Ipswich to Derby fare 'not available'

[TractorBoy78]

I'm trying to buy a ticket from Ipswich to Derby (not via london) on Saturday 7th February and returning that evening. The train that I want to get is the 06:00 changing at Peterborough and Leicester and whilst that train is showing as available on every ticket selling website that I've looked at, it will only sell me a first class anytime ticket for £671.85! An off-peak standard class return for me and my boy with our F&F railcard is £75.10 but for some reason I can't buy that ticket for the 05:00 departure, only a first class.

Does anyone have any ideas why this would be? Greater Anglia have just apologised and said that there are no more tickets available for that service without giving a reason. We are travelling to a football match so could anticipated capacity be the issue?

You have to select a train when buying the ticket online, but with off-peak tickets being available on any service that day (restriction code CG) could I just select a later train for the purpose of buying the ticket (say the 08:20) and then just travel on the 06:00 anyway?

Thoughts welcome! Thanks.

 

[gazthomas]

I didn't have any issue buying the ticket on Trainsplit as attached.

 

[TractorBoy78]

Thank you for looking. That commits me to specific trains on the way home which I'd rather not do. I just want to buy the regular off-peak ticket for only a few pounds more for flexibility but it will only sell me a first class ticket at a silly price. I will do as you suggest if I have to but I would like to understand why I can't buy my fare on the 05:00.

I think on reflection it is the football. I can buy an off-peak fare to Peterborough or Leicester on that train (hence the split fares work), just specifically not Derby! So I suppose my question remains, could I just select a later train for the purpose of buying the ticket (say the 08:20) and then just travel on the 06:00 anyway?

 

[The exile]

An “ordinary” off peak return (ie not an advance) is, subject to time restrictions (which won’t apply at a weekend) valid on all trains on the valid route.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Presume it's to do with Derby County hosting Ipswich Town on Saturday 7th February 2026 and maybe the early trains are now booked out given that it's a half past twelve kick off at Pride Park.

 

[TractorBoy78]

I think you're right but it just makes no sense in that I can buy a ticket to Peterborough (all change) which will be the busiest leg of the journey. Just specifically not all the way to Derby. And it's just the standard off-peak walk-up fare that I want.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jan 2026 ==

An “ordinary” off peak return (ie not an advance) is, subject to time restrictions (which won’t apply at a weekend) valid on all trains on the valid route.

Thank you. I think what you're saying is if I buy an off-peak ticket for a later train on that Saturday it will legitimately be valid on the 06:00.

 

[JonathanH]

I think you're right but it just makes no sense in that I can buy a ticket to Peterborough (all change) which will be the busiest leg of the journey. Just specifically not all the way to Derby. And it's just the standard off-peak walk-up fare that I want.

it is the Leicester to Derby bit of the itinerary that is the problem. If you use the forum's website, and specify a 20 minute wait in Leicester, it should offer the off-peak return.

️ Browse train tickets from Ipswich to Derby on RailUK Tickets! https://tickets.railforums.co.uk/re...&Adults=1&OpenReturn=true&adv:ob:Via=7019470P

 

[AlterEgo]

I think what you're saying is if I buy an off-peak ticket for a later train on that Saturday it will legitimately be valid on the 06:00.

Correct.

 

[TractorBoy78]

it is the Leicester to Derby bit of the itinerary that is the problem. If you use the forum's website, and specify a 20 minute wait in Leicester, it should offer the off-peak return.

️ Browse train tickets from Ipswich to Derby on RailUK Tickets! https://tickets.railforums.co.uk/re...&Adults=1&OpenReturn=true&adv:ob:Via=7019470P

Thanks. That gives a slightly longer journey than if I'm prepared to pay £671.85 for a first class fare but that's really helpful. Thanks for looking.

 

[saismee]

In the worst case, you can always use a TVM or ticket office (Ipswich has both). As you want a walk-up fare anyway, it'll be the same price.

 

[The exile]

In the worst case, you can always use a TVM or ticket office (Ipswich has both). As you want a walk-up fare anyway, it'll be the same price.

Would suggest that the best case is to use a ticket office!

 

[Haywain]

I think the problem is the East Coast main line being closed out of London and EMR trains being busier than usual, limiting availability of tickets between Leicester and Derby.

 

[Hadders]

I think the problem is the East Coast main line being closed out of London and EMR trains being busier than usual, limiting availability of tickets between Leicester and Derby.

Indeed. EMR have marked their trains from London to Sheffield as 'reservations compulsory' that day as a way of limiting numbers. You will be able to travel between Leicester and Derby with EMR but the trains will potentially be very busy and all the seats have been reserved which is why you can't get a ticket selling site to sell you a ticket.

You can just buy a ticket on the day from the ticket machine ot ticket office at the station.

 

[Belperpete]

Thanks. That gives a slightly longer journey than if I'm prepared to pay £671.85 for a first class fare but that's really helpful. Thanks for looking.

It might be a useful backup to have reservations on that slightly longer journey.

 

[The exile]

I think the problem is the East Coast main line being closed out of London and EMR trains being busier than usual, limiting availability of tickets between Leicester and Derby.

The “problem” is a site that won’t let you buy a flexible ticket without entering an itinerary.

 

[Belperpete]

The “problem” is a site that won’t let you buy a flexible ticket without entering an itinerary.

Are there any sites left that don't require you to select an itinerary?

I have a bookmark to the GWR mixing desk, but that now seems to redirect to the standard site that requires an itinerary.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jan 2026 ==

You can just buy a ticket on the day from the ticket machine ot ticket office at the station.

Not if the ticket machine is also one of the types that requires an itinerary, and if the ticket office isn't open that early. Even if the ticket office is open, the OP may have issues if the booking office system likewise is an itinerary-based system, and the staff isn't familiar with working around it.

I suggest that unless the OP can be reasonably sure of buying a ticket on the day, it might be advisable to buy on line with an itinerary for that slightly longer journey as suggested by a previous poster. That way they will have tickets that are valid for the trains they want, and with backup reservations and itinerary in case they can't get on their desired EMR service.

 

[saismee]

Not if the ticket machine is also one of the types that requires an itinerary

The ones at Ipswich don't.

 

[Hadders]

GWR Mixing Deck still exists:

Great Western Railway

tickets.gwr.com

 

[Belperpete]

GWR Mixing Deck still exists:

Great Western Railway

tickets.gwr.com

Thanks.

 

[Trainman40083]

Surely Ipswich to Derby would be valid on EMR, Peterborough to Nottingham, then to Derby. Whatever, there is no first class offering on East Midlands Railway or Cross Country from Peterborough via Nottingham, or just Leicester to Derby.

 

[yorkie]

I'm trying to buy a ticket from Ipswich to Derby (not via london) on Saturday 7th February and returning that evening. The train that I want to get is the 06:00 changing at Peterborough and Leicester and whilst that train is showing as available on every ticket selling website that I've looked at, it will only sell me a first class anytime ticket for £671.85! An off-peak standard class return for me and my boy with our F&F railcard is £75.10 but for some reason I can't buy that ticket for the 05:00 departure, only a first class.

Does anyone have any ideas why this would be? Greater Anglia have just apologised and said that there are no more tickets available for that service without giving a reason. We are travelling to a football match so could anticipated capacity be the issue?

You have to select a train when buying the ticket online, but with off-peak tickets being available on any service that day (restriction code CG) could I just select a later train for the purpose of buying the ticket (say the 08:20) and then just travel on the 06:00 anyway?

Thoughts welcome! Thanks.

On the forum's site, choose "open return" and the option is there.

If you can't get the exact itinerary you want, due to EMR purporting their trains to be "sold out", then any itinerary will do, as the ticket is valid on any trains along the route(s) permitted by the ticket you hold.

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== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jan 2026 ==

The “problem” is a site that won’t let you buy a flexible ticket without entering an itinerary.

The problem is actually rogue train companies wrongly using the "reservations compulsory" flag in the data.

Sadly, there is no effective regulator, ombudsman or passenger watchdog in a position to do anything about it.