Jan 2 '15 (Friday) - Quiet AM peak?

[Howardh]

Never travelled on an AM peak train between the Xmas/NY holidays, I assume peak prices will apply(?) but also assume that the trains would be generally empty as the roads are?

But Jan 2 is a Friday, working day in England but on experience, looking at its position between NYD and the weekend - could you confirm that this is also a quiet day? Thanks!!

Reason? It's sooo sad but *hides face in embarrasment* but I want to do the Stockport Parliamentary if it's running that day and there's no peak hours crush getting there!

 

[northwichcat]

I imagine most businesses will be open but most will have as many people on holiday as they can at the same time, so quieter than usual but nothing like the peak time extras on Good Friday.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

If you look at the on-line booking engines for the journeys you want to take, I'd expect they will automatically show the validity of off-peak tickets for the extended daytime hours throughout the holiday.

Never travelled on an AM peak train between the Xmas/NY holidays, I assume peak prices will apply(?) . . . .

I use the East Coast website and there, off peak ticket prices show as available throught the days' services on Jan 2nd on the journeys I make.

 

[cuccir]

Some do some don't.

I searched Reading-London as one of the well known busiest commuter routes and this includes the following (taken from C7):

Restrictions are lifted on First Great Western services (i.e. those between Basingstoke, Reading and London Paddington) from 24 December 2014 to 4 January 2015. This easement does not apply to South West Trains services between Basingstoke and Clapham Junction / London Waterloo.

By contrast, BE, the code for among others an Off Peak Day Return Basingstoke to London Waterloo as mentioned above, does not contain any lifting of restrictions in that period. Journey planners confirm that a peak ticket would be needed on eg 29th December, 2nd January. Journey planners confirm that the restrictions on the Off Peak return for Basingstoke-Waterloo is lifted in that period, but not the Off Peak Day Return

I think that peak restrictions are automatically lifted on public holidays anyway though - that's 25th, 26th December and 1st January in this period.

 

[Howardh]

I'm not particulary bothered whether it's peak or not - if there are no peak fares during that period it would be nice if Northern could publicise that fully as otherwise it may put passengers off travelling due to the 4 - 6.30pm peak though, what I'm after is a nice seat on a quite train at 8.00am weekday, whicch outside of Bank Holidays would be a moment to savour!!

What I normally do on Jan 2 is a trip to The Lakes, but never left in peak hours, so if I did that again the next question is - on that day would TPE or Virgin class it as a public holiday in England (even though it isn't) and allow the cheaper weekend first-class upgrade?

Still intend to do the Parliamentary though -and if there is no peak on the 2nd then I'll get a Wayfarer and have a bit of a wander.

Home > travel to Stockport > Do the PT > back to Picc and on to Edale > Lunchtime pint or two = plan.

Anyone else on here planning anything *unusual* if you have the day off?

EDIT BTW the Parliamentary train leaves Stockport at 9.22 arr Stalybridge 9.43 £3.30 single. For some reason, they don't offer a day return....

 

[Mag_seven]

I remember a rather irate letter to a newspaper a couple of years ago berating that fact that in London on the working days between Xmas and New Year there were still peak time ticket restrictions but a Saturday service was being operated.

 

[Kite159]

I'm not particulary bothered whether it's peak or not - if there are no peak fares during that period it would be nice if Northern could publicise that fully as otherwise it may put passengers off travelling due to the 4 - 6.30pm peak though, what I'm after is a nice seat on a quite train at 8.00am weekday, whicch outside of Bank Holidays would be a moment to savour!!

What I normally do on Jan 2 is a trip to The Lakes, but never left in peak hours, so if I did that again the next question is - on that day would TPE or Virgin class it as a public holiday in England (even though it isn't) and allow the cheaper weekend first-class upgrade?

Still intend to do the Parliamentary though -and if there is no peak on the 2nd then I'll get a Wayfarer and have a bit of a wander.

Home > travel to Stockport > Do the PT > back to Picc and on to Edale > Lunchtime pint or two = plan.

Anyone else on here planning anything *unusual* if you have the day off?

EDIT BTW the Parliamentary train leaves Stockport at 9.22 arr Stalybridge 9.43 £3.30 single. For some reason, they don't offer a day return....

Or get a Stockport to Denton ticket for £1.90, which pushes the time over 9:30 when the Wayfarer becomes valid (if the 9:30 start isn't being lifted)

Will add another passenger figure for Denton

 

[yorkie]

Reason? It's sooo sad but *hides face in embarrasment* but I want to do the Stockport Parliamentary if it's running that day and there's no peak hours crush getting there!

Are you asking about Lostock to Stockport?

I had to do a search to identify your local station is Lostock. If you can advise on the details of the journey in the opening post in future, that'll speed things up

You may be interested to learn that a forum member has created a website called BRfares.com which lets you look up any fare and see the restrictions, here it is:

http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=LOT&dest=SPT&rte=318&tkt=CDR

It includes the text:

This restriction code does not apply on the following dates/days:
Sun 7 Sep 2014 Sun 21 Dec 2014 Su Sa
Mon 22 Dec 2014 Sun 28 Dec 2014 Su Th Fr Sa
Mon 29 Dec 2014 Wed 31 Dec 2014 Su Th Sa
Thurs 1 Jan 2015 Thurs 1 Jan 2015 Su Th Sa

There is no exclusion for Friday 2 Jan 2015. It's theoretically possible that Northern might change their minds closer to the time (the Company appears to be so badly run, in terms of fares and passenger information, that anything is possible).

As for whether the 0922 SPT-SYB is running, a few years ago Network Rail were required to open up the timetable data, so as well as being able to look at National Rail Enquiries and booking sites, you can also find details on open data websites created by forum members such as OTT and RTT, all of which will confirm the train is scheduled to run.

 

[Howardh]

Lostock to Denton will cost a whopping £9.30 but after Denton the wayfarer kicks in.
Lostock - Stockport is £5.50 and Stockport to Denton is £1.90 (perfect example of splitting a ticket, especially when the train calls once a week!)
*all singles.
So with the wayfarer I make that £18.60 for the day - so I'm looking for any special day rover tickets that cover the area including peak travel, which the Wayfarer doesn't?
Although substituting the Wayfarer for a GM all-day off peak ticket (£5??) and simply walking the Strines area (maybe around Hadfield as an alternative) seems reasonable in good weather - and lunch in a pub.

 

[Kite159]

I believe the Wayfarer can be used in Northern's Evening Peak where the GM all-day ticket isn't valid in that time.