Hi everyone. I'm planning a trip to Scotland next year. My friend and I will take a train from Edinburgh to
Inverness mid week.
Do I need to make reservations in advance?
Cheers!
Leslie
Posted by
Penzance
359 posts
No.
It might be cheaper if you do.
Posted by
OP
Burke, Virginia, USA
19 posts
Thanks for the info!
Posted by
🌲🌲 Minnesota🌲🌲
13379 posts
Leslie, when is your trip next year? Regardless, don't book them now (although you probably can't yet, depending on when it is). At some point, they will offer Advance tickets for sale that will be a lot cheaper than what you would find now. I can't remember how far ahead that happens (maybe 6 weeks?) but there is another member here named isn31c, who is an expert on train travel and I'm sure will respond soon and can give you more details.
Posted by
Lake District, England
12547 posts
Scotrail in theory open bookings 12 weeks before travel date, LNER (on their daily train to Inverness) in theory 24 weeks before travel- around 4.30pm from Edinburgh.
Things can happen which contract the timescale but that is the theory.
Scotrail, unlike say Vy trains in Norway, which is a live and literal 12 weeks to the minute (or whatever their timescale is), release once a week, normally on a Thursday morning. So it isn't quite 12 weeks but close enough.
But I'm never bound to anything like 12 weeks- In theory I am going to Inverness or the Isle of Skye in about 3 weeks time, but am in no hurry either to confirm hotels or buy my cheap train tickets. I can see good ticket prices are still available. Currently I am leaning more towards Yorkshire or Chester for that trip anyway.
I often see train ticket prices go down after initial release 12 weeks out which is why my personal sweet spot is around 4 to 6 weeks for a long distance trip, or even less for a short distance trip like that.