Friday 2nd jan. No peak fares gwr?

[Jamiescott1]

Hi
Heading into work tomorrow from marlow to Paddington.
Looking at fares on the gwr app and when I select the 0706 departure it shows as an off peak fare of £24 return (usually this time on a weekday is a peak fare).
Its a standard weekday not a bank holiday so is this fare correct?
Will contactless also be this price on 2nd ?

 

[tram21]

Hi
Heading into work tomorrow from marlow to Paddington.
Looking at fares on the gwr app and when I select the 0706 departure it shows as an off peak fare of £24 return (usually this time on a weekday is a peak fare).
Its a standard weekday not a bank holiday so is this fare correct?
Will contactless also be this price on 2nd ?

During the Christmas/ New Year period (which includes the 2nd), peak fares are withdrawn nationwide.

Contactless should be the same, and enjoy the cheaper travel!

 

[janb]

During the Christmas/ New Year period (which includes the 2nd), peak fares are withdrawn nationwide.

Not true that its nationwide. Travel somewhere at a peak time on a non bank holiday such as the 2nd, priced by Northern or TPE for example and you will be charged a peak fare.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Not true that its nationwide. Travel somewhere at a peak time on a non bank holiday such as the 2nd, priced by Northern or TPE for example and you will be charged a peak fare.

Beat me to it

 

[Watershed]

I'm not sure that contactless PAYG follows the same easements around Christmas/NYE as "paper"/eTickets priced by the TOCs. AFAIK contactless only charges off-peak fares all day on the actual Bank Holidays. I found that out the hard way yesterday when I touched in at 16:05!

 

[fandroid]

Not true that its nationwide. Travel somewhere at a peak time on a non bank holiday such as the 2nd, priced by Northern or TPE for example and you will be charged a peak fare.

It's been a regular annoyance to me here in Basingstoke for many years. GWR services are off-peak every day in the Xmas period but for SWR it's business as usual except on Bank Holidays.

 

[CyrusWuff]

I'm not sure that contactless PAYG follows the same easements around Christmas/NYE as "paper"/eTickets priced by the TOCs. AFAIK contactless only charges off-peak fares all day on the actual Bank Holidays. I found that out the hard way yesterday when I touched in at 16:05!

Contactless follows TfL's restrictions, so it's only off-peak all day at weekends and bank holidays.

 

[Jamiescott1]

I wonder if people have been caught out as the homepage of the tvm only displays the anytime fare. You have to search for the off-peak fare

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Jan 2026 ==

Ticket rejected by lower level gateline at paddington. But accepted by staff member

 

[lookapigeon]

Contactless follows TfL's restrictions, so it's only off-peak all day at weekends and bank holidays.

I found this out too this week when I was back at work, SWR having a Saturday service timetable all week and charging for Monday-Friday peak fare. Cheeky swines.

 

[swt_passenger]

I found this out too this week when I was back at work, SWR having a Saturday service timetable all week and charging for Monday-Friday peak fare. Cheeky swines.

But consistent with previous years. ‘Withdrawn’ anytime fares has nearly always applied only to the main intercity operators, IIRC from previous forum discussions just like this one.

 

[lookapigeon]

But consistent with previous years. ‘Withdrawn’ anytime fares has nearly always applied only to the main intercity operators, IIRC from previous forum discussions just like this one.

Thanks for letting me know this is standard practice, as usual all of those of us that do live on suburban lines get shafted. Least they're consistent with their daylight robbery, I suppose.
Does SWR in effect get the same amount of money for running less services, out of interest?

 

[mickey]

Does SWR in effect get the same amount of money for running less services, out of interest?

No, because significantly fewer customers will be travelling, particularly in the lucrative commuter segment.