Aaaargh trying to book a train ticket

[YipeeChooChoo]

I’m normally a car driver and am trying to book quite long distance train tickets for half-term - I’m so confused re pricing. This is all new to me.

For two people, cheapest tickets are approx 70 each way for both (so £140 return) however the price dipped down to £80 return for about 1/2 an hour earlier and then shot back up again.

I was trying to book through Trainline but for some reason they wouldn’t allocate me two seats together (travelling with small child so this is essential unless some other unsuspecting traveller wants to sit next to a v lively 3 year old) so was faffing about redoing it to see if I’d get different seats allocated. I even tried “priority seating”. I’ve since checked the rail provider website and there’s loads and LOADS of space on both trains.

A) I don’t understand why, as I was booking two seats and there is availability why they didn’t automatically allocate two seats together - people travelling together generally want to sit together don’t they?? 🤷🏻‍♀️

2. Why did the cost suddenly drop massively then go up again? I’ve checked and the trains have tons of space…is it worth holding off for a cheaper price? Travelling on Tues the 25th Oct.

3. Why on Earth do they make it so hard? I’m now tempted to just drive instead.

You seem to be under the mistaken impression that train ticket pricing is logical... it's obviously not, or why would "split ticketing" be a thing?
I don't know how you think you can tell which trains are less full than others though- tickets are sold via multiple outlets whose displays won't be connected or dynamic.

I always go to our local station to book tickets. It’s cheaper than Trainline and you can be more specific..also it keeps the train stations booking offices open !

Thanks everyone, it’s been a learning journey!

I have now booked direct with the train operator and was able to select my own seats so we now have two seats together both ways.

The Trainline seat allocation was totally random, i.e. offering two separate seats on different rows when there were clearly seats available next to each other.