Advance ticket release/reservations

[jopsuk]

It's coming up to that point of the year that the scramble for Christmas and New Year tickets starts. National Express East Coast display when they're taking bookings until on their home page and offer free email alerts. NX East Anglia have a news item at the moment from the 25th of this month saying they're taking bookings up to the 18th.

What about other TOCs? Virgin's site seems to have nothing of this sort- a friend, spotting it is 12 weeks to the 23rd, just tried booking tickets through them. The engine would allow the date, but showed no Advance fares and allows no seat reservations- digging showed no Advance fares from the 14th of December onwards. He's confused, as he thought 12 weeks in advance was always the cheapest to book.

If anyone finds out on-sale dates that we're allowed to know, please post them here!

 

[tony_mac]

It says up to December 8th at the moment, with a couple of exceptions at weekends.
The last time I looked at this it wasn't actually up-to date (by weeks), but if it says they are available then they should be.

http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/buy_tickets/seat_reservations/default.aspx

 

[jopsuk]

Crikey, how did you find that? Not well enough signposted for me to find, (and as I said, I can see Advance fares and thus reservable seats up and including the 13th) and I like to think I'm pretty good at tracking things down. Come on Virgin, Nat Ex EC put you to shame here!

 

[LondonLarry]

This covers almost all TOCs.... (Although Southern's not listed)

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html

 

[harz99]

Something to do with last minute adjustments to the new timetable, possibly.........

 

[jopsuk]

I understand the "why" of them not having released Christmas reservations- all I want is something to tell me as soon as they do go on sale. Something that NXEC do, and seemingly no-one else.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

This covers almost all TOCs.... (Although Southern's not listed)

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html

Do Southern and Southeastern have any services that you can reserve seats on at all? That might be why they aren't listed? No Northern, Merseyrail or Chiltern either, and for the Open Access lot I'm guessing it's up to them to supply NR with the details (no GC or WSMR listed).

 

[LondonLarry]

Do Southern and Southeastern have any services that you can reserve seats on at all? That might be why they aren't listed? No Northern, Merseyrail or Chiltern either, and for the Open Access lot I'm guessing it's up to them to supply NR with the details (no GC or WSMR listed).

Southern don't offer seat reservations, but they do offer Advance fares.

 

[Mojo]

FGW have just opened Christmas & New Year reservations for a few trains. See http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=4307 for the list of trains.

 

[jopsuk]

NXEC opened today as well- website is currently a tad unreliable. Booking is proving a pain. Engine keeps crashing or just running slowly.

 

[Failed Unit]

NXEC opened today as well- website is currently a tad unreliable. Booking is proving a pain. Engine keeps crashing or just running slowly.

I know what you mean I have been trying now for about 20 minutes, constant crashing, if they didn't offer the 10% online discount I would be looking elsewhere now!

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Just checked and you can book tickets for GC Services now.

Outward Journey (24 Dec 2009) Depart Arrive Travel by Train company Duration
07:08Hartlepool 10:31London Kings Cross Train GRAND CENTRAL TRAINS 03h 23

Also checked 27th, shows the 09:30 northbound from LKX.

Booked mine.