super off peak confusion!

wallofbeans

I'm probably being an idiot but i cant understand what the difference is between a 'super off peak' and just 'off peak' train ticket? There must be a difference or why would anybody get 'off peak' when the 'super' version is so much cheaper!

Anyone know?

geordieracer

All depends on which TOC you are travelling on really. As the timings of when each version can be used are different.

dzug1

There is a difference in the times they are valid - superoffpeak being more restrictive in general. First train valid tends to be later in the morning, the evening peak is longer, that sort of thing.

Livingthedream

Here's a brief description of Super Off peak and Off peak tickets and their Term and conditions, but basically as stated above, more restrictions ie less trains per day and perhaps travel by a certain train company only. But they are walk on fare so if you can abide by the restrictions they can be a bargain ticket to get.

You can normally use any online ticket vendors website, I use East Coast, to give you the times and restrictions of the ticket by searching your journey and if the 'Super Off peak ticket' is available it will tell you on what train times 'there and back' and by route/Train Company.

Stigy

As has been said, it's a cheaper, more resticted ticket. For example, on SWT you can't use it to travel in to London before 1100hrs, and are not permitted to leave between 1600hrs up to and including 1900hrs. So you basically cant leave before 11am, and unless you depart on the 1559hrs train at the latest, you can leave London until 1901hrs.

dzug1

And the other possible difference is that break of journey validities may differ

wallofbeans

Stigy wrote: »

As has been said, it's a cheaper, more resticted ticket. For example, on SWT you can't use it to travel in to London before 1100hrs, and are not permitted to leave between 1600hrs up to and including 1900hrs. So you basically cant leave before 11am, and unless you depart on the 1559hrs train at the latest, you can leave London until 1901hrs.

Thanks for all the replies.... really helpful in getting to grips with this!

I don't mind having the restrictions and assumed there would be more than standard off peak but i cnt figure out what they are!

The SWT thing makes perfect sense though and if it's that straight forward for the journey I'm trying to figure out (Tunbridge Wells to London Charing Cross) then all is fine as I can work around that and know that if I need to be in London earlier then I'll have to pay higher price...... from what I could see of tickets available online, there didnt seem to be a time of day based cut off though so who knows how they work it.........

geordieracer

wallofbeans wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies.... really helpful in getting to grips with this!

I don't mind having the restrictions and assumed there would be more than standard off peak but i cnt figure out what they are!

The SWT thing makes perfect sense though and if it's that straight forward for the journey I'm trying to figure out (Tunbridge Wells to London Charing Cross) then all is fine as I can work around that and know that if I need to be in London earlier then I'll have to pay higher price...... from what I could see of tickets available online, there didnt seem to be a time of day based cut off though so who knows how they work it.........

its not that difficult to find really http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/off-peak-tickets/

http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/off-peak-tickets/177/

dzug1

wallofbeans wrote: »

from what I could see of tickets available online, there didnt seem to be a time of day based cut off though so who knows how they work it.........

Well there is and I'm surprised it didn't show up

Unless it's a weekend where (usually) there are no time restrictions. They still show both tickets though.

geordieracer

dzug1 wrote: »

Well there is and I'm surprised it didn't show up

Unless it's a weekend where (usually) there are no time restrictions. They still show both tickets though.

Though with a TOC like Chiltern they have off peaks but their super off peak isnt available until later in the day on the saturday and sunday too now i believe.

wallofbeans

so the only restriction for super off peak is they cant be used until after 10am? im assuming off peak is 930am but ill quite happily travel half an hour later for a lot cheaper ticket..... seems to good to be true but its the only specific restriction mentioned on those links... hmm...

thanks all!