Advance Group tickets are single (one-way) tickets for many longer and some shorter distance journeys, are available in First Class and Standard Class and offer the best available price for each journey.
Tickets must be booked in advance of travel and are subject to availability.
Advance Group tickets are valid only on the specific booked train but can be changed before departure of the first reserved service.
Valid only on the date shown on the ticket
Valid only at the specified time and train printed on the ticket
Customers may not start, break and resume, or end their journey at any intermediate station except to change to/from connecting trains as shown on the ticket(s) or other valid travel itinerary
Tickets are valid only on the date and train service(s) shown on the ticket(s). Where applicable, valid only for travel in the class and reserved seat(s) shown on the ticket(s).
Changes to time or date of travel must be arranged before departure of the first reserved train printed on the ticket, after which the ticket has no value and a new one must be purchased. You will need to present the ticket(s) and reservation(s) when they request a change.
Changes to tickets cannot be made on-board the train. If customers board a train without a ticket and reservation for that service, a new ticket must be purchased.
The origin, destination and Train Company or route shown on the ticket(s) must remain the same.
The difference between the price paid and cost of the next suitable fare for the journey is payable. An administration fee of no more than £10 may be charged per ticket for each change to a journey. If customers change to a train on which a cheaper fare is available, the difference will not be refunded.
Please note: Where an Advance Group ticket has been purchased online and the ticket has either been self-printed at home or downloaded to a mobile device this may alter the rules for changing the ticket. The relevant conditions will be made clear when the ticket is bought.
Book with Confidence
In addition to the Change of Journey rules set out above, between Monday 21 June 2021 and 31 December 2021, Advance ticket bookings can be exchanged to travel at a different time or date fee-free, if requested by 18:00 (6pm) the day before travel.
This easement to Advance (Standard Class) Terms & Conditions enable Advance tickets to be changed to travel on a different service (paying any excess fare), or for the Advance ticket to be surrendered back to the retailer in exchange for a digital Rail Travel Voucher (eRTV), or paper Rail Travel Voucher (RTV) and used on any future journey or purchase.
Some Third Party Retailers may not be participating in the Book with Confidence scheme, and customers with tickets purchased from them will only be able to change Advance tickets at station ticket offices. Check with original retailer for exclusions.
Advance Group tickets are only refundable if disruption or cancellation of your service means you cannot travel.
Any National Rail staffed ticket office, train company telesales office, online at most train company website and selected rail appointed travel agents.
Some Advance fares (particularly the very cheapest) or additional availability on low quota fares are only available to purchase direct from the train company that the ticket is valid to travel with - usually only via their own website.
Version 3.9.0 includes enhanced disruption tracking for Underground lines. You can now see estimated platform wait times and journey times for each line, where available.
Version 3.8.0 introduces several new features and improvements: