London KX to York train

[coastalview]

Hello, not sure if I have put this in the right place but can anyone answer the following.

We are travelling back from Kings Cross to York on the 2033 on the 25th April and a friend was hoping to book on the same train and when we checked the other week there was lots of availability.
Then when they went to book later the same day the train had disappeared off the LNER website and on National rail it said they cant find any fares and this sites booking tool comes up as sold out.

We noticed that the Arsenal v Newcastle game on the 25th April was announced as a 1730 kick off (this is not fully confirmed as the game will be cancelled if arsenal beat Southampton in the FA cup)
this was around the same time my friend went back on to book. I asked LNER on X if the train had been cancelled as it wasn't showing anymore and they said it was sold out but still running.

I have since looked at my booking for the train and went on to edit seats to see if it was full and the seat map shows lots of availability to move seats, so I am wondering has the train just been taken
off sale pending the football fixture (as the 2033 is realistically the 1st train any Newcastle fans can make after the game unless they leave early) or is it actually sold out. If its likely to come back on sale my friend will
wait to book but if not will just book the 2003.

sorry for the long winded post.

 

[Adam Williams]

It's not sold out, retail has been artificially suppressed by LNER in the reservation system, ostensibly because of "MAINTENANCE" (this should be used for engineering works only, in my opinion).

[{"notice":"sales_restriction","context":{"description":"Sales restriction found for GR471700","reason":"MAINTENANCE","serviceOriginDate":"2026-04-25","rsid":"GR471700"}}]

As you note, there is plenty of physical availability - retailers are just not being permit to sell it.

 

[coastalview]

Thanks Adam,
presume its just a case of waiting for see if it comes back on sale. Will tell my friend and they can make the decision if they want to wait or book the earlier one.

 

[Adam Williams]

Yes, afraid so. You could LNER challenge on why they suggested it was sold out when you initially spoke to them and ask them to further explain the logic of what they're doing with this service.

I'm not saying there aren't potentially valid operational reasons to do this, but there's not nearly as much transparency or accountability as there should be when it comes to sales restrictions; it's something I'd like to see improved.

 

[NER1621]

I’d re-book earlier to avoid being stuck on a train with a lot of meathead football supporters. It’ll feel like a long and unpleasant journey to York in their company. (Yes, I know, I’m sure some individual supporters will be lovely folk but en masse the lowest common denominator takes over. Living in Darlington I’ve got used to checking the fixtures lists to avoid using the ECML when Newcastle are playing.)

 

[Segedunum]

I’d re-book earlier to avoid being stuck on a train with a lot of meathead football supporters. It’ll feel like a long and unpleasant journey to York in their company. (Yes, I know, I’m sure some individual supporters will be lovely folk but en masse the lowest common denominator takes over. Living in Darlington I’ve got used to checking the fixtures lists to avoid using the ECML when Newcastle are playing.)

The 2033 service terminates at York on a Saturday so is unlikely to have all that many football fans on. The 2103 will be the one to avoid.

 

[yorkie]

Hello, not sure if I have put this in the right place but can anyone answer the following.

We are travelling back from Kings Cross to York on the 2033 on the 25th April and a friend was hoping to book on the same train and when we checked the other week there was lots of availability.
Then when they went to book later the same day the train had disappeared off the LNER website and on National rail it said they cant find any fares and this sites booking tool comes up as sold out.

We noticed that the Arsenal v Newcastle game on the 25th April was announced as a 1730 kick off (this is not fully confirmed as the game will be cancelled if arsenal beat Southampton in the FA cup)
this was around the same time my friend went back on to book. I asked LNER on X if the train had been cancelled as it wasn't showing anymore and they said it was sold out but still running.

I have since looked at my booking for the train and went on to edit seats to see if it was full and the seat map shows lots of availability to move seats, so I am wondering has the train just been taken
off sale pending the football fixture (as the 2033 is realistically the 1st train any Newcastle fans can make after the game unless they leave early) or is it actually sold out. If its likely to come back on sale my friend will
wait to book but if not will just book the 2003.

sorry for the long winded post.

I would recommend travelling earlier if possible...

The 20:03 is £42.52 on the forum ticketing site

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Mar 2026 ==

The 2033 service terminates at York on a Saturday so is unlikely to have all that many football fans on. The 2103 will be the one to avoid.

True, though some will get the first train on the basis of having more choice from York (and also more chance of getting a seat... or even getting on the train!)

If it's not possible to travel earlier than 20:33, then I would absolutely wait until the 20:33 becomes available. The 21:03 is one to avoid at any cost!

 

[Wallsendmag]

I’d re-book earlier to avoid being stuck on a train with a lot of meathead football supporters. It’ll feel like a long and unpleasant journey to York in their company. (Yes, I know, I’m sure some individual supporters will be lovely folk but en masse the lowest common denominator takes over. Living in Darlington I’ve got used to checking the fixtures lists to avoid using the ECML when Newcastle are playing.)

Oi I’ll probably be on that train

 

[TUC]

When it comes to flexible tickets and false claims by TOCs on ticket non-availability, I want to support as many people as possible to circumvent this system by buying a ticket and reservation for a different journey which is also valid on the one they want to travel on, and then travel on the latter anyway. Make the system unworkable for TOCs.

 

[coastalview]

thanks everyone, our friend has decided to book the 2003 train rather than wait.

 

[Dewedin]

If Leeds win their FA Cup quarter final then there'll be many more from Yorkshire using the ECML to get to Wembley that weekend, though if on the Saturday it would probably be a teatime kick-off and not too many would book to travel at 8pm given the possibility of extra time.