Booking window for advance tickets esp sleeper

[whole diary]

[super tm]

i should imagine it is to do with the Reading blockade and waiting for validated timings

[paul7575]

i should imagine it is to do with the Reading blockade and waiting for validated timings

People are talking about the period before the blockade, ie from the 8th to the 24th of Dec.  Unless something pretty odd is happening, the weekdays at least should all be running the normal timetable.  As 25th & 26th have no service anyway as normal the first day the timetable should be affected is the 27th...

Paul

[Ollie]

As mentioned its a problem with releasing tickets...MM I will text you when 19th is open.

[JayMac]

The question is..... Who's problem?

And why not FGW^▸ (First Great Western) put an announcement on their website and why is it only FGW that are affected?

 

[Mookiemoo]

As mentioned its a problem with releasing tickets...MM I will text you when 19th is open.

Thanks - I know you said you would but the fact I'm so stressy over this explains why I havent relaxed over it

[Ollie]

my understanding is that is a problem with the yield management system we use. A brief hasnt even gone out to staff so doubt anything will go on website. Shame really. But as said should get some dates released this week.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for all your help on this one, Ollie. 

[JayMac]

Further information I've gleaned from Customer Services.

The Advance Purchase tickets are apparently released in blocks tied to certain dates. As the pre-Christmas dates are in the same block as the post-Christmas dates they have not been released because the train times during the Reading blockade have not been finalised by Network Rail. Until FGW^▸ (First Great Western) receive final confirmation of the train times during the blockade they cannot release Advance Purchase or seat reservations for the pre- and post- christmas trains.

I tried Network Rail to see if they'd give information regarding when the confirmed timings will be released, but they just referred me back to FGW! All they would say is that any timings currently in booking engines are provisional only. Timings are official once reservations become available.

[Ollie]

11th now, so we getting there

[Mookiemoo]

Thanks - although with the failure of the sleeper on Monday I'm beginning to get a bit nervous relying on this

[old original]

Reservations now open until 23rd Dec

[Mookiemoo]

main page stilll says 11th but I'll give it a whirl

[Mookiemoo]

Seems to be there - now I have another question...

What the difference between the sleeper advance standard solo A for ^74 and the solo B for ^99

I cant see much difference in the blurbs

[eightf48544]

Thanks - although with the failure of the sleeper on Monday I'm beginning to get a bit nervous relying on this

I think you are right to be nervous. My view would be to get as close to Heathrow the day before, so you are within easy striking distance.

You could end up stuck 200 miles away.

There is a Holiday Inn Express back of Slough Station and a small Travelodge in the centre of town. Probably be cheaper than sleeper and Heathrow Express. There's also a cheapish hotel not sure which chain at Slough end of Colnbrook Bypass which is even nearer.

You've then got the choice of train change Hayes into Heathrow connect. Hayes and 140 bus, Bus from Slough or taxi.

[Mookiemoo]

I've stayed in them numerous times!

The hol inn express at slough - I think I once posted here about getting annoyed the sphincter police on the gateline wouldnt let me through to take the short cut rather than walk round the bridge because I'd left my season on the bed

The hotel at the colnbrook end of the by pass is a comfort inn (or a quality).

I might look into heathrow hotels and save the sleeper for one of my nights in reading before going into the office which is always flexible!