I have taken the advice from past posts regarding a train from Eastbourne to Bath. It was recommended I take a bus from Eastbourne to Brighton, then pick up a train from there to Bath changing at Fareham. Advanced tickets would be 80 pounds for 4 of us. Unfortunately on that particular Sunday the 17th of August the fares are 278 pounds. I checked on other Sundays to see if it was a Sunday issue, but it is not. I have no idea why on that particular Sunday the fares are so high. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Posted by
UK
1048 posts
The cheapest tickets you can usually buy are called Advance (with a capital A). That’s not quite the same as advanced tickets - it’s a special kind of ticket that’s usually available a few weeks before travel. It looks as if there are not yet Advance tickets available for this day. That is perfectly normal for a Sunday that’s still nearly three months ahead.
When you go into look at the available tickets for 17th August, you’ll note that the only ones currently available are for Super Off-Peak and Anytime. This means there are no Advance tickets available yet. They’re often loaded 8-12 weeks ahead but weekends are usually later than that.
Using the app, I note that 17th August is pretty much the last day I can buy tickets for at the moment. Every Sunday before then has that cheap Advance tickets available available so I reckon you just need to wait a week or two. Check back and o think it will come up.
Posted by
OP
74 posts
I can find tickets for the week before the 10th of August as well as the 3rd that is why I am confused.
Posted by
OP
74 posts
I should have stated for the 20 pounds per person on those Sundays.
Posted by
London, UK
512 posts
Just checked using Trainline. There are (limited numbers) at £24.75 Brighton to Bath Spa for that date, which is using my 60+ discount. If you’re over 60, you can get that discount too, or get 2 Two-together cards for the 4 of you which also gives a discount. This is for 2nd class, which is perfectly fine, and you can reserve seats for both parts of the journey.
Posted by
UK
1048 posts
I can find tickets for the week before the 10th of August as well as the 3rd that is why I am confused.
Yes, I’ve just seen those too but you’ll note they are called Advance tickets - and there aren’t yet ANY “Advance” tickets available for your date.
Give it a week or so and they should appear.
At the moment, 17th August is literally the latest date the calendar is even showing so I think they just haven’t loaded them yet. One of the quirks of the UK train system.
Posted by
59 posts
I'm totally confused by taking a bus from Eastbourne to Brighton and then a train to Bath. Why not take a train straight from Eastbourne to Bath? Is there some kind of issue with trains between Eastbourne and Bath? If so, what about a train from Eastbourne to Brighton?
If there are train issues from Brighton to Bath you could always take a bus from Brighton to Bath. We were in Bath and needed to catch a train in Brighton and there was rail work being done so we had to take a bus from Bath to Bristol Mead. There were lots of buses going that way and it isn't very far, don't remember how long it took, but it was a pleasant ride.
According to Trainline there were tickets from Eastbourne to Bath on 8/17
Posted by
Lake District, England
9700 posts
Because there are no trains direct from Eastbourne to Bath.
Also a bus has to be caught to either Eastbourne or Brighton to start, Brighton for those in the know is an easier transfer.
Also the OP does not want to route via London which the current Advance Fares on sale from Eastbourne require you to do so.
National Express no longer run at all from Eastbourne, from Brighton to Bath on National Express you change at Heathrow 5x a day.
For the OP the advance £20 train fares via Fareham have now been released.