Will there be a train station window with an agent in the airport or do you buy your tickets at a machine. We will need to buy tickets on to Birmingham. If you do not travel first class, do you still receive an assigned seat?
Thnaks.
Posted by
Manchester
497 posts
The station has a manned desk and a number of machines - so the choice is yours.
Neither 1st or 2nd class tickets automatically come with a seat reservation but you can reserve a seat with either. Details here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/purchasing_tickets/reservations.html
If you are willing to commit to a time advance purchase tickets may be cheaper.
Posted by
near NY, NJ, USA
445 posts
I highly recommend getting a seat reservation. I took the train from Oxford to Manchester via Birmingham in November. It was jammed with people standing...couldn't even reach the toilets!!!
This was in second class.
As I had booked my ticket online to save money (and you do save a lot) I automatically got a seat reservation (no extra cost). When I boarded the train in Oxford, someone was in my seat but they very politely got up (and then had to stand).
Birmingham and Manchester are very busy business centers and the trains are busy beyween them. My train left Oxford about 10:30 am.and as I said, it was jammed. As I remember a lot of people got off at Birmingham.
No problem just walking up and getting a ticket at Birmingham but I would recommend buying it in advance if you can set a time. It's worth a glance to see how much you could save. You didn't mention when you will be arriving so I don't know if you can still get a good savings on tickets. If you do decide to book online, please be sure to allow enough time after your projected arrival by plane.
Planes can be late in landing!!!!!!
One other thought, last summer I took the same train route leaving Reading station about 6:30 pm and again the train was packed. But I did havae a seat reservation.