I will be arriving at Gatwick at 7am, arrive in London at Victoria Station, take the tube to Kings Cross Station and then the train to York. I want to purchase the train ticket to York now. How much time to I need to leave myself to catch the train to York? Can I make a 10am train to York or should I reserve on a later train? I'm asumming that if I miss my train I can't get a later one without buying a new ticket.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
You time line is fine. It has been several years since I used British rail but I think you could book an open ticket with no seat reservation. If you make a seat reservation and miss the train you normally are only out the reservation fee. However, there has been a lot of changes to British rail so this might not be valid.
Posted by
OP
charlottesville, va
46 posts
I shouldn't have said reservation. I'm looking at the rates for 5 April to York and return to London in the morning of 9 April and they are currently 66 pounds round trip. I'd like to buy the ticket soon before the rate jumps but i was unsure of which departure time to select. If I miss the 10am train to York can I just get on the 10:30 train without penalty?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you book an "Advance" ticket, it is only good for a specific date and departure time. It's exchangeable before departure, but not afterwards. If you miss the 10:00 train, you would forfeit your ticket and you would have to buy a new one. See here.
Allowing up to one hour to clear immigration/passport control and retrieve your luggage plus one hour to get to King's Cross, you should be able to catch the 10:00 train if your flight arrives on time. However, since flights can be delayed, I'd book tickets on the 11:00 train.
Posted by
OP
charlottesville, va
46 posts
Thank you for the replies. It sounds like the best thing to do is order a ticket for the 11am train and if I get there early, change the ticket at kings cross station and pay whatever the penalty fee is. Anyone know what the usual extra charge is to catch an earlier train?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
dale,
Here's a quote from the page to which I gave the link above: "The difference between the price paid and cost of the next suitable fare for your journey is payable, plus a £10 administration fee per person, per single ticket for each change to a journey. If you change to a train on which a cheaper fare is available, the difference will not be refunded."