Train ticket price confusion

lisyloo

Apologies if this has been done to death.
I frequently travel on weekends (off-peak) and I'm pretty sure the prices I get charged at the machines are more than what I see on-line (nationalrail.co.uk).
I've seen a lot about this but I'm curious.

National rail often gives me "off-peak" but when I expand it offers "super off-peak" but I rarely get offered the latter at the train station. Is this because the super ones have run out or is this because the machines just don't show the cheapest ones.

Also national rail sometimes offer 3 off-peak prices with no-explanation as to the difference (prices are often the same all day on saturday so not time related and nothing obvious on route). Is this beause they have limited numbers of tickets at certain prices?

I'm planning on buying on-line and collecting, but I'm curious to uderstand what's going on. For example London charring cross -> battle on saturday 19th May has 3 prices (2 adults with railcard) for off-peak £32.60 (super), £40.50 and £42.10 (both any permitted route).

agrinnall

I don't know the answer, but what happens if you ask at a ticket office rather than using a ticket machine? I know it's not easy at some stations but as you mention Charing Cross they would surely have some ticket windows open most of the time.

lisyloo

I don't know the answer, but what happens if you ask at a ticket office rather than using a ticket machine?

The queues for the tickets desks in central London stations are generally quite long on saturday and often with people who have more complex queries that can't be answered by the machine so it's not something we've tried.
I don't mind collecting from the machine but queuing up for the desks isn't really going to be something we want to do because of the queues.

We have been given false information (about terms and condition on exchange) at a station recently.

I am planing to collect on-line tickets on Friday and if I have time I'll check the prices on the machine and report back, but I'm pretty sure they have been more expensive.

drspa44

I can say that there are two separate types of ticket offered: WEB SUPOFFPK S and SUPER OFFPK DAY. I am not sure whether there can be a limited quantity available for each. Is it also possible that you are trying to use the ticket machine whilst the restrictions apply, because it will usually assume you are departing immediately:

SWS - SUPER OFFPK DAY SET
00000 - ANY PERMITTED

2 Adults @£ 16.25 = £ 32.50
__________
£ 32.50

Standard Class Single
From : 1072 LONDON TERMINALS


Restriction : F4
The following details applies
to current travel only.

APPLICABLE DAYS

Mondays to Fridays

OUTWARD TRAVEL

Not valid on trains timed to
depart after 04:29 and before
10:00, except:
09:29 and 09:50 from Hastings
09:32 and 09:53 from St.
Leonards Warrior Square
09:56 from West St. Leonards
09:42 from Battle
09:58 from Wadhurst

RETURN TRAVEL

Not valid on trains timed to
depart after 04:29 and before
10:00, except:
09:29 and 09:50 from Hastings
09:32 and 09:53 from St.
Leonards Warrior Square
09:56 from West St. Leonards
09:42 from Battle
09:58 from Wadhurst

p00hsticks

drspa44 wrote: »

. Is it also possible that you are trying to use the ticket machine whilst the restrictions apply, because it will usually assume you are departing immediately:

Yes, I've certainly found in the past that if you try to buy a ticket from a machine in peak hours it will often only offer peak price tickets rather than the cheaper off-peak ones that require you to delay your dpearture.

JezR

Super-off peak tickets can never run out as they are available for use on any train within the relevant time restrictions.

£32.60 = 2 super off peak day returns with railcard
£40.50 = 2 off peak day returns with railcard
£42.10 = 2 off peak returns with railcard (return valid for a month)

lisyloo

APPLICABLE DAYS

Mondays to Fridays

I don;t think those restrictions apply on a weekend day.
When I check online (nationalrail.co.uk) the prices are the same all day on weekends. The only difference is route based e.g. higher prices via st pancras (high speed)

katejo

p00hsticks wrote: »

Yes, I've certainly found in the past that if you try to buy a ticket from a machine in peak hours it will often only offer peak price tickets rather than the cheaper off-peak ones that require you to delay your dpearture.

Yes I find this extremely irritating. I can buy a super off peak for the next day but not for the current day. I know that it is only valid after a certain time but I want to buy the tickets at my local station before travelling to the mainline station to avoid queues at the machine. It is an example of dumbing down in my view. Some passengers may buy the wrong ticket so the rest of us aren't allowed to buy one.

lisyloo

Purchased super off-peak on line for saturday.
Travelled from charring cross. Checked the machine and it offered super off -peak.
Went to Victoria and checked the machine at 13:06 on Sunday. No super off peak was offered. This fits with my recollection of not being offered super off-peak at Victoria on several previous occasions. Checked on-line at 13:09 and super off peak was still available.

So mystery solved and now I know I can purchase online beforehand.

Stompa

katejo wrote: »

Yes I find this extremely irritating. I can buy a super off peak for the next day but not for the current day. I know that it is only valid after a certain time but I want to buy the tickets at my local station before travelling to the mainline station to avoid queues at the machine. It is an example of dumbing down in my view. Some passengers may buy the wrong ticket so the rest of us aren't allowed to buy one.

I just purchase online on the day of travel before leaving home, then collect from the machine when I arrive at the station.

Barny1979

Check the price at the station, then go on your phone and order online and then print off at machine?