I agree with janisj about first-class being significantly more comfy that 2nd class on long-distance trains like this one - bigger and fewer seats in same-size train car -more room for luggage and all that free food and drink, including booze and free WI-FI last I knew.

2nd class is usually chock full and seats seem smaller than 2nd class seats on Continent - no food or free WI-FI.

According to seat61.com, the actual fares charged by independent ticket resellers such as trainline.com are the same as the train operator fares. I suppose it is possible that in the short time between flipping between sites, fares fluctuate due to other people online booking the same route. This may make it appear that the sites don't all charge the same fares.

Those sites that do charge booking fees such as trainline include a 2 per cent credit card fee and a £ .25 to 1.50 booking fee. This may be worth it to have a single site with which to do business, it is a personal call.

Trainline.eu was once known as capitainetrain.com. I gained confidence in the company after I couldn't buy directly from sncf but kept getting redirected to a RE affiliate.

If www.seat61.com says it take as gospel.

Philip

I've used Network Rail's own site which gives me the exact dates, in advance, of the release of Advance tickets. It updates daily as the calendar moves forward. It lists all UK rail companies too. You can check it out at:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_...pes/44703.aspx

This evening the site tells me that Virgin East Coast are selling advance tickets for Saturdays up to and including 10 March. Just checked and find that if you depart on that date from Edinburgh after 09.30 (off-peak) the price is only £49, coach, to Kings Cross. Doing it this way saves me a lot of money although sometimes I'm sitting at my computer at midnight as the date rolls over and the cheapest tickets come up.

Bill

Thanks again everybody. Made my Christmas Day.

I look forward to using Bill's advance ticket site. Couple days ago I counted back and marked my calendar to check on train tickets on the first day. I use frequent flyer miles with Delta and am use to calling first day first minute (back when that was important) to get our plane tickets.

Got it - thanks. Your postings have been very helpful.

Let's assume for the moment that we are going to use Virgin website (we are using VA business class for trip home), 1st class, May Saturday travel, one way, 4 people, want reserved seats facing each other, want to sit on side with best views, etc.

1. Looks like food & beverage is more limited on Saturdays. Can we bring our own bottle of wine?

2. Which side (obviously we are south bound) has better views (saw mixed opinions)?

3. Do we book on Virgin website and then pick up tickets at a machine at Waverly? We will have a reservation number? Do you have to have your tickets stamped at the Waverly station (like we did in Italy)?

4. FYI seat61 was very informative.

5. Will Virgin website lead us how to get 4 reserved seats when we make reservations?

6. Cheapest fares will be nonrefundable, non cancelable, etc. I am guessing.

Thanks!

6- yes but see the site for that for sure

2- IMO westside to see coastal views better

1- Bring whatever you want unless there is a big soccer match somewhere folks are going.

1. Chances are you can bring your own wine. However, occasionally, they run “dry train” where alcohol is not permitted. This could happen on a Saturday if large groups of football fans are travelling. More details here https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.co...owed-on-board/

2. Travelling south, sit on the left-hand side of the carriage.

3. You can collect tickets from machines at nearly any railway station, not just Waverley. Tickets aren’t stamped prior to boarding

5. Yes. And you can choose your seats on the VTEC website

6. Advance tickets are non-refundable but are changeable for a £10 fee.

5. Yes. And you can choose your seats on the VTEC website>

If one buys tickets on other sites like thetrainline.com can they chose seats on the VTEC site? Do discounted tickets come with a seat assignment or is that extra?

thanks.

<<If one buys tickets on other sites like thetrainline.com can they chose seats on the VTEC site?>>

Nope - the trainline will assign seats but you can't choose your own.

<<Do discounted tickets come with a seat assignment or is that extra?>>

Advance tickets include a reserved seat number

thanks for taking time to answer that!

Went to rome2rio.com to check out a sample since May is too far out for train trains.

5-6 hrs by train, probably 1-2 changes,so can you get 4 people to hustle between trains in a few minutes? You still need to get from hotel to TS and then TS to terminal? Straight train fare seemed to be 45-70 pounds.

2 1/2 hrs to fly and as cheap as train. Once you get to both airports at least you will be at the airport you need to get back to the US (I assumed Heathrow). Yes, seucirty and additiional time you need to be at the airport, but it seems two stops--airport from Edinburgh to Heathrow and then onto the US.

Depending on when your flight to the US is, and it would have to be late in the day to make any sort of connection.

Either way I would go into London a day earlier and then travel the way you and the group would prefer. Just my opinion.

jan47ete : >>5-6 hrs by train, probably 1-2 changes,so can you get 4 people to hustle between trains in a few minutes? You still need to get from hotel to TS and then TS to terminal? Straight train fare seemed to be 45-70 pounds.<<

What on earth are you talking about? Edinburgh to London is a straight shot with <u>no changes</u> and a tad less than 4.5 hours city centre to city centre.

rome2rio is not the be-all-and-end-all website and is often wrong - like your example if that is actually what it said.

>>2 1/2 hrs to fly and as cheap as train. Once you get to both airports at least you will be at the airport you need to get back to the US (I assumed Heathrow)<<

The OP is going to London >> . . . and inconvenience of getting <u>from an airport to downtown London</u>.<<

I was so confused by jan47ete’s post, I had to go back and read the original;).
I have nothing to add to janisj’s post. She said it all.

Wow janis--I felt as if we were in the same room you would have come over and punched me out!

I too reread the OP and misread it. Mea culpa!

Either way I would go into London a day earlier and then travel the way you and the group would prefer. Just my opinion.>

This though makes perfect sense so you can enjoy the train trip not snooze throughout it.

It appears they already have their flights to/from the UK booked so arriving a day wouldn't be an option.

PLUS -- they are traveling from Edinburgh TO London


If this is the trip they have been researching for a while -- there is no jet lag/exhaustion involved since they will have been in Scotland for 2+ weeks before heading to London . . .

If they have that much time I'd suggest taking an extra day or two to London and stop off in York.

>>If they have that much time I'd suggest taking an extra day or two to London and stop off in York.<<

They do not have the time -- they are going to Scotland to play golf and sightsee and ending up with 3 days in London before flying home . . . . . . . .

UPDATE FROM PHILIP

This morning I made reservations for 4 people in 1st class. I think today was the first day we could make a reservation for our Saturday travel. We live in USA. Cost per person £46.65 or approximately $67. Reservations made through virgintrainseastcoast.com. That is cheap cheap and includes food and beverage. We intend to bring our own wine. The website is outstanding and so easy to navigate. As with any new software, takes a few minutes longer than subsequent reservations would be. I printed out our tickets, including the Wi-Fi codes. Seat reservations are confirmed.

Thanks all for your help. Why would anybody fly?

Well they would or should fly if landing at London airports and going straight away to Scotland -otherwise yes why fly. and yes first class way way nicer -on day trains!

>>That is cheap cheap <<

That's a terrific fare. Do verify what food/meals are served. Weekend service is different than weekday

>>Why would anybody fly?<<

Sensible people don't - IF they are starting from central London. If they are at one of the airports or somewhere else in southern England, flying can/does often make sense.

That's great news Philip and terrific prices too. Fingers crossed the NationallRail site helped with the exact date to buy at the best price. As I mentioned before, it has saved me a lot of money over the years.

Bill

You can also check the Caledoninan Sleeper (ScotRail) site for fares.

Couple items:
Yes Bill, heard from NationalRail giving me heads up to go make reservations. Thanks. However, because I am obsessive, I noticed that I could make reservations a couple hours before I received their email. NOW, I had requested Virgin website to notify me as well. Still waiting for their email.

I do remember that the food beverage service is greatly restricted on the week-ends. I will check that out before departure. Don't want to run out of wine on a 4 1/2 hour train trip.

Kings Cross/St Pacras has a TON of good food options/shops (especially in St Pancras) so you can pick up yummy stuff and wine to take with you.

Thanks Philip, I'd no idea you could purchase a few hours earlier. I will do just that the next time I'm booking up.

Bill

How much wine is required 'to not run out' in 4.5 hours? Curious.

To add to OP's question, from Waverley on Apr 25, should I choose London (Any) if Aldgate East is nearest to my hotel? Don't want to make the same mistake when i failed to booked London - ABS for my outbound on May 01

Yes you can book a ticket through to Aldgate East. But your train journey will terminate at Kings Cross. From there to Aldgate E. will be on the Tube. If you can manage your luggage on the walk, stairs, escalators, crowded tube car etc. then book an all inclusive ticket. But if you have any luggage to speak of, I'd just book Edinburgh to London/Kings Cross and take a taxi from there to your hotel.

if you want to go to Aldgate East, on virgintrainseastcoat.com you choose a ticket from Edinburgh to London Zone U1, which includes an onward journey from Kings Cross to any tube station in zone 1.

@janisj- we (3) travel with check-in luggage each and we can manage stairs and escalators but what worries us is the crowded tube car. thanks
@sofasogood - yes am using the virgin train app so it should be London Zone U1. thanks

April 25 is a Wednesday so as long as it is after 9:00ish in the morning and before say 4:30ish in the afternoon the tubes should be easy to navigate. You will need to take the Hammersmith and City line direct to Aldgate East.

How far is your hotel from Aldgate East tube station? Unless it is right next to the staton, and with three of you, I'd probably just go to Kings Cross and take a taxi from there.

Which hotel is it?

Arbor city hotel. According to google map, it's 320 meters away

So you are OK walking the equivalent of 3.5 football fields - possibly in he rain - from the station to the hotel? I'd just take a cab from kings cross. . . . Just my 2 cents . . .

Booked ours at £196/3 pax 1st class. DW agrees just to book king cross. FYI, it’s £201 for London U1. Thank you all!