Tonbridge to Lowestoft Off Peak?

[Tomo]

I was due to travel to Lowestoft today on the following itinerary:
Tonbridge 08:37 - London Bridge 09:12
Liverpool Street 10:00 - Ipswich 11:05
Ipswich 11:16 - Lowestoft 12:42

I booked through my work booking system and was sold an off peak return. However, when I got to tonbridge the barrier rejected my ticket and the attendant said it was a peak service. A ticket to London Bridge on the 08:37 would be an anytime, so why is the site selling me an off peak ticket for this journey if it invalid?

I also ran the same journey through thr national rail enquiries app and it suggested an off peak return too.

 

[Haywain]

why is the site selling me an off peak ticket for this journey if it invalid?

Because it isn't invalid. There is no restriction on what time you can leave Tonbridge with that ticket and the attendant was wrong. Restrictions apply to tickets, not to trains.

 

[Tomo]

Because it isn't invalid. There is no restriction on what time you can leave Tonbridge with that ticket and the attendant was wrong. Restrictions apply to tickets, not to trains.

Thanks, so is it off peak because London isn't the final destination even though the journey starts at peak time?

 

[Haywain]

Thanks, so is it off peak because London isn't the final destination even though the journey starts at peak time?

The journey only starts at peak time for some ticket holders - for you it was not at "peak" time.

 

[30907]

Thanks, so is it off peak because London isn't the final destination even though the journey starts at peak time?

Not quite. The destination has to be outside the one-time Network SouthEast area -which extends a long way North and West of London (as well as to the South coast) - and (only) the restrictions on the London-to-destination leg apply.

 

[AM9]

Not quite. The destination has to be outside the one-time Network SouthEast area -which extends a long way North and West of London (as well as to the South coast) - and (only) the restrictions on the London-to-destination leg apply.

Actually Manningtree is the last station on the GEML within the Network SE area. Tickets from anywhere within the NSE area that involve travelling from London to Ipswich and beyond are not subject to Peak time restrictions, - unless Greater Anglia has put a restriction on down trains from Liverpool St (usually '9A' which should also be on your Tonbridge ticket). That restriction only allows departures from there after 09:30, which in practice means the 09:30 to Norwich (1P16).
I've used that train and luckily, the gateline staff at St Albans are used to passengers with through tickets for destinations on the GEML, GWML & WCML that are outside the NSE area.

 

[Watershed]

Thanks, so is it off peak because London isn't the final destination

Effectively, yes. The restriction code for a Tonbridge to London Terminals Off-Peak Day Return (BC) is different to the restriction code for a Tonbridge to Lowestoft Off-Peak Return (9A). Simply because there is one set of restriction for tickets to London Terminals, doesn't mean that the same restrictions apply to all journeys via London.

even though the journey starts at peak time?

There is no such thing as a blanket 'peak' or 'off-peak' time or train. The restrictions depend entirely on the ticket you buy.

 

[Haywain]

the gateline staff at St Albans are used to passengers with through tickets for destinations on the GEML, GWML & WCML that are outside the NSE area.

In spite of the fact that many of them have restrictions on the arrival time into London?

so is it off peak because London isn't the final destination even though the journey starts at peak time?

I wouldn't say it is off-peak, rather that the ticket is unrestricted for journeys into London. Each ticket has its own restrictions and it is what those restrictions say that determine when you can travel.

 

[AM9]

In spite of the fact that many of them have restrictions on the arrival time into London?

I wouldn't say it is off-peak, rather that the ticket is unrestricted for journeys into London. Each ticket has its own restrictions and it is what those restrictions say that determine when you can travel.

Not from the initial outbound leg into London:
GEML 9F > 09:29
ECML 9D > 9:19
WCML 9H > 09:27
GWR YC > 09:12
The minutae of the differences by minutes is merely a reflection of the down train timetables.
On the return journey there are sometimes restrictions, but in the event of delays, the NSE rule should apply. Also some returns are only offered as CDRs, but generally the 'Savers' generally are unrestricted for the rest of the day. Of course, users should check the conditions before booking.

 

[yorkie]

I was due to travel to Lowestoft today on the following itinerary:
Tonbridge 08:37 - London Bridge 09:12
Liverpool Street 10:00 - Ipswich 11:05
Ipswich 11:16 - Lowestoft 12:42

I booked through my work booking system and was sold an off peak return. However, when I got to tonbridge the barrier rejected my ticket and the attendant said it was a peak service. A ticket to London Bridge on the 08:37 would be an anytime, so why is the site selling me an off peak ticket for this journey if it invalid?

I also ran the same journey through thr national rail enquiries app and it suggested an off peak return too.

The gateline staff are wrong. It is valid.

Sadly, train companies such as Southeastern do not have anywhere near sufficient safeguards in place to ensure that staff have anywhere near the appropriate level of knowledge for the job, nor the common sense to allow any ticket they are unsure about.

If you were incorrectly charged an excess fare, you are entitled to a full refund of the difference from Southeastern. You should also be given some further compensation, as well as assurances that appropriate steps would be taken to reduce the chances of this happening again.

However, I have very little confidence that companies such as Southeastern would be interested in taking appropriate measures to ensure their staff do not act incorrectly/inappropriately in future, but you should pursue this and lodge a formal complaint anyway.

if you had bought it through us, we would be happy to assist in any battle with Southeastern; perhaps the retailer who supports your work system may do likewise.