Special Offers Discussion

[A S Leib]

Bookings made through Avanti's website and app, including Avanti services, until 31 October for existing and new Club Avanti members will mean an entry into a prize draw for a year of Avanti first class travel. There's also instant-win prizes for the first entry per person, such as free standard premium return tickets and Euston first class lounge passes.

 

[styles]

Bookings made through Avanti's website and app, including Avanti services, until 31 October for existing and new Club Avanti members will mean an entry into a prize draw for a year of Avanti first class travel. There's also instant-win prizes for the first entry per person, such as free standard premium return tickets and Euston first class lounge passes.

The minimum scratch and win prize seems to be a free hot drink, followed by 10% off a return journey. You can get a ticket from Prestatyn to Rhyl for £4, which is 10p-80p more expensive than their coffees. So if you were planning on buying a coffee or making a significant journey with Avanti, it's probably worth buying some short hop ticket to get a discount, on average anyway. There may be a better fare than Rhyl/Prestatyn for £4 but I don't know; it has to be Avanti.

I rolled the dice the other day and for £4 I got a 20% off a return journey voucher. It will save me a lot more than the £4 journey I paid for!

 

[greatkingrat]

£3.10 for Edinburgh - Haymarket? (or £2.05 with a railcard)

 

[styles]

£3.10 for Edinburgh - Haymarket? (or £2.05 with a railcard)

Even that non-Railcard fare would be cheaper than a coffee. They do tea for £2.70 so a risk of being 40p out of pocket!

 

[A S Leib]

The minimum scratch and win prize seems to be a free hot drink, followed by 10% off a return journey. You can get a ticket from Prestatyn to Rhyl for £4, which is 10p-80p more expensive than their coffees. So if you were planning on buying a coffee or making a significant journey with Avanti, it's probably worth buying some short hop ticket to get a discount, on average anyway. There may be a better fare than Rhyl/Prestatyn for £4 but I don't know; it has to be Avanti.

I rolled the dice the other day and for £4 I got a 20% off a return journey voucher. It will save me a lot more than the £4 journey I paid for!

I got 20% off for a cheap ticket as well, though I was already planning on getting said cheap ticket (Carlisle to Penrith single with a railcard) without the sale.

 

[Edvid]

Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!

Free return trip to Chester with Merseyrail on 24 September! Just fill in the linked form and submit it by noon on 22 September!

Chester Free Ticket Promotion

www.merseyrail.org

Merseyrail are partnering with Visit Chester to offer FREE rail travel to Chester on Thursday 24 September 2026 for the World Town Crier Tournament - Competition Day 2.

The World Town Crier Tournament continues at Eastgate Square for round two, with competitors making their retail cries before a panel of four judges. Scores remain under wraps until the final announcement, keeping every competitor in the running. A celebrity judge will announce the day's winner at the close of competition.

For more information on the event, click here.

To claim a FREE ticket to Chester station, simply fill out the form below by 12pm on Tuesday 22 September 2026. Tickets will then be emailed that afternoon and are to be used on Thursday 24 September only. If you have not received your ticket via email, please ensure you check your junk folder.

Terms and Conditions:

• A rail travel voucher entitles one person to make one return journey between any origin station and Chester station on the Merseyrail network free of charge.
• The Merseyrail network covers the Northern line between Liverpool and Southport, Ormskirk, Headbolt Lane via Kirkby and Hunts Cross, and the Wirral Line between Liverpool and New Brighton, West Kirby, Ellesmere Port and Chester.
• The rail travel voucher is only valid on Thursday 24 September 2026 during Merseyrail’s operating hours.
• Travel will not be permitted without proof of a valid rail travel voucher. Passengers must be able to present it upon request at any point during their journey
• Rail travel vouchers are non-transferable; the passenger travelling using a rail travel voucher must be the person who registered for it.
• At any point during their journey, the registered passenger must be able to produce officially recognised ID (i.e. photo ID card, passport, driving licence).
• Rail travel vouchers must be surrendered if requested by a member of Merseyrail staff.
• Rail travel vouchers are not exchangeable for cash.
• Limited tickets are available and on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• It is one email address per ticket.

 

[teaspoon]

Bookings made through Avanti's website and app, including Avanti services, until 31 October for existing and new Club Avanti members will mean an entry into a prize draw for a year of Avanti first class travel. There's also instant-win prizes for the first entry per person, such as free standard premium return tickets and Euston first class lounge passes.

worth nothing that you need to be opted in to marketing messages to be eligible for the instant win prizes. You can enter the prize draw without a purchase, provided you're a Club Avanti member - the entry form is at https://cloud.e.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/ca-1-mill/ca1mil_non-payment-entry_initial_prod

 

[Jamesrob637]

Now fuel prices are on the rise again, we need more special deals such as £2 Northern tickets.

 

[johntea]

LNER are running a trial £12 (or £8 with railcard) 'early bird' fare on two specific services to try and compete with the coach market

They show up as Advance Singles when booking so not sure if there is a limited quantity or not for each service, ironically the 21:10 'night owl' will presumably be far more popular than the 05:40!

05:40 London King's Cross - Leeds
21:10 Leeds - London King's Cross

£12 London to Leeds tickets launched

A new super-low fare option has been launched by London North Eastern Railway.

www.railadvent.co.uk

A new super-low fare option has been launched by London North Eastern Railway.

The early bird fare covers journeys from London to Leeds, providing travel for £12 or £8 with a railcard.

There is also the night owl evening £12 fare as part of a trial for those travelling from Leeds to London.

 

[styles]

They show up as Advance Singles when booking so not sure if there is a limited quantity or not for each service, ironically the 21:10 'night owl' will presumably be far more popular than the 05:40!

05:40 London King's Cross - Leeds
21:10 Leeds - London King's Cross

Quite possibly, but if their intention is to compete with the coach market, the people they'll be prying away are often used to travelling at unsociable hours of the morning. I used to take coaches when I was a student with a lot less disposable income, and getting to Victoria or Golders Green at some ungodly hour of the morning was pretty typical. If the train would take less than half the time for a mere £1.01 more than the coach (based on Flixbus pricing for this route) I'd be up at 2am if you asked me to be!

 

[HOMELESS]

LNER are running a trial £12 (or £8 with railcard) 'early bird' fare on two specific services to try and compete with the coach market

They show up as Advance Singles when booking so not sure if there is a limited quantity or not for each service, ironically the 21:10 'night owl' will presumably be far more popular than the 05:40!

05:40 London King's Cross - Leeds
21:10 Leeds - London King's Cross

£12 London to Leeds tickets launched

A new super-low fare option has been launched by London North Eastern Railway.

www.railadvent.co.uk

Not valid on weekend service's though.

 

[A S Leib]

Until 09:00 BST on 1 October, there's 50% off one to three month continuous Interrail passes and 15% off all others (via an SNCB-NMBS email).

 

[ABB125]

50% is a stupidly good discount. A 3 month continuous pass is basically the same price as a 15 days in 2 months. Yes please!

 

[bspahh]

Until 09:00 BST on 1 October, there's 50% off one to three month continuous Interrail passes and 15% off all others (via an SNCB-NMBS email).

Wow.

https://www.interrail.com/en/interrail-passes/global-pass says the prices for different ages are:

Duration	2nd Class 28-59	1st Class 28-59	2nd Class 60+	1st Class 60+
1 month	£303	£393	£272	£353
2 months	£359	£466	£323	£419
3 months	£416	£540	£374	£485

You have 11 months from the date of purchase to activate it.

https://www.interrail.com/en/terms-conditions/promo-terms-conditions says:

September Promo 2026 terms and conditions​

During the promo period, we are offering:

• 50% off the regular price of 1, 2 and 3-month Continuous Interrail Global Passes
• 15% off the regular price of all Flexi and 15 and 22 day Continuous Interrail Global Passes*
• 15% off the regular price of all Interrail One Country Passes*

* Excluding Plus Passes and Interrail Passes for Erasmus+

Promo period​

24 September 2026 to 1 October 2026, 10:00 CET.

Travel restrictions​

Our standard Conditions of Use apply.

Promo refund and exchange conditions​

Unused Promo Passes are 100% refundable within 7 days of purchase (168 hours) and non-refundable and non-exchangeable thereafter. Read about our standard Refund and Exchange Policy.

Other terms and conditions​

In addition to these promo conditions, all of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.

 

[mq90]

worth nothing that you need to be opted in to marketing messages to be eligible for the instant win prizes. You can enter the prize draw without a purchase, provided you're a Club Avanti member - the entry form is at https://cloud.e.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/ca-1-mill/ca1mil_non-payment-entry_initial_prod

How long after making your booking do you typically receive your scratch-to-win email?

 

[A S Leib]

How long after making your booking do you typically receive your scratch-to-win email?

Mine took 22 hours to come through.

 

[mq90]

Mine took 22 hours to come through.

Thank you, sounds about right!

 

[HOMELESS]

Wow.

https://www.interrail.com/en/interrail-passes/global-pass says the prices for different ages are:

Duration	2nd Class 28-59	1st Class 28-59	2nd Class 60+	1st Class 60+
1 month	£303	£393	£272	£353
2 months	£359	£466	£323	£419
3 months	£416	£540	£374	£485

You have 11 months from the date of purchase to activate it.

https://www.interrail.com/en/terms-conditions/promo-terms-conditions says:

I've looked through the T&Cs but can't see anything specific.
How long before the pass has to be validated please?.
Is it 1 year from date of purchase?

 

[bspahh]

I've looked through the T&Cs but can't see anything specific.
How long before the pass has to be validated please?.
Is it 1 year from date of purchase?

Its 11 months

https://www.interrail.com/en/interr...obile-pass-faq/when-should-i-activate-my-pass says:

When should I activate my Pass?​

You can activate your Pass any time up until your first travel day. You’ll need to fill in the number of the passport or ID you’re travelling with and select the start date of your trip to activate your Pass.

To board your first train, your Pass needs to be activated. The ticket needs to be created and activated in My Pass before boarding the train.

Remember that you can activate your Pass for travel any time within 11 months of purchase. If you’re not sure when you bought your Pass, you can check your order confirmation email. Note: Passes purchased during a promotion may have a different activation period.

 

[HOMELESS]

Its 11 months

https://www.interrail.com/en/interr...obile-pass-faq/when-should-i-activate-my-pass says:

Thank you.

 

[teaspoon]

How long after making your booking do you typically receive your scratch-to-win email?

I made a booking on the 11th; realised on the 17th that you needed to be opted in to marketing communications to participate (and so turned that option on); then received my scratch-to-win email on the 23rd. I'm not sure if there was a manual process involved there but the email specifically says it's that booking which got me the entry.

(I made another booking with Avanti on the 17th, and received an email today saying that it was eligible for an entry in the prize draw.)

 

[dmncf]

LNER are running a trial £12 (or £8 with railcard) 'early bird' fare on two specific services to try and compete with the coach market

They show up as Advance Singles when booking so not sure if there is a limited quantity or not for each service, ironically the 21:10 'night owl' will presumably be far more popular than the 05:40!

05:40 London King's Cross - Leeds

I worry that LNER have made the very-early-morning 05:40 service cheaper and will soon make the subsequent moderately-early-morning 06:00 & 06:40 services more expensive. I hope I'm wrong.