New Years Eve Ticket advice required

[43021HST]

I'm hoping to purchase a Reading to London Zones 1-6 Travel Card on News years eve and I'm planning to travel back to Reading the following morning. Rather than purchasing another travelcard and then a single the following morning, I heard that a day return travel card can in fact be used the following day as it apparently expires 24 hours from purchase.

Just need some clarification if this is true.

 

[button_boxer]

No, it expires at 0430 in the morning after its day of validity, i.e. a day travelcard purchased at any time of day on 31st December would be valid until 0430 on 1st January.

Reference: Forum fares and ticketing guide

 

[Greenback]

It's not true, I'm afraid, the ticket will expire at 0430. Who told you it was a 24 hour validity, just out of interest?

 

[LexyBoy]

What time are you planning to come back?

There are plenty of late night trains being put on, including some fast to Reading (0020, 0120, 0250). The last train you could officially use is the 0334. It's probably worth checking with FGW as they might relax things to allow people back on the morning of the first.

Note also that travel in London is free from 2345 to 0430 so you might find it's cheaper to use a London Terminals return plus Oyster.

 

[43021HST]

Planning on catching train from Paddington at least by 10.00am, need to make allowances for planned hangover .
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's not true, I'm afraid, the ticket will expire at 0430. Who told you it was a 24 hour validity, just out of interest?

I think it was a member of the family who works for FGW.

 

[Greenback]

I think it was a member of the family who works for FGW.

That's interesting. There's no info on any NYE/NYD easements on the FGW website. At least, none that I could find!

 

[LexyBoy]

Off Peak Return (£26.10 / £17.25 Railcard) plus Oyster is likely to be a better bet if there's no official allowance. If you have a Railcard which isn't loaded onto your Oyster card then a return to a U-zone destination will probably be cheaper (e.g. U12 if you're going to Z2).

Planning on catching train from Paddington at least by 10.00am, need to make allowances for planned hangover .

You're doing it wrong

 

[Haywain]

I think it was a member of the family who works for FGW.

Previous experience on this forum suggests that working for FGW does not guarantee knowing the correct restrictions on the use of tickets.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Having realised the risk of causing offence, I would like to clarify that the reference is to gateline staff at Paddington, in particular, and not the esteemed Flamingo of this parish!