When to Purchase Affordable Train Tickets for Christmas Travel

With Christmas just around the corner, many people are finalizing their travel plans to visit friends and family. If you’re not a car owner or don’t drive, taking the train is a popular choice for Christmas travel.

Train tickets can be quite expensive, especially during the holiday season, so it’s important to plan ahead. Jamie Fraser, travel expert and owner of Wild Packs, shares some valuable insights on the best time to purchase advanced train tickets before Christmas.

Timing is Key

According to Jamie, timing is integral when it comes to booking train tickets. Excluding the holiday rush around Christmas and New Year, the ideal time to start searching for advanced train tickets is usually around 12 weeks before your planned travel date.

The reason behind this timing is that Network Rail is legally required to finalize timetables 12 weeks in advance. As a result, train operators often release more affordable tickets shortly after. Some operators, like London North Eastern Railway (LNER), even offer advance tickets up to 24 weeks ahead for certain routes.

However, it’s worth noting that advanced tickets are non-refundable unless the journey is delayed or cancelled. So, it’s essential to plan your travel carefully.

Operator Ticket Sale Dates

• Southeastern – Already on sale until 6 January 2024
• Southern – Until 3 January 2024
• South Western Railway – 27 October to 12 January 2024
• Transport for Wales (TfW) – 12 November to 3 January 2024
• West Midlands Railway – 3 November to 3 January 2024

Jamie also advises travelers to check whether buying two advance single tickets is cheaper than one return ticket on a train app. He explains, “For instance, a search for a return journey between London and Manchester may yield a standard anytime return ticket priced at £350. However, separate outbound and return advance single tickets can cost significantly less, with a total of £67, potentially saving you £283 on the same journey.”