Off peak day return, confused a bit

vapd

I'm going up to London tomorrow morning and I'm on the Trainline website to book a ticket. Not sure what time I will be coming home so I'm looking at the options.

Cheapest is the Super Off Peak Day Return at £15.60. That says 'Selected Off Peak Trains' in the description. No problem understanding that. You book the tickets on certain trains and have to travel on them.

Next cheapest is the Off Peak Day Return at £18.60. That says 'Any off peak train, return same day'. BUT it also wants me to select certain trains on that web page. The reason I would buy this ticket is because the description says 'Any off peak trains' but I am slightly concerned that it is forceing me to select times.

Whats the score with this?

geordieracer

where are you travelling from? Please do NOT use the trainline for your tickets.

The restrictions will vary depending on who you are travelling with.

vapd

Sittingbourne, SIT

geordieracer

http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/off-peak-tickets/ will tell you all about the restrictions on the tickets. Buy your tickets there too.

vapd

Thanks for the help. The ticket descriptions on Southeastern are much clearer than on the trainline. It seems the Super Off Peak return will do me fine, thus saving £3.

Cheers!

geordieracer

Happy To help!

vapd

I also need a Zone 2 travel card and had a look at the Southeastern site hoping to buy one at the same time as the main ticket. It seems they dont sell them. Not a major pain but it seems a little silly to not sell underground tickets as well. Or is it buried somewhere and I missed it?

dzug1

vapd wrote: »

I'm going up to London tomorrow morning and I'm on the Trainline website to book a ticket. Not sure what time I will be coming home so I'm looking at the options.

Cheapest is the Super Off Peak Day Return at £15.60. That says 'Selected Off Peak Trains' in the description. No problem understanding that. You book the tickets on certain trains and have to travel on them.

Next cheapest is the Off Peak Day Return at £18.60. That says 'Any off peak train, return same day'. BUT it also wants me to select certain trains on that web page. The reason I would buy this ticket is because the description says 'Any off peak trains' but I am slightly concerned that it is forceing me to select times.

Whats the score with this?

On neither of those tickets do you have to travel on 'booked' trains - you can travel on any train during the hours the ticket is valid

There's absolutely no need to book - the ticket office will sell you the ticket at the same price

You might want to consider an off peak day travelcard at £21.90 if you are going to use the tube a lot - covers all your travel while in London as well as the journey to/from

Buy on the day at Sittingbourne, just the same

(On the SE site this will appear if you select London all zones as the destination. It's cheaper than buying it separately)

vapd

Thanks for that info!

timbo58

I don't think there are many restrictions sat/sun/bhols fwiw.

Livingthedream

timbo58 wrote: »

I don't think there are many restrictions sat/sun/bhols fwiw.

True, and having a quick look on a journey planner, the main restriction by ticket (Sittingbourne-London) over the weekend is whether you want to go via HS1 or not. Costs £6.20 more to travel by HS1.