Grand Central/ EC Advance tickets

[SWT_USER]

I'm likely to be booking a weekend away for a group of (probably) 9 people over the Easter weekend going up to either Newcastle or Edinburgh with the final leg being Hartlepool to London on Easter Monday. A couple of questions if I may?

Firstly when are the advances likely to go on sale, I notice from the EC website that they are currently selling advance tickets until the 1st April, does this mean that from tomorrow they will be selling until the 3rd etc or are advance tickets released in monthly blocks?

Secondly I'd like to part pay using Rail Travel Vouchers. Are these redeemable online? If not how do I purchase advance tickets using them - any ticket office?

I'm aware using EC & connections is likely to be cheaper but happy to pay a little more for the convenience of a quicker journey and not having to change.

Thanks all.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

The future quotas of Advance tickets are released weekly - EC usually releases them on a Thursday.
But before you book, look carefully at their 'Groupsave' offer, which provides a third off (though if I'm not mistaken, that third is NOT in addition to the third off which Railcard holders will be offered). This may assist in keeping prices manageable.

I do not believe that there is any mechanism for using RTVs for on-line bookings - they can be used at a station (so would not qualify for the approx 10% discount when booking EC seats from the EC website).

 

[YorkshireRider]

Might be an idea to book your Grand Central tickets for your final leg at a ticket office using your vouchers and the EC legs on the EC website using the advice Dave has given. When going on the EC website click on the special offers section and from the menu click on 'big savings for small groups' and book through the link given.

 

[SWT_USER]

The future quotas of Advance tickets are released weekly - EC usually releases them on a Thursday.
But before you book, look carefully at their 'Groupsave' offer, which provides a third off (though if I'm not mistaken, that third is NOT in addition to the third off which Railcard holders will be offered). This may assist in keeping prices manageable.

I do not believe that there is any mechanism for using RTVs for on-line bookings - they can be used at a station (so would not qualify for the approx 10% discount when booking EC seats from the EC website).

Thanks Dave,

There are 7 railcard holders in the party, but booking everyone through the group discount would bring down the price for the non railcard holders whilst not costing anymore for railcard holders if I've understood it correctly - didn't know about the EC group discount, most helpful!
I realise about the EC 10% for booking online, planning on using the vouchers for the GC journey.

 

[All Line Rover]

For groups of 3 or more, East Coast offer a 1/3 off discount when booked through this link: http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/special-offers/standard-live-pages/3plus/.

Just like their 10% offer, it applies to EC Only and EC & Connections tickets. Note that there must be at least 3 ADULTS in the group.

As an example, if travelling on Wed 21st March from London to Newcastle for 9 adults (7 of whom hold Railcard's - I'm assuming Senior), the cheapest price is £91.95. A bargain!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Secondly I'd like to part pay using Rail Travel Vouchers. Are these redeemable online? If not how do I purchase advance tickets using them - any ticket office?

Unfortunately, Rail Travel Vouchers cannot be used to buy tickets online, which means that you can't qualify for the 10% or 33% East Coast discounts. You can still purchase "full-price" Advance tickets at any ticket office using Rail Travel Vouchers.

 

[island]

You can also purchase with RTVs over the phone with FGW. I can't remember whether it's that they don't release the tickets until you've posted in the vouchers or that they take payment for the full amount then refund you by the amount of the vouchers.

Not a lot of use if you want the 11% (not 10%) EC web discount mind, and assuming you don't get a crotchety ticket clerk buying at the station is probably more straightforward.

 

[SWT_USER]

For groups of 3 or more, East Coast offer a 1/3 off discount when booked through this link, and it can be used in addition to the 1/3 off that Railcard's offer: http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/special-offers/standard-live-pages/3plus/.

Just like their 10% offer, it applies to EC Only and EC & Connections tickets. As I mentioned above, the discount applies in addition to any Railcard discounts, although it is not a requirement for all members of the group to hold a Railcard. Note that there must be at least 3 ADULTS in the group, although children can be brought along at the normal 50% discount, plus the 1/3 off "group booking" discount, plus the Railcard discount if you are using a Family Railcard.

As an example, if travelling on Wed 21st March from London to Newcastle for 9 adults (7 of whom hold Railcard's - I'm assuming Senior), the cheapest price is £91.95. A bargain!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Unforunately, Rail Travel Vouchers cannot be used to buy tickets online, which means that you can't qualify for the 10% or 33% East Coast discounts. You can still purchase "full-price" Advance tickets at any ticket office using Rail Travel Vouchers.

Thanks ALR. Although we are 16-25 not seniors thank you!!

One more question, although the advance tickets haven't been released yet I can still look at times. Does anyone know why the 18:00 London KX to Edinburgh train doesn't appear to be running on the 7th April? The EC site has no mention of engineering works on that date.

 

[142094]

One more question, although the advance tickets haven't been released yet I can still look at times. Does anyone know why the 18:00 London KX to Edinburgh train doesn't appear to be running on the 7th April? The EC site has no mention of engineering works on that date.

There probably is engineering work going on but it will not have been finalised yet, so won't appear on the websites just yet. 7th is a Saturday and no doubt it will be affected.

 

[YorkshireRider]

For groups of 3 or more, East Coast offer a 1/3 off discount when booked through this link, and it can be used in addition to the 1/3 off that Railcard's offer: http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/special-offers/standard-live-pages/3plus/.

Just like their 10% offer, it applies to EC Only and EC & Connections tickets. As I mentioned above, the discount applies in addition to any Railcard discounts

The terms say the offer cannot be used in conjuntion with railcard discounts however you can still add railcards when booking through this link and it may give you a little extra off, but i think that might be because railcard discount is calculated at 34% as oppsosed to the 33% this offer gives.
So just to clear any confusion you will not get a further 1/3 off on top of the 1/3 railcard discount already given.

 

[John @ home]

The terms say the offer cannot be used in conjuntion with railcard discounts however you can still add railcards when booking through this link and it may give you a little extra off, but i think that might be because railcard discount is calculated at 34% as opposed to the 33% this offer gives.
So just to clear any confusion you will not get a further 1/3 off on top of the 1/3 railcard discount already given.

Almost, not quite. By my calculations, the Advance fares charged for tickets routed EC & Connections are:

100% Public Adult fare.
89% Adult fare bought through East Coast.
66% Public Railcard fare, Group fare bought through East Coast.
59% Railcard fare bought through East Coast.

Although the Railcard fare bought through East Coast is not reduced further if that person is part of a Group, the advantage is that the person counts towards the minimum Group size of 3.

 

[SWT_USER]

Ok EC tickets all booked up with no problems, but Grand Central don't seem to have released theirs yet for the 9th April. Does anybody know how far in advance they do release advances?

 

[Johnny Lewis]

According to Grand Central's website, their trains are open for reservation up to the 29th March only.

East Coast are now open until Friday 13th April, which includes the Easter weekend.

No crotchety ticket sellers at Dewsbury station!!! But you won't get your 11% online discount.