Hello- when I try to purchase a train ticket from/to London on a Saturday or Sunday there are travel alerts. The last one was a Southern railway from Seaford to London on Sunday Sept 1st. I live in the US and have-not a clue what a travel alert means and how long I have to wait before purchasing a ticket.
thanks-
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23585 posts
I think the travel alerts you are referring to is the maintenance that is often done on the weekend when travel is lighter. The alert will tell you where the stoppage is. Often there is a bus to get you around the stoppage.
Posted by
OP
United States- Texas
16 posts
So should I purchase tickets now or wait?
Posted by
2549 posts
Wait. As said above, Sunday’s are sometimes prone to engineering work although they will try to do a lot of this at night of possible.
Do not worry, your train will not sell out and many people would simply buy the ticket on the day at the station - especially if it is not a longer distance journey - as is this case to Seaford.
Southern is the company that you will actually be travelling with and they have a special Day Save ticket but read the rules about buying that and conditions of use:> https://www.southernrailway.com/discounts-and-offers/daysave
The following site on Southern shows you the planned works for September 1st & I don’t think that your route will be affected.
https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/planned-engineering-work?date=2024-09-01#engineering-departure-board
Posted by
Lake District, England
7548 posts
The alert says 'we don't yet know if there will be engineering work'. So, if there is, then it will not be on the list above.
We simply do not know if there will be work or not, but network rail are thinking about it.
That could be confirmed one way or other at very short notice such as a week or two. The thing is that UK people do not buy tickets for such a journey nearly two months out. Also they know there will be bus replacements if there is. And just take it in their stride as they know they will get to their destination with minimal inconvenience. Here it may just end up as work on the branch to Lewes.
Worst case is you end up on the service bus to Brighton.
It would also be silly to buy a day save for £25 as proposed above when the maximum possible price for a single ticket on a Sunday is £23.90.
There is no rush to buy a ticket. The £10 Advance Fares don't just vanish, when they are issued, they have good availability. They are usually available until the day before travel.
If not the difference between £10 and £23.90 is not vast.
Just sit back and relax. You will get where you are going. You are just too soon at the moment.
Posted by
Lake District, England
7548 posts
The Travel Alert for Seaford to London on 1 September has now been removed. Trains are running normally and Advance Fares are now available.
Posted by
OP
United States- Texas
16 posts
Thank YOU ALL!!!
Faye