"off peak" from Gatwick

jackyann

I'm taking a holiday, flying from Gatwick (2 of us). I planned to travel by train as I'm on a direct line. Journey to catch the plane, no problem. I fly back in at about midnight, and there are trains hourly from Gatwick to my local station.
However, I find that "peak time" begins at 02.30!
If we can catch the 01.30 then fine - can book an off-peak return and use senior railcards.
Any hold-up and the price mounts! If I want to be safe and book "anytime" returns then I might as well drive and pay 10 days parking.
Just wanted to know if anyone found any way around this! I did ring National Rail Enquiries, who explained patronisingly that the decision about "peak times" bears no relation to how many people likely to be on the train!
I don't fly often, but once got held up for a long time at Gatwick - would welcome opinions on whether to risk booking the 01.30!

wealdroam

What is your local station?

jackyann

Bedford - do you think that makes a difference?

dzug1

jackyann wrote: »

Bedford - do you think that makes a difference?

It can do - but it doesn't look like it in this case

dacouch

Get a train from Clapham Junction, it won't be the Gatwick Express but will cost a lot less and take not much longer

laird

Buy the off peak ticket dated for the previous day, you can start your journey at any time up to 230am. In the event you are delayed beyond 230am you may be able to claim the new tickets from your insurance (although the excess is perhaps going to be too great).

If the worst happens (its unlikely) and you are delayed past 230am then you can reasonably ask the airline to help with getting you home.
That said if you are delayed beyond 230am you may find you get a significant delay meaning arriving in the off peak of the following day anyway. ;-)

Lastly you may know if its going wrong before you take off - think about taking the voluntary bumping compensation if offered. It will get you back at at a better time, the airline will typically give you a hotel room and money to cover the expenses and you'll have the warm feeling of knowing you have got someone else home on a flight they might not otherwise have made.

jackyann

Just to thank you for help. Clapham Junction idea doesn't help with this journey, but have passed info on to someone it might.
I also realised that I had only added 1 "senior railcard" instead of 2, so that brought the price down. I am going to gamble on catching the 01.30 as it saves money, if we end up on a later train, we pay the difference and it costs about the same as driving / parking. If we are very delayed, "off-peak" starts again at 09.30.
I am also wondering that if we turn up at Bedford Station at 4am, having caught the 02.30, the ticket collector might just let us through because demanding a peak fare in the middle of the night is just too bizarre!

jkdd77

I believe the railway "day" now lasts until 04:29, based on:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/offpeak.html

As such, I *think* an Off-Peak Return dated for a previous day (but still within the month's validity) would be valid on a 02:30 train.

TimothyEBaldwin

If you buy an off-peak ticket you can upgrade it to an Anytime ticket for the difference in price.

jackyann

jkdd77 wrote: »

I believe the railway "day" now lasts until 04:29, based on:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/offpeak.html

As such, I *think* an Off-Peak Return dated for a previous day (but still within the month's validity) would be valid on a 02:30 train.

Can't speak about other lines, but First Capital Connect are very clear that the first peak time train from Gatwick is 02.30 - I rang to check!

laird

jackyann wrote: »

Can't speak about other lines, but First Capital Connect are very clear that the first peak time train from Gatwick is 02.30 - I rang to check!

The rules for off peak are somewhat confused:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/offpeak_conditions.html gives tickets valid until 0430 the following day.

The fare rule for Gatwick-Bedford refers to 0230 but also to Cross London tickets via London Underground until 0430.

I wonder if the confusion could be that if you buy a ticket on the day it is not valid as off peak between 0230 and the end of the morning peak. But existing tickets for return journeys can continue to be used until 0430. It would need a response from a specialist within First Capital Connect/ATOC or one of the regulators to be sure. The answer from the train company or National Rail Enquiry Service general enquiries line can sadly never be relied upon.

The conductor is likely to be just as confused, at worst they will ask for the difference in price between off peak and peak, given the confusion the op will then almost certainly get it subsequently refunded.