Why no off peak tickets????

unlucky67

There seems there are no off peak tickets available...for a train journey I've done several times before (Leuchars (nr Dundee) to Chorley (nr Preston))....and even on a train I definitely got as off peak in the past (6.17am) - I couldn't get the first connecting train in Edinburgh because it wasn't off peak...

I want to travel next Tuesday returning preferably on the following Sun/Mon -but could leave it a bit longer...

Is there no off peak if there are more than a certain no of seats booked?
Is it because the English school holidays have started? or because of the olympics? Is there a way round it?

I am travelling down with one child and returning wth 2 - and we have a friends & family railcard - but paying anytime fares it will be cheaper to drive!

luckwudaveit

I have done a fare and ticket search at http://www.buytickets.virgintrains.co.uk/ and this gives an off-peak return fare of £82.80, valid on the 0617 from Leuchars, changing at Haymarket, arriving Chorley at 1022. Note that the train operators are ScotRail and TransPennine Express, but you can still buy from Virgin.

Livingthedream

Same here, done a search on the East Coast website and I also get the Off Peak fare of £82.80 (Leuchars to Chorley via Carlisle)

yorkie2

unlucky67 wrote: »

There seems there are no off peak tickets available...for a train journey I've done several times before (Leuchars (nr Dundee) to Chorley (nr Preston))....and even on a train I definitely got as off peak in the past (6.17am) - I couldn't get the first connecting train in Edinburgh because it wasn't off peak...

An Off Peak ticket does not require a reservation, does not need to be bought in advance and can be bought immediately before travel from the ticket office or machine (or on board if no facilities at the station).

LEUCHARS (LEU) to CHORLEY (CRL)
SVR - OFF-PEAK R VWC
00275 - VIA CARLISLE

1 Adult @£ 54.65 = £ 54.65
1 Child @£ 15.75 = £ 15.75
__________
£ 70.40

Standard Class Return

Restriction : 2U
Outward Travel
By any train except those
timed to depart
Mondays-Fridays before 0415.

Break of journey is not
permitted, except to change
trains.

Return Travel
By any train except those
timed to depart
Mondays-Fridays before 0415.


The 0617 train is perfectly valid, as this ticket is valid on any train departing Leuchars from 0415.

If anyone tries to claim this ticket is not valid on the 0617 ask them to look up the restriction code.

http://brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=LEU&dest=CRL&rlc=FAM&rte=275&ldn=0&tkt=SVR

Owain_Moneysaver

The Scotrail peak before 0915 doesn't apply to tickets to England anyway. The gateline staff at Waverley should know this.

unlucky67

Now it makes sense....
Using National Rail journey planner -the single anytime fare (£74) is cheaper than the off peak - £82.80 -which is the same price as the off peak return!
Sometimes it is cheaper to get 2 singles than a return (when originally looked a couple of days ago for an adult and a child with a railcard the single was £27.70! .
Seems it will be cheaper for me to get returns for both children...
Still don't understand why train fares need to be so complicated - or maybe it is just me....

tealady

Hi Unlucky, no it isn't just you. I have occasionally found fares are different for the SAME train when I search on DIFFERENT websites. I usually check with at least two (mainly Virgin and the trainline.com)