Edinburgh - London when LNER not running to KGX

[Ramboni]

I live in Edinburgh and I've managed to book theatre tickets in London for 29th Feb 2020 a week before NR and LNER announced that this will be a weekend when Kings Cross is closed for the remodelling and I should not travel! It looks like the only other option is to try Virgin Trains via Carlisle. They're offering Super Off peak fares for that weekend already. Does anyone think that they will ever offer Advanced fares on this route on that weekend, and if so, when are they likely to be available?

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes Advance tickets will be available. Currently they're selling tickets for weekend travel in early January so it will likely be a month or two yet before they go on sale.

It's worth noting that flexible tickets like the Super Off-Peak are theoretically available up to a year in advance hence why you're seeing them now.

 

[sheff1]

I don't know if you were intending to stay over before/after the show, but Easyjet are currently offering returns at £52 from Edinburgh - Luton, out either Friday or Saturday, returning Sunday - all at sensible times.

 

[Ramboni]

I don't know if you were intending to stay over before/after the show, but Easyjet are currently offering returns at £52 from Edinburgh - Luton, out either Friday or Saturday, returning Sunday - all at sensible times.

Thanks, yes, saw that deal, but keen not to fly unless there's no other choice.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I’d say there’s no other choice

 

[Ramboni]

I’d say there’s no other choice

Well, there's a clear rail choice on the west coast to Euston, my question was really whether the operator will offer cheaper fares on that route for that weekend given the east coast isn't running to kings cross.

 

[Darandio]

Well, there's a clear rail choice on the west coast to Euston, my question was really whether the operator will offer cheaper fares on that route for that weekend given the east coast isn't running to kings cross.

The main issue now is that although there will probably be some reasonable advances once released, there will be many in your situation that will snap them up fairly quickly!

 

[ainsworth74]

Well, there's a clear rail choice on the west coast to Euston, my question was really whether the operator will offer cheaper fares on that route for that weekend given the east coast isn't running to kings cross.

There will be cheaper fares released closer to the date of travel how cheap they will be is hard to say! If you want to lock in a price then that EasyJet booking is the best way to go. If you're happy to wait and see what happens then make sure you check regularly (some companies will send email alerts when a specific date is on sale). But even then there's no guarantee on what the price will be. Considering the disruption on the East Coast Mainline I can well believe that Virgin will not be making the cheapest tiers of tickets available even when they do go on sale.

I mean the cheapest tier appears to be £24.00 each way but I'd be staggered if that is actually available on that weekend and the tiers go up from there!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I’d say there’s no other choice

Depends on your budget. A VTWC walk-up is clearly a choice, though it might be too expensive for the OP?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It won’t be Virgin Trains, but the WCML is surely going to be a lot less hassle than flying?

 

[gordonthemoron]

I'd buy the train tickets now and reserve your seats, don't wait for advances. The trains will be extremely busy

 

[Tetchytyke]

It won’t be Virgin Trains, but the WCML is surely going to be a lot less hassle than flying?

Doubtful, the direct Euston-Edinburgh trains go via Birmingham (adding 45 minutes to the journey time), otherwise it's a change. The cheapest advance tiers are rare on the WCML on a Sunday, especially north of Preston, even without disruption on the ECML.

If it were me, I'd fly.

 

[Haywain]

I'd buy the train tickets now and reserve your seats, don't wait for advances. The trains will be extremely busy

The trains re not yet open for reservations, which is why there are no cheaper tickets.

 

[221129]

It won’t be Virgin Trains, but the WCML is surely going to be a lot less hassle than flying?

Hahaha, Via Brum on a Sunday with the East Coast shut? The trains are likely to be Full and Standing. As much as I dislike easyjet I'd be flying.