When Do 'Off Peak' Trains to London ACTUALLY Start?

redux

I thought that the main determinant of off-peak for any morning train involving London was it arrives there after 1000, with one or two exceptions on certain lines that arrive at for example 0958.

But maybe that only applies from the direction I live.

yorkie2

redux wrote: »

I thought that the main determinant of off-peak for any morning train involving London was it arrives there after 1000, with one or two exceptions on certain lines that arrive at for example 0958.

But maybe that only applies from the direction I live.

The restrictions from Hitchin to London are very different to the restrictions from reduxland to London.

In order to be simple, the "new names describe when you can buy or use a ticket making, it easier for you to buy the best value ticket for your journey".

As you can see by the name "off peak" describes "when you can buy or use your ticket". All the restrictions are different, this is because "Ticket terms and conditions are now the same across all train companies nationwide, so you know exactly where you stand".

As there are now many products all with the same name, "you can quickly work out what ticket you need to make your journey" and "choose your rail ticket with confidence"

Anyone who has ever been charged, and considering contesting, an excess fare for being on a time restricted ticket at a barred time who believes the above quotes are misleading is advised to consult their solicitor, as I do wonder if the Train Companies would perhaps lose a court battle over this...

Anyway, going back to how quickly you can work out what ticket you need, and how you can buy with confidence... the easiest website to determine when a particular off peak ticket (ie, you need to specify the origin and destination) is valid is actually a third-party website http://www.brfares.com/

soxiez

yorkie2 wrote: »

Can you get a screenshot of that?

Indeed I can, here you go:



(I know from the screenshots it looks like every train is classed as off peak, but some do come up as peak if you scroll through earlier trains). Sadly it is definitely just a glitch on their part after what you've said.

Yes, I carry a 16-25 rail card. I work full time now, but am clinging on to all the student-esque discounts while I can! I definitely do find all their quotes misleading and confusing. Sometimes it feels like they word things in a way that is designed to catch you out and make you cough up more...

soxiez

redux wrote: »

I thought that the main determinant of off-peak for any morning train involving London was it arrives there after 1000, with one or two exceptions on certain lines that arrive at for example 0958.

But maybe that only applies from the direction I live.

My work mate's dad works on the trains and this is actually how this whole thing came about - he was under the understanding that it was the time of arrival that mattered. So if a train arrived into London after the peak threshold was over, you could use an off peak ticket. Maybe the rules have changed since? One thing is for sure; if people who work for the trains don't know the right answer, then what hope do we have?!

yorkie2

soxiez wrote: »

My work mate's dad works on the trains and this is actually how this whole thing came about - he was under the understanding that it was the time of arrival that mattered.

For a reduxland to London ticket? Yes, it is the time of arrival that matters.

For a Hitchin to London ticket? No, it is the time of departure that matters.

redux has not disclosed his/her origin, but based on previous posts, it appears to be somewhere in SWT-land an hour from London, so it's likely to be restriction C7 (for an example, see BSK-1072 CDR)

An Off Peak ticket from reduxland or Hitchin to, say, Manchester, for example, would be completely unrestricted between reduxland/Hitchin and London, of course.

soxiez wrote: »

So if a train arrived into London after the peak threshold was over, you could use an off peak ticket. Maybe the rules have changed since?

The rules have not changed for redux's origin.

soxiez wrote: »

One thing is for sure; if people who work for the trains don't know the right answer, then what hope do we have?!

Some people who work for Train Companies do not know, but they should all know how to find out, as they should all have access to the fares database (which we can access through www.brfares.com).

Most staff who do not know something, will look it up.

A minority invent their own rules or insist that a rule that applies to a different ticket applies to the ticket you held, even when it doesn't, and refuse to look it up. But such staff are very much the minority.

soxiez

yorkie2 wrote: »

For a reduxland to London ticket? Yes, it is the time of arrival that matters.

For a Hitchin to London ticket? No, it is the time of departure that matters.

redux has not disclosed his/her origin, but based on previous posts, it appears to be somewhere in SWT-land an hour from London, so it's likely to be restriction C7 (for an example, see BSK-1072 CDR)

An Off Peak ticket from reduxland or Hitchin to, say, Manchester, for example, would be completely unrestricted between reduxland/Hitchin and London, of course.


The rules have not changed for redux's origin.

Some people who work for Train Companies do not know, but they should all know how to find out, as they should all have access to the fares database (which we can access through www.brfares.com).

Most staff who do not know something, will look it up.

A minority invent their own rules or insist that a rule that applies to a different ticket applies to the ticket you held, even when it doesn't, and refuse to look it up. But such staff are very much the minority.

Yorkie2, you are the font of all train knowledge. It's a shame I can't save myself a few bob, but I'm also glad to know for sure that I haven't been unnecessarily paying too much for months and months of travel. Thank you for your help!

macman

Why not finance an annual season ticket by means of an interest free credit card or similar?

yorkie2

macman wrote: »

Why not finance an annual season ticket by means of an interest free credit card or similar?

A Hitchin-London Terminals annual season is £3,704

This is the equivalent of just over 230 Anytime Day Return tickets with a 16-25 Railcard at £16.05

Assuming 25 days annual leave, 5 Bank Holidays, plus weekends, the likely number of journeys would be approximately 230.

So there isn't much in it at all!

However I personally would try to get the Season - assuming financing it isn't an issue - on the basis that it's less hassle having an annual ticket for unlimited journeys.

Also there is a potential further £30 per year saving if all journeys are made in the Gold Card area, as that would leave the 16-25 Railcard redundant.

anotheruser

And just to make things more fun, a peak train can turn into an off-peak train is a station has an agreed easement in place.
However that same station car parking is still "peak" until after that off-peak train has left...

yorkie2

There is no such thing as a train that is a "peak" train.

What matters is the restriction text of the ticket you hold.