Is it necessary to book train tickets in advance?

Reserve Early The earlier you book your tickets, the more likely you are to get the lowest fare available for the dates you want on the routes along your journey. You may book your travel up to 11 months in advance.



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Advance tickets are great value, and ideal for saving money on long journeys.

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Reserve Early The earlier you book your tickets, the more likely you are to get the lowest fare available for the dates you want on the routes along your journey. You may book your travel up to 11 months in advance.

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Higher fares usually apply when purchasing tickets onboard the train. To secure the best available fare, passengers should purchase tickets prior to boarding the train.

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The prices are the same although online is easier as you can see a range of prices and trains for any given train service, and you don't have to leave the house to search. Booking tickets on the day is generally more expensive as “Advance” tickets will not be as readily available.

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In most circumstances, you must purchase a ticket before you board a train. Most trains require reservations and you should not board reserved trains without a reservation. Passengers who do so are not guaranteed a seat and may be instructed to get off the train at the next station stop.

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Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don't get cheaper closer to the departure date. Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date.

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Save Money on Your Train Ticket
  1. Book in advance. Train companies sell around a million Advance tickets every week. ...
  2. Travel at quieter times. ...
  3. Use a Railcard. ...
  4. Buy a Season ticket. ...
  5. Travel in a group. ...
  6. Explore with a Ranger or Rover ticket. ...
  7. And there's more…


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Getting Your Ticket
  1. You'll receive your eTicket as a PDF attachment to your emailed receipt. You can even retrieve your eTicket in the app.
  2. Open the eTicket PDF on your mobile device. You can even print your eTicket before arriving at the station.
  3. Simply show the eTicket barcode and your ID to the conductor.


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The short answer is no, buying a roundtrip ticket on Amtrak is not necessarily cheaper than buying two one-way tickets. According to a post on AmtrakTrains.com, when you buy a roundtrip ticket on Amtrak, you are essentially buying two one-way tickets. There are no discounts to buying the round trip together.

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The easiest way to buy train tickets in advance is through our website or on our app, but you can also buy your Advance tickets at any of our ticket offices. You cannot purchase Advance tickets at our ticket machines at stations. Find out more about ways to buy your ticket.

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An Open Return is a flexible ticket that doesn't make you choose a specific time or date to return. They're valid for one calendar month from the date of the outward journey. There are a few types of Open ticket: Anytime: fully flexible tickets that can be used on peak and off-peak services.

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