London-Portsmouth 1st Advance?

[BigVince76]

Hi, I am having trouble finding any advance tickets from London to Portsmouth on the 17th December, returning the next day on the 18th. Ideally I would like a 1st Advance but I can't find any advance tickets on the this route, even looking well into next year. Any suggestions?

 

[John @ home]

All London - Portsmouth fares are shown at http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=1072&dest=PMH

Neither of the two operators with London - Portsmouth trains, SWT or Southern, choose to offer Advance tickets for this journey. They are not compelled to do so. Sorry.

 

[extendedpaul]

Megabus offers tickets on a few trains on this route equivalent to advances, albeit with no seat reservations or first class. Morning services coastbound, afternoon ones towards London.

Out on 17 and back on 18 Dec will currently cost about £16 return though you can travel for £1 on the 06.45 from London Waterloo to Portsmouth on the 17th.

 

[JonathanH]

All London - Portsmouth fares are shown at http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=1072&dest=PMH

Neither of the two operators with London - Portsmouth trains, SWT or Southern, choose to offer Advance tickets for this journey. They are not compelled to do so. Sorry.

Southern do offer advance purchase fares from London Victoria (specifically) to Portsmouth Harbour for use on their trains only, either direct via Horsham or changing at Hove / Brighton. These fares are available from most other Southern-served stations in Zones 1 to 6 (not London Bridge or stations on the West London Line).

http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=VIC&dest=PMH

South West Trains only offer advance fares for the journeys shown in this graphical representation of their network
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/uploads/AdvancedFares2012.pdf

 

[John @ home]

Well spotted! I missed that one.

£16 is very competitive for a First Class Advance single London - Portsmouth. Search for Victoria to Portsmouth via Barnham.

 

[BigVince76]

Thank you all for your help and advice, I really would be lost with the experts on this site. Thanks again!