The trainline - off peak

UnworthyBean · 11 May 2010 at 18:07

Can anyone help me clarify when off peak is for trains? Looking to travel to glasgow in august and buying an off peak return is probably the best.

And also, if i buy an off peak ticket and board at an off peak time but then on my journey goes into peak times, i am assuming my ticket therefore becomes void?

Kenai · 11 May 2010 at 18:16

When can I use an Off-Peak ticket?

Off-Peak Single and Off-Peak Day (Single and Return) tickets must be used on the date shown on the ticket.

For Off-Peak Return tickets, outward journeys must be made on the date shown on your ticket and return journeys must be made within one calendar month.

The trains that you can catch and the times that you can travel with an Off-Peak ticket vary considerably depending on the journey being made, the day/date of travel and the train company that you are travelling with. Please use the Journey Planner to choose your desired time of travel and click ‘check ticket availability and prices’ to display the complete range of fares available for your journey.

from: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/offpeak.html

AGD · 11 May 2010 at 18:24

Don't use the trainline btw. Eastcoast and scotrail are cheaper.

[TW]Fox · 11 May 2010 at 18:26

bibalasvegas said:
Don't use the trainline btw. Eastcoast and scotrail are cheaper.

No, they are the same price except for the fact that thetrainline charges a booking fee for credit card purchases.

D1ngd0ng · 11 May 2010 at 18:26

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10103661.stm

Sort of related; read this at the w/e regarding rail fares

NotAGolf · 11 May 2010 at 19:09

I'm not sure if this is the same, but I use a 16-25 card and that can only be used 'off-peak' which in this case is classed as any time after 9:30 Mon-Fri and any time on the weekend.

Good luck on finding this out though. Actually trying to find a definite time is impossible!

Amp34 · 11 May 2010 at 19:25

[TW]Fox;16536799 said:
No, they are the same price except for the fact that thetrainline charges a booking fee for credit card purchases.

There are occasions when tickets are cheaper with those two websites, but then there are also occasions that TTL is cheaper.

I moved to eastcoast however as there is no way of not paying extra money on the train line (think you also have to pay to pick up at the station).

mpledge52 said:
I'm not sure if this is the same, but I use a 16-25 card and that can only be used 'off-peak' which in this case is classed as any time after 9:30 Mon-Fri and any time on the weekend.

Good luck on finding this out though. Actually trying to find a definite time is impossible!

That's how I understand it too, never had a problem when travelling after 9.30. Either way it only really matters on the way back as the companies won't let you book an off peak service when during peak time.

Also OP, if you are under 25 it's almost certainly worth buying a rail card (if you don't already have one) for just this one trip. Usually for that sort of distance it will probably work out cheaper.

al123 · 11 May 2010 at 19:51

mpledge52 said:
I'm not sure if this is the same, but I use a 16-25 card and that can only be used 'off-peak' which in this case is classed as any time after 9:30 Mon-Fri and any time on the weekend.

Good luck on finding this out though. Actually trying to find a definite time is impossible!

You sure? I've been using mine to go into London twice a week at peak.

UnworthyBean · 11 May 2010 at 20:02

bibalasvegas said:
Don't use the trainline btw. Eastcoast and scotrail are cheaper.

I have been looking around, But Trainline are giving me the best prices so far.

Done a bit more digging and seems that Off-peak is anytime after 9:30 as I can't book an off-peak ticket for a train leaving at 9 but can for the 9:30 one. It also seems that off-peak is classed as literally anytime after that, Thought it would be until 2 or something and then after 7 :confused:

After 9:30 is perfect though, Still gets me into glasgow before 12 which is what I was wanting.

NotAGolf · 11 May 2010 at 20:41

al123 said:
You sure? I've been using mine to go into London twice a week at peak.

Like I say, that's just what I thought. I haven't found a definitive "your ticket = off peak therefore it's only valid after X:XX am" type of thing anywhere.

There's this on the 16-25 card website:

Using your Railcard
With your Railcard, you’ll save money on both long and short trips. Better still, you can use it anytime on weekends, Public Holidays and during the week. However, if you travel at or before 10 am Monday to Friday you’ll have to pay a minimum fare (except during July and August).

But I don't know what this minimum fare is. Maybe if your ticket is expensive enough you can use it anytime?? Perhaps it just applies on the super cheap tickets?? Don't know where my 9:30 comes from either as the above quotes 10am, but that's just what I always thought.

How do you buy your ticket? Maybe if you buy it online or at a machine it doesn't care what time it is so it's only enforced if you go to a person at the ticket office? Obviously the barriers are letting you go through ok so maybe the only check is if there was someone on the train asking you for your ticket.

Amp34 · 11 May 2010 at 20:43

I guess the minimum fare would only apply if you do a one or two stopper local train (usually only a couple of quid).