GWR advance tickets - dynamic pricing

[SHicjs]

Hello, does anyone please have any idea how GWR allocates its advance tickets?

Just a couple of days ago, I was looking at some advance tickets that were available in mid-September (right at the end of the current booking window), but these are no longer showing as available. I would be surprised if anyone else had snapped them up already.

GWR's system seems rather random. Many advances have been available in the last few months, but they have really truly dried up over the coming months.

I realise that it advance tickets are unregulated, and it is totally up to GWR with how they release these, but I'd love to know how their system works.

 

[The exile]

Hello, does anyone please have any idea how GWR allocates its advance tickets?
Just a couple of days ago, I was looking at some advance tickets that were available in mid-September (right at the end of the current booking window), but these are no longer showig as available. I would be suprised if anyone else had snapped them up already.
GWR's system seems rather random. Many advances have been available in the last few months, but they have really truly dried up over the coming months.
p.s. I realise that it advance tickets are unregulated and it is totally up to GWR with how they release these, but I'd love to know how their system works.

If they were for the most recently released dates, then they may well have been snapped up by people who have been waiting for the booking window to open. The first few weeks after the schools go back are popular holiday times for the childless (or at least used to be).

 

[Haywain]

I would be suprised if anyone else had snapped them up already.

Why? It is unlikely that the availability only referred to the exact journey you are planning - anyone making a journey on the same train(s) could have caused that availability to disappear.

 

[SHicjs]

Why? It is unlikely that the availability only referred to the exact journey you are planning - anyone making a journey on the same train(s) could have caused that availability to disappear.

Ok - fair enough. But in that case, the number of advance tickets initially available per train must have drastically been reduced since what has been available over the past few weeks.

 

[Haywain]

Ok - fair enough. But in that case, the number of advance tickets initially available per train must have drastically been reduced since what has been available over the past few weeks.

Maybe. Or they have insight into the demand for the time/date/journey you are looking at.

 

[Hadders]

Ok - fair enough. But in that case, the number of advance tickets initially available per train must have drastically been reduced since what has been available over the past few weeks.

There might only be as few as 2 tickets per train at the lowest price point.

 

[Tetchytyke]

It’s worth noting as well that if someone adds a ticket to their basket then this ticket is removed from circulation, and it can take several hours for it to be returned if they don’t purchase it and don’t actively remove it from their basket.

As there can be very few tickets available in the lowest price bands, this can distort things too.

 

[Snow1964]

GWR also seems to have a limited number on station to station, that is specific station pairs. On couple of occasions I have encountered sold out or only higher price tickets, but if I change start and/or end point (eg from a random station on a branch line beyond) using same train then they reappear as available (at lower cost for the longer journey).

There is something odd in their algorithms that allows seats on same train to be sold out or available depending on if there are connections, but I have no idea why.

Of course shouldn't really buy a ticket and get off early, but in some cases even buying (separately) an extra local ticket to cover the double back is cheaper and/or effectively restores the avaliabilty

 

[Benjwri]

GWR also seems to have a limited number on station to station, that is specific station pairs. On couple of occasions I have encountered sold out or only higher price tickets, but if I change start and/or end point (eg from a random station on a branch line beyond) using same train then they reappear as available (at lower cost for the longer journey).

There is something odd in their algorithms that allows seats on same train to be sold out or available depending on if there are connections, but I have no idea why.

Of course shouldn't really buy a ticket and get off early, but in some cases even buying (separately) an extra local ticket to cover the double back is cheaper and/or effectively restores the avaliabilty

Is this not to do with quotas depending on the routeing of the ticket?

 

[Hamptonman]

I have been tracking cheap summer fares from Twickenham to Truro for months with no sign of any. I spoke to GWR customer services last week and they told me that "the cheaper fares haven't been released yet", and suggested trying again in a couple of weeks. Often it's cheaper (but longer and nicer) to go via SWR but there don't seem to be any deals with them either.

 

[Snow1964]

I have been tracking cheap summer fares from Twickenham to Truro for months with no sign of any. I spoke to GWR customer services last week and they told me that "the cheaper fares haven't been released yet", and suggested trying again in a couple of weeks. Often it's cheaper (but longer and nicer) to go via SWR but there don't seem to be any deals with them either.

GWR website isn't much help either, they use vague "upto" when saying when they will be released.

This is current position saying upto 24 weeks, but actually just 18 weeks for weekdays, and about 16 weeks for weekends (how is 16 weeks upto 12 ?)

GWR advance train tickets | Book early and save money | Great Western Railway

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Tickets go on sale up to 24 weeks before travel.*

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Service	Available up to
Weekdays	Friday 19 September 2025**
Saturdays	Saturday 6 September 2025**
Sundays	Sunday 7 September 2025**