Virgin East Coast has launched a sale offering 50 per cent off advanced tickets across its routes.

The offer is valid for tickets booked by August 18, for travel between September 5 and November 4, excluding October 21-30.

The operator says that at least 500,000 of its lowest Advance tickets (400,000 Standard and 100,000 First Class) will be made available across the travel period.

Note that no other offers or discounts can be applied to the promotional fares (including the use of Railcards).

To take advantage of this offer visit thetrainline.com/sale.

The sale comes as the RMT has confirmed its Virgin Trains East Coast staff are to stage three 24-hour strikes from 0300 on August 19, 26 and 29, as well as a 48-hour overtime ban from August 27.

A Virgin spokesperson said that “Virgin Trains has comprehensive contingency plans and is running a full timetable on the east coast”.

virgintrainseastcoast.com