Fares anomoly / off peak returns

[Skimpot flyer]

Are off-peak returns (by which I mean tickets which offer Outward travel on day A and a return journey within one month) only offered on certain routes, or perhaps only on journeys above a specific distance?

My colleague is flying from Gatwick on Monday 6th October, and returning from Spain on Monday 20th. She has tried the Southern ticketing website, but is only offered a combination of singles for a return trip from Welwyn Garden City on those dates. She would be travelling by train at about 11am on the outward journey, and after 7pm on the way back.

The two single fares, with a Network Card, are £13 each. But, as a regular traveller to Eastbourne, I know there to be an off-peak return fare for those times and dates, priced at £24.40.

So why is no return fare available for a WGC -GTW trip fitting the above criteria? Could she just buy the Eastbourne return ticket, and stop short / start short? And, bizarrely, save £1.60 too?

 

[Tetchytyke]

There is an off-peak (SVR) return at £22.45 and an anytime return at £25.35 available. I can get EC website, which uses the same software, to show them.

 

[AndyNLondon]

I can see the £22.45 ticket when I search on both the Southern and National Rail sites. (It does disapear if I select a pre-10am departure, but then so does the £13 single.)

 

[Skimpot flyer]

OK, thanks. I'll get her to try other sites. It's possible she may have entered the wrong times, I suppose!

 

[swt_passenger]

Back to your original question, there is generally a distance limit below which off-peak returns are not normally offered. Around 30-40 miles or so, and historically it was said to be an anti fraud measure to stop them being used by commuters for a few days at a time.

Some of the obvious airport flows were exceptions to this though.

 

[TUC]

It's very convenient income-wise for TOCs though. 'In order to prevent fraud we'll only offer tickets that will cost you more'.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

.... and historically it was said to be an anti fraud measure to stop them being used by commuters for a few days at time

But nowadays, with most stations in urban areas being gated, re-use of such tickets would be nigh-on impossible. Gates being left open (or not installed) at both the station of origin AND at the destination station on a regular basis would be unlikely, surely? If the ticket is 'read' at the gate on the first use, would it not fail to open the gate on any subsequent attempt?

 

[MikeWh]

But nowadays, with most stations in urban areas being gated, re-use of such tickets would be nigh-on impossible. Gates being left open (or not installed) at both the station of origin AND at the destination station on a regular basis would be unlikely, surely? If the ticket is 'read' at the gate on the first use, would it not fail to open the gate on any subsequent attempt?

In theory, yes. In practice, no. There are not many gated stations outside the main cities, and even if they are the cost of staffing them all the time means that they often are left open. You could use a period return for the majority of your trip and a zone 1-2 travelcard to get through the barriers in London, for instance.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

You could use a period return for the majority of your trip and a zone 1-2 travelcard to get through the barriers in London, for instance.

Ah, so is THAT what the infamous Kent stockbroker who ultimately lost his job was doing?

 

[Hadders]

I've recently started a new job and have been travelling into London on a daily basis. I would say that more often than not the gates at either end of my journey are open - this is traveling during peak times as well.

What would be helpful is a return ticket valid on the following day. FCC/GN have gone some way towards this with the overnighter ticket but it would be good to see more developments in this area.

In the past I've travelled from Northampton to Milton Keynes for a night out, stayed overnight and returned the following day. An off-peak day return is £9.90 but as there is no off-peak return it means two singles have to be purchased costing £17.60. Even worse is that a Network Railcard discount can't be used (unless it's a weekend) as individually the tickets are under the £13 minimum fare. A return ticket which was valid for travel for two days costing, say, £13 would be sensible but I can't ever see it being introduced.

 

[yorkie]

Ah, so is THAT what the infamous Kent stockbroker who ultimately lost his job was doing?

That thread ran for dozens, if not hundreds, of posts, but no-one really seemed to know. The only thing you can be sure of, is the newspapers got it wrong (both because what they said didn't make sense and because they always do when it comes to ticketing) but let's stay on topic

To answer your question: because the TOCs don't want you or your friend to buy an appropriate return ticket. No-one can make them either. They know 99% of people will buy 2 x singles. But they can't stop savvy people paying for a longer journey and finishing/starting "short".