Train travel - sunday

pinkshoes

I have a friend flying into Birmingham airport in a few weeks and they are going to take a direct train to Oxford.

I have a few questions:

1. When booking the train ticket online, the off peak return ticket specifies a train time. Are they able to take ANY train for the outbound? E.g if they book the 12.14 but the flight is late, can they then take the next one?

2. Are all Sunday trains off peak?

3. Is the train station at Birmingham airport easy to get to? E.g. Do you just walk to it???

My friend is not confidence speaking English so I want to make rings as easy a possible. It is a while since I used trains!

Browntoa

If it's a ticket for a particular train then no , cannot be used for the next one.

All Sunday trains are off peak

pinkshoes

Browntoa wrote: »

If it's a ticket for a particular train then no , cannot be used for the next one.

All Sunday trains are off peak

It just says 'off peak return' when chosing the ticket and seems to be a standard return price.

The online national rail T&Cs state:

Off-Peak Singles and the outward portion of Off-Peak Returns are valid for travel on the date shown on the ticket and until 04:29 the following morning.

But when booking it makes me select a train time. There is no option at all for just a train on a specific day. Hence my confusion!

lammy82

Incorrect advice, Browntoa!

1. If the ticket is an "OFF PEAK RETURN" then it CAN be used on any off-peak service on the outbound day. The off-peak return from Birmingham International to Oxford is £38.50

2. As far as I can see, all the trains on a Sunday are off-peak. They will only have a seat reservation on a specific service but they can use any other one just by finding an available seat.

3. The train station is easy to find - your friend will follow the sign for Trains which will take them up an escalator and onto a free shuttle train people mover thing which will take them to the train station. It will probably take less than 10 mins in total from leaving the baggage reclaim to get to the station.

Browntoa

If it's a "timed " train my advice is correct , I can buy a ticket for a specific train for £8 which is the only Train I can catch with that ticket but a standard off peak return is £18

OP stated ticket had a travel time so I assumed the earlier , but if you choose a train and get a standard off peak return then there is no restrictions on travel

lammy82

Browntoa wrote: »

If it's a "timed " train my advice is correct , I can buy a ticket for a specific train for £8 which is the only Train I can catch with that ticket but a standard off peak return is £18

OP stated ticket had a travel time so I assumed the earlier , but if you choose a train and get a standard off peak return then there is no restrictions on travel

OP clearly said "off peak return ticket". That will include a reservation for a specific train at a specific time, but is valid on any off-peak service.

OP was not talking about an "Advance" ticket, which is not 'off peak' or 'return' (they are single tickets) and those are the only type that are only valid on one service.

Hope this helps!

pinkshoes

That makes more sense! Thank you! Brilliant information! Ive never been to Birmingham airport so good to know getting to the train station is easy.

It would seem that you get a seat on a specific train but can catch any train.

elverson

Your friend could also buy that ticket from the ticket machine on the day - no cheaper to buy in advance.