Great Western Coffee Shop

If I know when I'm travelling but want to keep a bit of flexibility in exactly at what time, I often keep an eye on the advance fares being offered and then make a decision a few days in advance. Currently I'm aiming to travel from London up to the north-east next Monday and have been keeping an eye on the advance fares on the East Coast line. I was going to buy a ticket a day or so ago but then the fare on the journey I was planning to use went up substantially on that day, so I have held off, as the fares for that particular time on the days during the rest of this week are lower.

I have noticed previously when looking at advance fares that occasionally they do seem to reduce on the day before travel, presumably because enough haven't been taken up. Am I right in thinking this or is it my imagination? I am tempted to hold off until the weekend to see if this particular one reduces, but it is obviously a risk.

From personal experience I can confirm they occasionally go down.

I can recall a time when I bought one early and discovered later, about 10 days before travel, they had gone down.

As you say the risk is you wait too long and they sell out completely.