Is there any way I can buy train tickets more than 12 weeks in advance?

[pharmachameleon]

I'm losing the plot here so would love advice! My DH and DS are going to the Goodwood festival of speed in July and are looking at travel. Flights from Glasgow to Southampton are working out at around £560. They would love to go by train but looks as if they can't buy a ticket more than 12 weeks in advance which is a PITA! Am I missing something? They are keen to get travel booked sooner rather than later so don't want to wait until May to see about train tickets. Help!

No. The only thing you can do is if you need to use more than 1 train company, check their release dates separately on their own websites.

How about coach tickets? Are they any earlier?

If you know who the train company is likely to be, it's worth checking their individual website- our local trains (Hull trains) are available to book now for August, with the disclaimer that planned times may change.

Thanks everyone. I only looked at The Trainline and they stated tickets weren't available yet. I'm not even sure what train company it would be to go from Glasgow to London.
Really annoying you can't book in advance.

Try putting in the wrong date to get an idea of the train companies, travel times and changes. Then you can do as poster above suggests and go to individual train company sites.

Avanti for Glasgow to London

I don’t understand the problem. You will get tickets. I put the date they are released in my diary and then book as soon as they are available.

Op I think its LNER for your area???

What are you worried about? They don't sell out or do dynamic pricing. Do dummy bookings 12 weeks out to see costs and then just book 12 weeks before.

You just have to wait. Tickets won't sell out in minutes

You can sign up for a notification for when tickets go on sale for a particular date via the Avanti website, although it's worth noting that I've done this in the past, checked on the day I thought tickets would be available, made my booking in the morning and not received the notification email till mid afternoon.

I always book via the train company's own website - Trainline etc charge a booking fee and it can be a lot more difficult to get a refund if there's a cancellation.

I'd suggest putting reminders in your phone from about 14 weeks out, and then just keep checking. Depending on how far apart the travel dates are, you might not be able to book the return til a week later - don't wait for both dates to open before booking the first one.

In answer to your original question, you technically can book further in advance by buying a open ticket that's valid for any date, and then adding a seat reservation when the 12 week bookings open. But it will cost you a lot more for an open ticket. And you MUST add a seat reservation, and not just turn up assuming there will be a seat. Glasgow to London is a long time to stand...

The notifications are normally at least a few days after the tickets have been released. Just keep checking.

You need to set up notifications- look at dates within 12 weeks and see what the best options are then sign up for notifications with whatever train company looks most promising. I would have thought it was avanti. Possibly LNER as well.

Why is this your problem OP? What are they worried about?

Fares are due too rise soon so they are probably waiting for that too.the coach is a nice journey.

If it's your DH and DS who are going, let them sort out their own travel arrangements. I'm struggling to see how this involves you at all.

@TraitorsGate they've already gone up.

Avanti West Coast for London Euston to Glasglow Central

How old is DS? If over 16/18, look at getting a two together ticket. DH and I used it from London to Edinburgh, and saved the cost of buying the card in that 1 trip, plus you can use it for 12mths. It gives 30% off train tickets when travelling together.
Two Together Railcard (twotogether-railcard.co.uk)

Agree with pp. Shop around and mess about with the algorithms! Or try train pricing splitting. Or book each leg of the journey separately.

Are flights cheaper Glasgow to Gatwick? It’s easy to get to Chichester station from Gatwick.

Thank all.
@fernsandlilies Gatwick would be fine too however the only flight back to Glasgow on the Sunday is at 9am which isn't ideal. Means they would need leave the accommodation at about 6/7am and would lose a day really.
To the others asking why I'm stressing-I'm a planner! I like to get things booked as far as possible in advance and can relax once I've done that. The flights are going up in price and some times that suit are now sold out. I just find it really frustrating that I can't book a train ticket far in advance.
My DS is 13 so hopefully we can get some discounts for him.

@JobMatch3000 thank you for that super helpful comment.
My DH isn't on Mumsnet so I said I would post here for him. DH will do all the arrangements himself but we chat about things like this, like a normal married couple, and I'd like to try and help him. If he spends a fortune on flights that he doesn't need to the money will come out of our joint family account so I have a vested interest in him booking the cheapest option.

OP I know exactly how you feel. 😂

I would say get a family and friends railcard. They are £30 but you get up to 40% off. It can be really worth it.

Really @Jettyspaghetti? That would make a massive saving