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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.

Information about buying tickets

Train Company Monday to Friday services  Saturday services Sunday services
Arriva Trains Wales 18 September 19 September 20 September

Note: Ship reservations are available until 20 Sep on the following routes:

  • Fishguard Harbour and Rosslare Harbour
  • Holyhead and Dublin
  • Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire
CrossCountry 25 September 26 September 27 September

East Midlands Trains

Liverpool - Norwich route 25 September 5 September 6 September
London route 25 September 5 September 16 August

East Midlands Trains reservations are not available on the London route on the following dates:

  • 26 July
  • 2, 22, 29, and 31 August
First Great Western 18 September 19 September 20 September
First Hull Trains 25 September 19 September 20 September
First TransPennine Express 25 September 26 September 27 September
London Midland 18 September 19 September 20 September
National Express East Anglia 25 September 19 September 20 September

National Express East Anglia reservations are not available on the following dates: 29, 30, 31 August

National Express East Coast 25 September 26 September 27 September
ScotRail 25 September 19 September 20 September
Sleeper reservations are available until 25 September
South West Trains 25 September 26 September 27 September
Virgin Trains 24 September 19 September 20 September

Virgin Trains are not open for reservations on Monday 31 August and Sunday 13 September

Last updated: 3 July 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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