When will ticket prices next be amended?

[marl333]

I was just wondering when the ticket prices will next be amended. Can anyone let me know?

Also what do you think is the likelihood of Virgin Trains releasing more advance tickets in the future? I was just wondering as the trains I've been getting recently used to be packed and are now virtually empty, presumably because customers can't buy the more affordable advance tickets. Particularly noticeable on the 20:00 Euston to Manchester which now seems to be dead. Thanks.

 

[island]

There may be minor ticket changes in mid-May; the next main price increase round will be next January.

Virgin will release as many tickets as it thinks it'll sell, at what price it thinks they'll sell at.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

There are three opportunities to change fares during the year. As island notes, May is usually a minor one (fares anomalies, etc) and January usually is the next major one (all fares), atleast that seems to be the way it goes for most TOCs, but there is also a chance to change them in September, which usually, is also a minor one (fares anomalies, etc), but in the past TOCs have changed fares in May and September where they feel they have an excuse to do so (at 'Simplification' some TOCs chose to change them)

 

[marl333]

Thanks for confirming. Could anybody tell me what time of day advance tickets are generally released by Virgin? Is there a general time of day where I'm more likely to be able to buy one? I've just been told by Virgin that they still have tickets on a train I wish to catch weekly at a price I can afford but I have checked repeatedly all year and never found them for the price quoted.

 

[wibble]

Thanks for confirming. Could anybody tell me what time of day advance tickets are generally released by Virgin? Is there a general time of day where I'm more likely to be able to buy one? I've just been told by Virgin that they still have tickets on a train I wish to catch weekly at a price I can afford but I have checked repeatedly all year and never found them for the price quoted.

They can be made available at any time of day but it's most likely to be during office hours. Knowing office based railway staff, the working day is usually 0800-1600!

Did the member of staff actually check the availability of tickets on the train? With Advance fares, all fare prices are offered but they might not be available on all trains. You have to bear in mind that the lowest priced tickets will never appear on their higher demand services. e.g. You can get from London to Glasgow for £18.50 single on the 0539 train, but it's not available on any later train in the day.

 

[gordonthemoron]

dunno about Virgin, but EMT seem to sometimes reduce the price of Advance Fares, noticed this on both Nottingham-Manchester & Nottingham-StP

 

[wibble]

Particularly noticeable on the 20:00 Euston to Manchester which now seems to be dead. Thanks.

I've had a look at the first week in May and the cheapest fare for this train is a First Class Advance single for £46.00. The 1940 and 2040 trains have Advance single fares for under £20.00 (except on Friday)

 

[marl333]

I posted on Virgin's Facebook page and I was told that they did release £17 tickets on the 20:00 but they didn't show me any. The thread is about half way down the page here (if you look at Virgin Trains + others)

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/virgintrains

I always travel back from London on a Thursday. I've seen some tickets on the 20:00 service on a Monday but that's no use to me unfortunately.

Have you seen tickets on the 19:40 for under £20 on a Thursday?

Also, is it just me or is this absolute rubbish:

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

This says that 12th May is the farthest in advance I can buy Virgin Advance tickets when it is actually 16th May!