Advance tickets

Cheap Advance train tickets

Traveling longer distances by train? Advance tickets typically offer our best value for longer rail journeys. So, whether you’re travelling to Manchester for a long overdue catch-up with friends, to Anglesey to unwind or to Birmingham for some retail therapy, you can save on good times, when you buy ahead of time.

Buying Advance tickets

You’ll need to buy your Advance tickets before boarding. They reserve a place for you on a specific train - they’re only valid on that service. If you need more flexibility around your travel plans, we recommend our Anytime tickets.

Some Advance tickets may be available on your day of travel, but we recommend you buy yours up to 8 weeks before your travel date, as there are a limited number of Advance tickets available for each journey. So you can take advantage of our bestvalue fares, the earlier you book your ticket.

Where to buy an Advance ticket

Avoid paying any booking fees and book your tickets direct with us when you buy on the TfW app, website and from a train station booking office.

We’ve added the ability for you to spread payments over 3 instalments using PayPal Pay in 3 if your purchase is over £30. You can find more information on this option when you come to the payment screen.

Buy your Advance train ticket on our app, and enjoy contactless travel when you register an account. Find out more about the TfW app here.

• Are Advance tickets available for First Class services?

  • Yes. Advance tickets are available for both Standard and First Class services. 

• Why are Advance tickets one-way?

  • Advance tickets are one-way train tickets, which means, unlike with return tickets, you have the flexibility to mix or match your start and end points to best suit your travel plans.

• What happens if I board the wrong train?

  • Please be sure to only board the train you’ve booked your space on - ask one of our colleagues if you’re not sure. If you board the wrong train, your Advance ticket won’t be valid and you’ll need to buy a new ticket. You may also need to pay a penalty fare if you’re travelling in one of our penalty fares zones.

• Can I use my Railcard with Advance tickets?

  • Yes. You can also use your Railcard discounts with our Advance fares to save even more.

• Can I upgrade from Standard to First Class?

  • Yes. You can upgrade from a Standard-Class ticket to First Class on our services, where applicable. This applies for all our Standard tickets including Anytime and Advance Singles, Returns, Season tickets, and Rover and Ranger tickets. Please let the conductor know if you’d like to upgrade and they’ll check if there’s space for you onboard that day.

• How to change an Advance ticket

  • If you need to change the day or time that you’re travelling, you can amend your ticket up to 18:00 the day before you travel.

  • The process you’ll need to follow depends on where you bought your ticket and which delivery option you selected, find out more.

• Can I get a refund on an Advance ticket?

  • Advance tickets can’t be refunded unless you decided not to travel because your train was cancelled or delayed.

  • If you bought an Advance ticket on our app or website, there’s currently no fee for amending your journey under our Book with confidence scheme. However, you may have to pay extra if there’s a difference in price between your current ticket and the new ticket.

Terms and conditions

For customers buying Advance tickets on our app or website, there is no fee for amending a journey, as long as you have an online account. Advance tickets are usually non-refundable and you may incur a £5 fee for a change of journey when this is arranged at a station ticket office. You can get more information about Advance tickets, including terms and conditions, from National Rail.

*Average percentage saved by customers between 01/01/2023 and 31/12/2023 when buying undiscounted TfW Advance tickets compared to the cheapest undiscounted TfW priced Anytime Single ticket for the same journey, available on the day of travel, was 50.2%. Advance fares are subject to availability. National Rail Conditions of Travel apply.