Buying Advance tickets and reserving seats...

Changes to train times

Changes to the timetable can sometimes be made 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 and Network Rail 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.  Information about buying tickets.

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.

Train Company Monday to Friday services  Saturday services Sunday services
Arriva Trains Wales 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar

Notes: Ship reservations

  • Fishguard Harbour and Rosslare Harbour
  • Holyhead and Dublin
  • Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire

Reservations are available until 22 Mar

CrossCountry 20 Mar 07 Feb 08 Feb

East Midlands Trains

Liverpool / Norwich routes 13 Mar 14 Mar 08 Mar
London routes 13 Mar 07 Mar 08Mar
First Great Western 18 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar
First Transpennine Express 20 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar
Hull Trains 13 Mar 07 Mar 08 Mar
London Midland 03 Apr 04 Apr 29 Mar
National Express East Anglia 27 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar
National Express East Coast 20 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar
ScotRail 27 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar
Notes: Sleeper reservations are available until 27 Mar
South West Trains 27 Mar 28 Mar 29 Mar
Except Weymouth route   21 Mar 22Mar
Virgin Trains 20 Mar 14 mar 08 Feb

Notes: Virgin Trains reservations are not available on North Wales / Chester routes Saturdays 07 & 21 Feb Sundays 01 & 08 Feb Mon-Fri 03 to19 Mar 

Last updated: 8January 2009

Special Events

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

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