Expensive new ticket purchased

[curly]

Good afternoon,
Could please someone check for me if this is correct.
My daughter was traveling on the 3rd of September on a standard off peak open return from London terminals to Bristol Parkway.
( Using her valid 16 to 25 rail card)

The ticket specified the 16.33 train.
She ran a little bit late and took the 16.48 train.
When the inspector came round she showed her ticket but he said it wasn't valid because she was traveling peak and the ticket was off peak.
He then made her purchase a single new ticket at a cost of £92.35.
She had paid £69.70 for her original ticket.
I just wanted to make sure that is correct as it seemed very expensive and a little bit harsh.
Thank you

 

[Dewedin]

This Off Peak Return ticket is not valid on trains timed to depart London Paddington after 04:29 and before 09:12 and after 16:40 until 18:34.
For future reference an Off Peak ticket should have a restriction code on it which can be checked, in this case the code is YC can be checked at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/YC

 

[MrJeeves]

When the inspector came round she showed her ticket but he said it wasn't valid because she was traveling peak and the ticket was off peak.

The restriction of the ticket states either...

Not valid on trains timed to depart:

• London Paddington after 04:29 and before 09:12 and after 16:40 until 18:34

or

Not valid on trains timed to depart:

• London Paddington after 04:29 and before 09:12 and after 16:38 until 18:34

depending on which way round her return ticket was bought, so clearly her ticket wasn't valid on the 16:48 from Paddington in either case.

He then made her purchase a single new ticket at a cost of £92.35.

This worked out cheaper than an excess up to the Anytime Return, which would have otherwise cost £115, so it was probably the correct choice given the circumstances.

 

[John R]

Good afternoon,
Could please someone check for me if this is correct.
My daughter was traveling on the 3rd of September on a standard off peak open return from London terminals to Bristol Parkway.
( Using her valid 16 to 25 rail card)

The ticket specified the 16.33 train.
She ran a little bit late and took the 16.48 train.
When the inspector came round she showed her ticket but he said it wasn't valid because she was traveling peak and the ticket was off peak.
He then made her purchase a single new ticket at a cost of £92.35.
She had paid £69.70 for her original ticket.
I just wanted to make sure that is correct as it seemed very expensive and a little bit harsh.
Thank you

Yes, it's correct.

The cost of excessing her ticket to an Anytime Return would have been £115 (the Anytime Return being 184.70), so instead he sold her a new Anytime Single ticket at the cost you quote, being cheaper.

 

[alistairlees]

The £69.70 Off Peak Return (with 16-25 discount) has restriction code YC which says (amongst other things):

Not valid on trains timed to depart:

• London Paddington after 04:29 and before 09:12 and after 16:40 until 18:34

So he was right that her ticket was not valid.

However Clause 9.5 of the National Rail Conditions of Travel says:

9.5 Where you:
9.5.1 are using a Ticket that is correctly dated but restricted for use at a range of times other than the service on which you are travelling (this does not include Tickets which are valid only on a specific timed train service or train services); or
9.5.2 break your journey when you are not permitted to do so;

you will be charged the difference between the fare that you have paid and the lowest price Ticket that is valid for the train you are using.

So he could have charged £115.00 (the difference between £184.70 for an Anytime Return with a Railcard, and the price she paid for her ticket). He charged her for a £92.35 Anytime Day Single with Railcard discount, which is better (and correct) in this circumstance.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Unfortunately, this looks correct, albeit rather expensive. Definite cliff edge in the fares that will be charged once one strays into "peak hours" territory (the definition of which varies, depending on the tickets actually held). BTW, where was the 1633 departure from London Paddington (on 3rd September 2026) heading to?

 

[curly]

Unfortunately, this looks correct, albeit rather expensive. Definite cliff edge in the fares that will be charged once one strays into "peak hours" territory (the definition of which varies, depending on the tickets actually held). BTW, where was the 1633 departure from London Paddington (on 3rd September 2026) heading to?

Changing at Swindon ( Wilts)
With the train continuing on to Bristol Parkway