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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Student railcard- how soon in advance do you have to order tickets?

25 replies

Miljah · 07/06/2019 14:20

I gather you must 'pre-order' your tickets when using a student railcard, but how soon before you travel can you leave it?

OP posts:

fiftiesmum · 07/06/2019 14:25

It is always better to buy rail tickets in advance as you can get much better deals even without Railcard but usually have to get specific train. I booked ticket this week at 9am for a 10am train with Railcard and no problem

Original poster

Miljah · 07/06/2019 14:32

Thanks.

DS wants to make a £21 (with railcard) return trip, out tomorrow, back Sunday.

I don't want him to book until he knows the fellow student he's visiting isn't going to flake on him, so I want him to book it tomorrow morning, to go at noon.

But the rail fares don't shoot up and down like Ryanair do, do they?? As in it won't suddenly leap up tomorrow, will it?!

OP posts:

ForeverBubblegum · 07/06/2019 14:34

I haven't had one for about 5 years so it may have changed, but I definitely used to buy from the machines at the station just before getting a train. Couldn't use it to buy on the train though.

If you can it is usually cheaper to buy further in advance, tickets go on sale 12 weeks before and each train will have a pre-set number of cheap tickets, and once there gone there gone.

OKBobble · 07/06/2019 14:41

You can buy them right up to boarding the train but there are cheaper advance ones.

fiftiesmum · 07/06/2019 14:41

Sometimes the really cheap tickets (£10 return lands end to John o'groats - slight exaggeration there) may have sold out but not the typical off peak

freshstartnewme · 07/06/2019 14:49

No you don't have to pre order when using a rail card.

SouthKoreaquestion · 07/06/2019 15:34

The prices of advance tickets for a particular train can shoot up, so delaying the booking until tomorrow is a risk. At one time, I don't think they sold advance tickets at all on the day of travel. I think some rail companies do now do that, but I don't know whether all do. Probably worth comparing the price of the advance ticket with the price of buying a non-advance ticket in order to decide whether to take the risk.

Original poster

Miljah · 07/06/2019 15:54

For fear of asking a stupid question, but how can we find out what the fare will be if we order tomorrow morning, before he travels?

OP posts:

titchy · 07/06/2019 16:13

You don't have to pre-order at all! If you want to know the price before you buy use the Trainline or similar app - or simply ask at the ticket office. An old-fashioned method granted, but works.

Original poster

Miljah · 07/06/2019 16:18

The problem is the local station isn't manned, and if we use Trainline, it will tell us how much the ticket will be if he buys it now, not how much it will be if he buys on the day, tomorrow!

OP posts:

freshstartnewme · 07/06/2019 16:22

For fear of asking a stupid question, but how can we find out what the fare will be if we order tomorrow morning, before he travels?

Check how much it would be now, to travel now, although if he is traveling peak it may well be different; but it won't be massive, can he not just carry a few extra pounds?

freshstartnewme · 07/06/2019 16:26

Sorry my mistake, it's Saturday lunchtime so not peak.

bigTillyMint · 07/06/2019 16:29

You can buy the tickets online at the last min and show them on your phone - no need for real paper tickets!

titchy · 07/06/2019 16:29

Use trainline as if he was travelling today?

SophyStantonLacy · 07/06/2019 16:30

you can see the standard price on Trainline.

SilentSister · 07/06/2019 16:32

You can buy the tickets online at the last min and show them on your phone - no need for real paper tickets!

This ^ - DD buys all her tickets just before she leaves the house to catch the train! To be fair, if it is a long or expensive trip, she does try to buy way in advance, as much, much cheaper, but that is weeks in advance.

BackforGood · 07/06/2019 17:00

No, you don't need to pre-order. You can get a discount buying them as you are about to step on the train.

Generally, if you buy weeks in advance, with all tickets you can get a better deal, but I doubt it makes a difference buying today or tomorrow.

Citygirl2019 · 07/06/2019 17:03

If you use the Trainline app you can look at the different prices with or without the railcard.

My DS books his tickets this way.

Original poster

Miljah · 07/06/2019 17:14

Thanks everyone.

I think he'll book tomorrow.

Can I also ask, which app will he need to just show his ticket on his phone?

OP posts:

Hortz · 07/06/2019 17:33

The student railcard does not affect which tickets you may or may not buy it gives a discount on every ticket.
Some tickets cost more than others - it's a minefield but that's nothing to do with the railcard.
Generally speaking the earlier you book the cheaper and the more flexible you want the ticket the dearer.

fairweathercyclist · 11/06/2019 12:41

which app will he need to just show his ticket on his phone

Probably just his email.

justanswerthephone · 11/06/2019 12:42

Whichever app he uses to buy the tickets.

I frequently buy tickets from LNER so use their app.

SellFridges · 11/06/2019 12:45

Does your DS have additional needs? I’m not sure why you need to be so involved in the booking (or not) of a train ticket.

BubblesBuddy · 11/06/2019 13:21

Some unmanned stations have ticket issuing machines. You put your reservation details in and your bank card and you get the tickets!

Comefromaway · 11/06/2019 15:18

If you are travelling from an unmanned station without a ticket buying machine then you are allowed to wither buy a ticket with railcard discount either from the guard on the train or when you arrive at your destination/connection.

Most unmanned stations have ticket machines though.

Advanced fayres that are valid only on certain trains are always cheaper than flexible, on the day tickets.

Never use trainline as they charge a booking fee. www.nationalrail.co.uk/ have no fees and neither do the individual train comapnies website eg Virgin, East Midlands etc

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