Evening peak Paddington to Oxford

[EUC]

I need to catch tomorrow's 1623 from Paddington to Oxford, returning at around 9 p.m.
I don't want to pay £93.20 for an Anytime Day Return (the 1623 is excluded from the Off-peak returns by codes FP and J9). Instead, could I buy a £16.60 Zones 1-6 Travelcard and a £25.90 Boundary Zone 6 to Oxford Off-peak Day Return (code W1 only seems to limit travel in the morning peak) = £42.50?

 

[gray1404]

Could you possibly make the 1552 departure? Alternatively you can travel out of Marylebone although the journey times are a bit longer.

 

[Watershed]

Yes, that would be a valid combination. But you can expect difficulties at the Paddington gateline if it departs from a barriered platform. The gateline staff may well make up their own rules - "this is a peak time train", "that doesn't apply here", "don't try to tell us how to do our job" etc.

So be prepared to be denied entry and to have to pay extra that you have to claim back afterwards from GWR's customer services.

Given that scope for hassle I'd give serious consideration to travelling out of Marylebone, where those evening peak restrictions don't apply.

 

[EUC]

Yes, that would be a valid combination. But you can expect difficulties at the Paddington gateline if it departs from a barriered platform. The gateline staff may well make up their own rules - "this is a peak time train", "that doesn't apply here", "don't try to tell us how to do our job" etc.

So be prepared to be denied entry and to have to pay extra that you have to claim back afterwards from GWR's customer services.

Given that scope for hassle I'd give serious consideration to travelling out of Marylebone, where those evening peak restrictions don't apply.

I'm on a tight schedule. Meetings in London until 3.30, and a meeting in Oxford at 6 o'clock.

So, are you suggesting the gateline staff don't understand how valid combinations of tickets work? The Travelcard has all day validity, and restriction W1 is "Not valid on trains timed to depart after 04:29 and before 09:30" for outward and return travel.

 

[Watershed]

I'm on a tight schedule. Meetings in London until 3.30, and a meeting in Oxford at 6 o'clock.

So, are you suggesting the gateline staff don't understand how valid combinations of tickets work? The Travelcard has all day validity, and restriction W1 is "Not valid on trains timed to depart after 04:29 and before 09:30" for outward and return travel.

I'm suggesting that they don't understand the concept that different tickets have different time restrictions, and that it doesn't work on the basis that trains are "peak" or "off-peak".

You might get lucky and the Travelcard might work at the barriers (though I understand they don't since daytime GWR services don't stop within the Zones) or you might come across a member of staff who just waves you through. But I wouldn't go in expecting a smooth experience.

 

[redreni]

I'm suggesting that they don't understand the concept that different tickets have different time restrictions, and that it doesn't work on the basis that trains are "peak" or "off-peak".

You might get lucky and the Travelcard might work at the barriers (though I understand they don't since daytime GWR services don't stop within the Zones) or you might come across a member of staff who just waves you through. But I wouldn't go in expecting a smooth experience.

For what it's worth (and I don't think this helps the OP), Travelcards do work the barriers at the high level platforms at Paddington even though the trains leaving from those platforms don't, in general, serve stations within the zones. I use day Travelcards or 7-day Travelcards at those barriers regularly.

The reason this may not help the OP is that the barriers may well be set to just reject all off-peak tickets between 16:00 and 19:00.

 

[gray1404]

I'd strongly recommend the OP tries to get the 15.52 from Paddington (using the Off Peak Day Return) if possible depending on where their meeting is. Failing this the 16.15 from Marylebone arriving in Oxford at 17.36. Although a longer journey time they can avail of the Off Peak Day Return and it still gets them to Oxford before 18.00 (again depending on where their meeting is located).

 

[canary fan]

I'd strongly recommend the OP tries to get the 15.52 from Paddington (using the Off Peak Day Return) if possible depending on where their meeting is. Failing this the 16.15 from Marylebone arriving in Oxford at 17.36. Although a longer journey time they can avail of the Off Peak Day Return and it still gets them to Oxford before 18.00 (again depending on where their meeting is located).

Why? If they have a valid combination of tickets for services that are more convenient, they should be able to use them. It’s ridiculous that gate staff are not trained to recognise valid tickets!

 

[Fawkes Cat]

It’s ridiculous that gate staff are not trained to recognise valid tickets!

It is ridiculous, but different people put different values on a quiet life. And if being delayed at the barrier will cause one to miss the train, there may also be a pragmatic case for going earlier/paying more/going a different way.

 

[sammyg901]

My OH was denied entry to an Oxford train using this combination. Bought a new ticket as needed to be on that train. I had to send a letter before action FAO GWR legal before I got a sensible reply with a refund and some compensation.

It's perfectly valid but expect a denial at the gate for sure unfortunately