To want to book a train ticket 9 weeks in advance

[jamimmi]

OK so I know we have rail strikes tomorrow. And possibly more.to come . But I have just tried to book a ticket for 6th April from London to Preston. 9 weeks in advance ,therefore should be on sale. They are up to the 5th and are available after the 11th but 6th which is Thursday not Easter weekend and Easter not released. Checked Network rail no works mentioned and time table up and confirmed. When will they get rid of the Sh*t show that is Avanti and is paralysing travel.down the west coast.

I had similar recently with Avanti. I think the tickets only came available less than 2 weeks before the travel date. By which time I’d had to book an alternate route

I’m trying to buy one for early March. Nada. Can’t believe Avanti are allowed to carry on giving this shit a service.

Your both making me feel better. Trying to get an alternative route but there doesn't seem to be one as avanti do all the manchester trains too. Incould get good old northen from there. I miss Virgin so much!

Preston station is closed completely for several weekends coming up. Not defending Avanti of course but that could be why

@1990s this might explain your problems?

Avanti are a pile of shit.

Thank you, but I’m going to Birmingham… 😬

Couldn’t agree more. Also, when you do get on one of their trains that you’ve paid top whack for as they never release advance tickets anywhere the service is usually delayed, full, no seat reservations and boiling.

I’ve complained SO many times…

Not travelling till April so its not the station closure thanks. Its also a Thursday! I've grabbed the outward journey the day before which has been released but not this date assume is as it the day before Easter weekend. I should have known better. I was in London the day before a December stike for a conference as we sat there trains being cancelled every 20 minutes only on the west coast line. It got to the point the west cost contingent from Birmingham upwards were running out early to try to get home . A friend going to Newcastle was appalled as their trains were fine till midnight. They really do need to go .

Trying to book exactly the same date!!!

Going to London on the 3rd - fine. Can I book a return on the 6th?? No chance!!!

Not sure whether to risk an open return with no seat reservations travelling with 2 kids. What a shitshow!

How critical are your timings OP? There's a TfW & LNW only Super Off Peak ticket available between Manchester and Euston. It takes three hours but is considerably cheaper (less than £40 return) and their services are almost certainly more reliable.

There are some works between London and Peterborough...

Thanks @DdraigGoch will have a look. Coming backs is flexible providing its on time for the last northan train

@mafsfan Did consider the open return but if no trains what the point.

Restrictions here:
www.nationalrail.co.uk/jn

You may no find the ticket online as journey planners tend to ignore slower options. Should be fine if you pop into a booking office though.

A anti have been like this for ages. No idea how they are getting away with it.

Totally agree, they're shit.

I travel from Glasgow to London for work roughly every six-eight weeks and I used to take the train all the time (come back Virgin, all is forgiven!), but I've gone back to flying, 'cos trying to book is such a hassle and the service is crap for more or less the same price - I can fly from Glasgow to Heathrow for about £140 with checked baggage.

Train is no cheaper (and sometimes more expensive) and there are frequent delays / cancellations, particularly from Euston, which isn't fun when you're trying to get home.

I hate having to fly and the impact of my carbon footprint, but equally I have to go to work, so I have no option.

Rail services should be nationalised, the fact that a private company makes a killing from a sub-par service is criminal.

@AffIt totally agree nationalisation or bring back virgin! To add insult to injury the have now cancelled the out bound journey on the Wednesday am which I've now had to rebook.
I now have a return from St pancreas to Manchester via Sheffield booked take 4 hours the Manchester to preton but only 29 for 2 of us. Decided to risk it. Thanks @DdraigGoch for the advice. We don't have a ticket office nearby to visit ans can't get to preston today so hunted about.

Yep you used to be able to get them 4 months in advance (or 3?) but now it’s 2wks sometimes. Very frustrating

Because they are doing the government's bidding. If the government brought in the Operator of Last Resort and gave it the flexibility it needs to restore industrial relations then First Group would cry 'foul' and sue because they weren't given the same chance to fix things. The government is very much the puppet master here.

Just look at the way that the government has deliberately prolonged the industrial dispute - Grant Shapps spent six months pretending that it had nothing to do with him (despite "Secretary of State" being written in the contracts some 2,500 times), then just before Christmas the government suddenly added a bunch of conditions to the offer, including Driver Only Operation. No one wanted it, the managing directors of Northern and TPE have been clear in the Transport Select Committee that when sending 1980s trains along rural routes, signalled using Victorian equipment, through many unstaffed stations which disabled passengers use, guards are essential for their companies. Yet despite the fact that no one wanted DOO, the government suddenly insisted that it be added. I say that this was a deliberate attempt to sink the negotiations.