Return Prestonpans to Manchester, struggling to find fares

[eoff]

I'm trying to look up prices for Prestonpans to Manchester (Oxford Road best) outgoing after 0735 on 1 Dec and return after 1620 on 4 Dec.
I would be ok with an Edinburgh to Manchester ticket (after 0800 outgoing).

So far TPE and LNER websites show me really strange results (first class only or advance only or no availability).
The TPE website is not so simple to use.

I would want off-peak return (the ticket I purchased multiple times in the past for this trip) or at least flexible any operator on the return.

I phoned TPE but they said in their searches multiple ticket types were available so I'm not sure what is going on.

The trains in question are

1/12/26 TPE Edinburgh to Oxford Road 0812 1126
4/12/26 TPE Oxford Road to Edinburgh 1625 1940

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Sep 2026 ==

Checked again a couple of times today, now with National Rail Enquiries...



== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Sep 2026 ==

But my issue is solved by the ticket office in Waverley station who were able to book me a Prestonpans to Manchester off-peak return with seat reservations.

They said that there is one possibility that might have affected some of my searches in that the Off-Peak Return has different time restrictions for a start at Prestonpans and Edinburgh. The latter is more restricted and would have affected an Edinburgh to Manchester search for pre 9AM trains.

 

[reb0118]

Check who prices the flow. TPE set Edinburgh to Manchester fares and have tighter restrictions than Avanti's not before 04:15 restriction on off peaks.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Check who prices the flow. TPE set Edinburgh to Manchester fares and have tighter restrictions than Avanti's not before 04:15 restriction on off peaks.

Indeed. However, as the OP was wanting to book a through ticket from Prestonpans to Manchester Stns, which if for an Off Peak Return (route via Preston) is a flow priced by Avanti, shouldn't TPE's booking system nevertheless be allowing travel on their WCML trains departing midweek from Edinburgh Waverley before 0900? As you point out, the correct restriction is no departure before 0415 (M-F) if the origin station on the ticket (issued to Manchester Stns) is Prestonpans and not Edinburgh Waverley.

 

[plugwash]

Are any of the trains involved marked as compulsory reservations?

 

[Watershed]

Are any of the trains involved marked as compulsory reservations?

TPE's West Coast services (falsely) are, so it may just be that reservations haven't been released yet for that date.

 

[yorkie]

I'm trying to look up prices for Prestonpans to Manchester (Oxford Road best) outgoing after 0735 on 1 Dec and return after 1620 on 4 Dec.
I would be ok with an Edinburgh to Manchester ticket (after 0800 outgoing).

So far TPE and LNER websites show me really strange results (first class only or advance only or no availability).
The TPE website is not so simple to use.

I would want off-peak return (the ticket I purchased multiple times in the past for this trip) or at least flexible any operator on the return.

I phoned TPE but they said in their searches multiple ticket types were available so I'm not sure what is going on.

The trains in question are

1/12/26 TPE Edinburgh to Oxford Road 0812 1126
4/12/26 TPE Oxford Road to Edinburgh 1625 1940

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Sep 2026 ==

Checked again a couple of times today, now with National Rail Enquiries...

View attachment 211735

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Sep 2026 ==

But my issue is solved by the ticket office in Waverley station who were able to book me a Prestonpans to Manchester off-peak return with seat reservations.

They said that there is one possibility that might have affected some of my searches in that the Off-Peak Return has different time restrictions for a start at Prestonpans and Edinburgh. The latter is more restricted and would have affected an Edinburgh to Manchester search for pre 9AM trains.

Perhaps you were too early; it works now (using the forum's ticketing site):

Results | RailUK Tickets

TrainSplit is a free service that makes it easy to find the cheapest train tickets for your journey.

tickets.railforums.co.uk

I saw you wanted a flexible return, so I just chose the "open return"* option, but if you'd like to book a specific seat for the return journey using the seat selector, then do a search for a return (not open return) , specify the times, and under filters, choose "flexible only" if you want to avoid cheaper Advance fares. If it offers splits and you want to turn these off, then you can do so under Advanced Options.

(*The open return option automatically gets rid of both Advances and splits, of course; the results will include Off Peak fares, where valid for the outward time specified).