Euston to B'ham with 16-25 RailCard

[RaynesParker]

The Nationalrail web site shows the cost of a single on the 8:43 weekday as £75.50 (anytime). When I add my 16-25 railcard this drops to £28.60 (off-peak). This is considerably more that the 33% discount I was expecting. Is the Nationalrail web site correct? If so it seems to imply that there are different offpeak time restrictions for railcards. But I cannot see this documented on any of the Virgin or National rail sites. Can anybody throw any light on this? Thanks.

 

[Pumbaa]

Virgin Off-Peak tickets bought with a railcard are valid at anytime, and as such this negates the need for an Anytime ticket during the Peak hours.

 

[bb21]

You only need to buy an off-peak for a Virgin flow if you have a 16-25 railcard so it is correct. The fare is for the discounted Off-Peak and not the discounted Anytime.

 

[SS4]

I remember seeing a sign at Euston to the effect that railcard holders can travel during the PM peak on an off-peak ticket although I'm not sure about the morning peak (notwithstanding the minimum fare)

Virgin's website it annoying to trawl but their online help/Q&A is very good

 

[bb21]

I remember seeing a sign at Euston to the effect that railcard holders can travel during the PM peak on an off-peak ticket although I'm not sure about the morning peak (notwithstanding the minimum fare)

Virgin's website it annoying to trawl but their online help/Q&A is very good

Morning peak is fine too, as long as it is a Virgin-priced flow and travelling on Virgin.

 

[RaynesParker]

I will be travelling on SWTrains and Virgin to B'ham Uni. If I buy the Off Peak ticket which the Nationalrail web site says is OK for use in the morning peak then will that be OK on SWTrains and LU? I would not like to get stopped travelling into Waterloo on an off peak ticket in the morning rush hour!

 

[island]

What exact ticket (ticket type, origin, destination, and route) are you planning on using? The original request was about a trip from EUS to BHM, which does not take you anywhere near SWT. The restrictions applicable can, and do, vary with different ticket parameters. Only if you give us the absolute full details of what you are planning on doing can we give you an accurate answer; we would not like you to end up getting a hefty excess at Waterloo (or elsewhere).

 

[RaynesParker]

I will be travelling midweek on the 7:43am from Raynes Park to Birmingham University via London and ECML. The Nationalrail website says this is an off-peak journey and quotes £32 return with a 16-25 railcard. This seems odd to me as off-peak into Waterloo normally starts after 9:30. Will all the ticket inspectors and barriers along the route recognise this as a valid ticket? On a more general point is the Nationalrail web site always correct on ticket validity when you buy a specific ticket for a specified date/time and route? Thanks.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The through single ticket cost on the 07-43 South West Trains service from Raynes Park to Vauxhall, change there (likely to be an easier interchange than Waterloo and the Northern Line during the peak hours) for the Victoria Line tube to Euston, then on the 08-43 Virgin Trains service from London Euston to Birmingham New Street, then change for the 10-23 London Midland service from Birmingham New Street to University (Birmingham), should be £31.35 with a valid 16-25 Railcard.

Suggest that you get accompanying seat reservations on the reservable leg(s).

Anyone know whether the OP is likely to experience difficulties at the ticket barriers at the intermediate interchanges.

 

[bb21]

I will be travelling midweek on the 7:43am from Raynes Park to Birmingham University via London and ECML. The Nationalrail website says this is an off-peak journey and quotes £32 return with a 16-25 railcard. This seems odd to me as off-peak into Waterloo normally starts after 9:30. Will all the ticket inspectors and barriers along the route recognise this as a valid ticket? On a more general point is the Nationalrail web site always correct on ticket validity when you buy a specific ticket for a specified date/time and route? Thanks.

ECML? I hope you mean WCML.

In general, if you're travelling from inside the former Network South East area to a station outside the area on an Off-Peak ticket connecting in London then the connecting leg of your journey into London has no restrictions, which in your case is the journey between Raynes Park and Vauxhall/Waterloo. Restriction only applies to your journey between London and Birmingham. I can't check now as I don't have the details to hand but I'm sure someone else'll be along soon to tell you the detailed restrictions of an Off-Peak ticket.

 

[island]

Yes, this journey is allowed. As bb21 points out, the time restriction does not apply to the Raynes Park to London Waterloo segment, and your Virgin Trains journey from London Euston to University Birm is exempted from the off-peak restriction because the ticket is not route VIRGIN TRNS ONLY, is an off-peak return, and is discounted by a 16-25 Railcard. As Mcr Warrior states, the fare is £31.35 single or £32 return.

Here's the full restriction text in case you care:

These restrictions apply
MONDAY to FRIDAY. By any train
on other days.

For journeys to/via Birmingham
on Cross Country, use
restriction code 2V.

For travel FROM or VIA:
London Terminals,_Milton
Keynes, Watford, Stevenage,
Reading, Kensington Olympia,
Bedford, Luton and Luton
Airport Parkway.

OUTWARD TRAVEL
You may travel on any train
that is scheduled to DEPART as
shown below:

RETURN TRAVEL
You may travel on any train
that is scheduled to ARRIVE_as
shown below:

DEPART: LONDON EUSTON
Between 0926 & 1500 (inc.) and
at or after 1845.

ARRIVE: LONDON EUSTON
Before 0720 or at or after
1130.

[snip irrelevant parts]

DEPART: LONDON WATERLOO
At or after 0930

ARRIVE: LONDON WATERLOO
Any train

[snip irrelevant parts]

Off-peak restrictions will not
apply on Virgin Trains
services from 22nd April 2011
to 25th April 2011 inclusive.
BVS/BVR/SVS/SVR OFF-PEAK
FSR/FSS/SFR/BFR/BFS
OFF-PEAK (First Class)

Outward/Single/Return Travel:
_____________AVAILABLE ANY DAY

[snip irrelevant parts]

NOTES:
1) Time restrictions are
indicated by a restriction
shown against the ticket's
validity code.
2) Holders of Off-Peak ticket
types SVS/SVR, which are
discounted using 16-25, Senior
, Disabled Persons, HM Forces
and Family & Friends Railcards
, New Deal Photocards and
Inter-Rail (Code 70) Cards,
may use ANY Virgin_train
service, provided that the
route on the ticket is not
"Virgin Trains Only" and the
journey being made is priced
by Virgin Trains. If the
journey is not priced by
Virgin Trains then the stated
Off-Peak restictions apply.
3) Only Senior, Disabled
persons and HM Forces
Railcards discounts are
offered with First Class
Off-Peak Tickets.

BREAK OF JOURNEY

[snip irrelevant parts]

TICKET INFORMATION:
Off-Peak tickets are not valid
when the journey is affected
by a restriction shown against
the ticket's validity code.

Tickets with a 'Maltese Cross'
shown in the route description
allow transfer across London
on London Underground,
Docklands Light Railway or
First Capital Connect
(Thameslink route) services
appropriate to the route of
the through journey being made

Any local validity easements
can be found in the Easements
section- Easements
introduction to view.

Travel restrictions do not
apply on Public Holidays.

NETWORK AREA:
The London & South East
Network Area is shown in the
London Area Fares section E0

Off-Peak tickets for journeys
starting within the Network
Area to destinations outside
the Network Area with travel
via London are valid by any
train to London, to connect
with trains from London.

Off-Peak tickets for journeys
starting outside the Network
Area for travel via London use
restrictions from the origin
station to London and return.
Unless shown otherwise, they
are unrestricted between
London and the destination
station, and return.
[snip irrelevant parts]