How Christmas and New Year rail passengers could get cheaper tickets even if they've already booked

Rail passengers who have already booked train travel over Christmas and New Year could potentially swap their tickets for cheaper fares, according to officials.

The Rail Delivery Group, an organisation which links Network Rail and train companies, has issued guidance for those taking journeys over the festive season as timetables are finalised.

Passengers can currently book tickets up to 12 weeks before travel but timetables are not always absolutely confirmed until there is about six weeks to go.

This sometimes means passengers who book seven to 12 weeks in advance may be booking a train that is not 100 per cent confirmed to run or that a cheaper ticket may become available six weeks before they are set to travel when the timetables are fully set in stone.

Although a spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group said that issues will only arise in a “small number of circumstances”, they gave details of how those who do face them should act.

In regards to advance tickets, they said: “If people buy a ticket for a service affected by this change and then, at a later date advance tickets are made available which are at a cheaper fare, customers should book the advance fare for that service and then request a fee-free refund on their original ticket.”

A post from Network Rail reiterated this statement, with Christmas and New Year services to be solidified in coming days per the six week usual.

The Delivery Group added: “Train operators will still offer the same range of discounted tickets.

“If trains are cancelled, the normal compensation mechanisms will apply - if people have booked on a train that is cancelled, delayed, or where their reservation will not be honoured, and they decide not to travel, they will be given a full refund.”

They also expressed awareness of concerns for people wanting to plan in advance for Christmas, and said: "We know people want to make plans for Christmas and that's why the rail industry has worked together to put in place special arrangements so that nobody loses out due to the shorter notice confirmation of timetables."

Previously, Network Rail has urged people to plan their journeys in advance as it works on more than 330 rail projects in Britain over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Some 25,000 staff “will work around the clock” to conduct the £148million of work being carried out.

Andy Thomas, managing director of strategic operations at Network Rail said: “We know that our railway is up to 50 per cent quieter than usual during the festive period so taking on and delivering these huge transformational schemes at this time of year minimises our impact on passengers who, so research shows, understand the need for such activity."

One route to face issues will be the Midland Main Line, stretching from London to Yorkshire.

There will be reduced service to and from London St Pancras on this route between Monday, December 24 and Tuesday, January 1.

Since May 2018, the rail industry has been unable to confirm timetables within the industry standard 12 weeks due to rescheduling of millions of services, with services sometimes not cemented until six weeks in advance.