Cambridge to Brighton Off Peak Return advice

[Mikaila]

Good afternoon,

On Sunday the 30th of March, I have to go from Cambridge to Brighton.

In order to avoid having to take replacement buses, I thought of getting the train from Cambridge to London King's Cross and then from there the Tube to London Victoria, where there are going to be direct trains to Brighton every hour.

I will return the following Wednesday, and there will be the direct train Brighton-Cambridge.

My question is. Using the GWR website I saw that if I put in Cambridge-Brighton return Sunday-Wednesday I get a Off-Peak Return.

What I am not sure of, is if I can use that ticket for the journey I have planned Cambridge-King's Cross-Tube-London Victoria-Brighton. That's because if I put in only Cambridge-Brighton it shows only journeys with replacement buses (not stopping in London) and so I thought that maybe I have to buy single tickets for Cambridge-King's Cross and London Victoria-Brighton.

But I wanted to ask if I could use it because these Singles are Super Off-Peak and Off Peak and I have read the Terms and Conditions of the Off-Peak Return and it doesn't say anything about not being able to use it to break the journey through London.

"Break of journey:
Outward Note:
Break of journey is permitted unless otherwise indicated by a restriction shown against the ticket's Restriction Code.

Off-Peak Return tickets are valid for outward travel on the date shown on the ticket and until 04:29 the following morning."

Best regards,

Mikaila

 

[jfollows]

A Cambridge-Brighton off peak return is valid on the tube as you want.

Technically it’s not even a break of journey and is covered by the maltese cross on the ticket which will be accepted by tube ticket barriers.

 

[Mikaila]

A Cambridge-Brighton off peak return is valid on the tube as you want.

Thank you. So it will be also valid to travel from Cambridge to London King's Cross and then from London Victoria to Brighton?

 

[jfollows]

Thank you. So it will be also valid to travel from Cambridge to London King's Cross and then from London Victoria to Brighton?

Yes

 

[Mikaila]

Yes

Thank you for confirming it. I was wondering if I could use it because the GWR website doesn't give me the option when I put it "Via London Terminals" among the Search Options.

 

[jfollows]

Thank you for confirming it. I was wondering if I could use it because the GWR website doesn't give me the option when I put it "Via London Terminals" among the Search Options.

It’s because trains Victoria-Brighton are diverted via Horsham and Littlehampton and the website doesn’t consider this a valid route. If you’re on a direct Victoria-Brighton train that day it will be fine.

 

[Mikaila]

It’s because trains Victoria-Brighton are diverted via Horsham and Littlehampton and the website doesn’t consider this a valid route. If you’re on a direct Victoria-Brighton train that day it will be fine.

Thank you very much for taking the time to explain this! I am grateful.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Mar 2025 ==

It’s because trains Victoria-Brighton are diverted via Horsham and Littlehampton and the website doesn’t consider this a valid route. If you’re on a direct Victoria-Brighton train that day it will be fine.

Sorry, another question. I found out that on Sunday the 30th there will be also trains from Cambridge-Gatwick Airport and from there there are direct train to Brighton. That route would also be permitted with the Off Peak Return, right?

 

[jfollows]

Thank you very much for taking the time to explain this! I am grateful.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Mar 2025 ==


Sorry, another question. I found out that on Sunday the 30th there will be also trains from Cambridge-Gatwick Airport and from there there are direct train to Brighton. That route would also be permitted with the Off Peak Return, right?

They’re the same trains as the Victoria ones, they go Victoria-Gatwick-Horsham-Littlehampton-Brighton, so I expect you’ll be OK too.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Mar 2025 ==

Note that your off peak return ticket is valid on any operator. If you’re at Gatwick they may be trying to send people with Thameslink-only tickets to the replacement bus services, which would be correct, but won’t apply to you and you can use the Southern train service to Brighton around the houses.

 

[Hophead]

Thank you. So it will be also valid to travel from Cambridge to London King's Cross and then from London Victoria to Brighton?

And, to expand on this: if your ticket has a "Maltese Cross" printed on it (or anything looking cross-like), which I would expect it to, it is also valid for a trip on the tube across Central London.

 

[jfollows]

And, to expand on this: if your ticket has a "Maltese Cross" printed on it (or anything looking cross-like), which I would expect it to, it is also valid for a trip on the tube across Central London.

It does

 

[gray1404]

They’re the same trains as the Victoria ones, they go Victoria-Gatwick-Horsham-Littlehampton-Brighton, so I expect you’ll be OK too.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Mar 2025 ==

Note that your off peak return ticket is valid on any operator. If you’re at Gatwick they may be trying to send people with Thameslink-only tickets to the replacement bus services, which would be correct, but won’t apply to you and you can use the Southern train service to Brighton around the houses.

That's not correct. People with tickets routes Thameslink Only are entitled to use the diverted rail services to Brighton too.

 

[jfollows]

That's not correct. People with tickets routes Thameslink Only are entitled to use the diverted rail services to Brighton too.

Good, thanks. I was worrying about nothing.

 

[Mikaila]

Good, thanks. I was worrying about nothing.

Good morning, I found another possible route. Cambridge-Three Bridges and from there the direct train to Brighton. The thing is, when I use Splitticket, instead of adding this option under the Off Peak Return possibilities at £71, it gives me a price of £92, including the return of course. Should I suppose that I can't use the Off Peak Return if I travel through Three Bridges? I am sorry if I am missing something.

 

[jfollows]

The off-peak return is valid, but the booking sites can't cope with the diversion because someone didn't properly set up an "easement" for the routeing guide to cover the line closure on the direct route to Brighton.
Whichever route with whichever operator you choose is valid with the off-peak return. Personally I'd get the fastest train direct to King's Cross, tube across to Victoria, and direct (but slow) train to Brighton but if you want to go to Gatwick or Three Bridges on Thameslink from Cambridge instead and change there it will be fine also.

 

[Mikaila]

The off-peak return is valid, but the booking sites can't cope with the diversion because someone didn't properly set up an "easement" for the routeing guide to cover the line closure on the direct route to Brighton.
Whichever route with whichever operator you choose is valid with the off-peak return. Personally I'd get the fastest train direct to King's Cross, tube across to Victoria, and direct (but slow) train to Brighton but if you want to go to Gatwick or Three Bridges on Thameslink from Cambridge instead and change there it will be fine also.

Thank you very much for your quick reply. Yes, I agree honestly, also, there are only 10 minutes between the the train arriving to Three Bridges and the one departing from Brighton.