Advance tickets are single (one-way) tickets for many longer and some shorter distance journeys, are available in First Class and Standard Class and offer the best available price for each journey.
Tickets must be booked in advance of travel and are subject to availability.
Advance tickets are valid only on the specific booked train but can be changed before departure of the first reserved service.
Availability
Any National Rail staffed ticket office, train company telesales office, online at most train company website and selected rail appointed travel agents.
Some Advance fares (particularly the very cheapest) or additional availability on low quota fares are only available to purchase direct from the train company that the ticket is valid to travel with - usually only via their own website.
Tickets are valid only on the date and train service(s) shown on the ticket(s). Where applicable, valid only for travel in the class and reserved seat(s) shown on the ticket(s).
Discounts
Children aged 5 to 15 inclusive: 50% discount.
Up to two children aged under 5 may travel free of charge with each fare-paying adult.
1/3 off with the following Railcards:
- 16-25,
- Family & Friends,
- Senior,
- HM Forces,
- Disabled Persons,
- Veterans,
- Two Together Railcards.
Child discounts, Senior, Family & Friends, Two Together, 16-25 , HM Forces and Disabled Persons Railcards discounts apply.
Break of Journey
Outbound:Customers may not start, break and resume, or end their journey at any intermediate station except to change to/from connecting trains as shown on the ticket(s) or other valid travel itinerary.
Inbound:
Not applicable. Advance are single tickets only.
Change of Journey
Changes to time or date of travel must be arranged before departure of the first reserved train printed on the ticket, after which the ticket has no value and a new one must be purchased. Customers will need to present the ticket(s) and reservation(s) when they request a change.
Changes to tickets cannot be made on-board the train. If customers board a train without a ticket and reservation for that service, a new ticket must be purchased.
The origin, destination and Train Company or route shown on the ticket(s) must remain the same.
The difference between the price paid and cost of the next suitable fare for the journey is payable. An administration fee of no more than £10 may be charged per ticket for each change to a journey. If customers change to a train on which a cheaper fare is available, the difference will not be refunded.
Please note: Where an Advance ticket has been purchased online and the ticket has either been self-printed at home or downloaded to a mobile device this may alter the rules for changing the ticket. The relevant conditions will be made clear when the ticket is bought.
Refunds
Advance tickets are non-refundable.
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Change of Journey/Excess Fare paid
Where an excess fare has been paid up to the price of a walk-up ticket, the excess fare paid varies the terms under which the passenger can travel, but it does not alter the refund terms of the original Advance ticket. If the passenger subsequently asks for a refund on the combination of Advance ticket, Excess Fare paid and any administration fees paid, the Advance ticket and change of journey fee remain non-refundable and a refund is only payable on the difference in fare paid. This may be subject to a refund fee of no more than £5.
If your journey is cancelled or disrupted
If the train you purchased a ticket for is cancelled or delayed by more than 60 minutes, special arrangements will be made to accommodate them on another train (although a seat cannot be guaranteed). If the train you purchased a ticket for is cancelled or delayed, and as a result you decide not to travel, a refund will be offered on completely unused tickets and you will not be charged an administration fee.
There may be rare occasions where a cheaper Advance fare becomes available closer to the time of travel, for example if a group booking is cancelled and extra seats become available. Please note that in these circumstances Advance tickets that have already been bought cannot be refunded in part or in full.
Validity and reservation requirements
Reservations are required by this ticket type on both the outward and (where applicable) return journeys.
- Outward validity summary
- BOOKDTRAINONLY
- Return validity summary
- INVALID