U.S. but I did have a similar issue. The first time I tried, my transaction was rejected. GWR rejected my Chase issued credit card. It accepted my Citibank issued credit card. I suspect this is related to 3D secure as I have had problems in the past with Chase, but no issues with Citibank.

As others mentioned, if you can’t get the purchase to work on GWR, try buying from a different train operator. They sell each others tickets. If you still have issues, you could also try buying from Trainline. Trainline is a reseller and charges a small fee, but their website is easy to use and generally works with U.S. credit cards.

Thank you for all the information. I went through LNER and was able to book my train trips without issue.

Just as an FYI I successfully booked 3 sets of train tickets on the GWR website today. For the payment step, 2 step verification was required and I received the texted code from my bank/Visa. For most European transactions done from my home country, the verification code is required.