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Buying Advance tickets and reserving seats

Changes to train times

Sometimes, there can be changes to train times at weekends and bank holidays to allow essential engineering work to be carried out. Trains may be retimed or re-routed. Occasionally the journey may involve travelling on a bus service.  We have a dedicated area of our website which gives details about future engineering work.

Train Companies aim to provide information about changes to train times twelve weeks in advance.

Until the changes to the timetable are confirmed it is not always possible to buy Advance tickets or to make seat reservations on train services that may be affected by engineering work.

When can I buy Advance Tickets and make seat reservations?

Below is a summary of the farthest travel dates in the future where it is possible to reserve seats today for those Train Companies offering seat reservations and Advance tickets .

Advance tickets are generally not available earlier than 12 weeks before the date of travel. 

Once train times are confirmed, Advance tickets will begin to appear in our Journey Planner. You will be able to find full details of availability and choose to buy them from your preferred retailer.

Advance tickets are sold in limited numbers, and so subject to availability.

Information about buying tickets

Train Company Monday to Friday services  Saturday services Sunday services
Arriva Trains Wales 29 January 12 December 06 December
Arriva Trains Wales are not open for reservations on Friday 8 January 2010

Ferry reservations to Ireland open until 30 January 2010

From Monday 5 October there will be only one fast craft sailing in each direction between Holyhead and Dublin Ferryport. To get options for your journey, please view this timetable   

CrossCountry 29 January 30 January 31 January

East Midlands Trains

Liverpool - Norwich route 29 January 23 January 24 January
London route 29 January 23 January 24 January
East Midlands Trains are not open on Saturday 2 January on the London Route
First Great Western 29 January 23 January 24 January
First Hull Trains 29 January 23 January 17 January
First TransPennine Express 29 January 30 January 31 January
London Midland 29 January 30 January 31 January
National Express East Anglia 29 January 02 January 03 January
National Express East Coast 29 January 30 January 31 January
ScotRail 29 January 23 January 24 January

ScotRail Sleeper services are open up to Friday 29 January 2010 

South West Trains 29 January 23 January 24 January
South West Trains are open up to Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 January on the London Waterloo - Weymouth route
Virgin Trains 27 January 23 January 24 January

Last updated: 6 November 2009

Special Events

The availability of Advance tickets could be affected by special events taking place along the route of the journey. Please check before travelling.

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