No off-peak restrictions

[higthomas]

Just looking at some fares, and for Bangor to Leeds, one can get both an anytime return and an off peak return, yet the off-peak return is valid on any train in either direction, restriction code 8A. How has this come about, and how come it is marketed, since I am sure some people would buy the anytime ticket, not realising that the off-peak ticket is just as good.

 

[island]

A person needing to break their journey on the outbound leg would not be able to use the off-peak return.

 

[Mojo]

Just looking at some fares, and for Bangor to Leeds, one can get both an anytime return and an off peak return, yet the off-peak return is valid on any train in either direction, restriction code 8A. How has this come about, and how come it is marketed, since I am sure some people would buy the anytime ticket, not realising that the off-peak ticket is just as good.

Historically, most (all?) Off-peak Return tickets[1], that did not involve travelling to/from London or many other stations nearby (e.g. Stevenage, Milton Keynes) were valid for travel at any time.

[1] or Saver Return which is what the current Off-peak Returns used to be known as

 

[John @ home]

Instead of a £72.60 Off-Peak Return Bangor Gwynedd - Leeds 8A, I recommend:

£32.80 Off-Peak Return Bangor Gwynedd - Newton-le-Willows (8A: by any train, no break of outward journey)
£25.30 Off-Peak Return Frodsham - Leeds (I7: Outward M-F not before 0800, Return by any train).
Total £58.10

The passenger has two valid tickets between Frodsham and Newton-le-Willows.

 

[Starmill]

Historically, most (all?) Off-peak Return tickets[1], that did not involve travelling to/from London or many other stations nearby (e.g. Stevenage, Milton Keynes) were valid for travel at any time.

[1] or Saver Return which is what the current Off-peak Returns used to be known as

You've got to love XC

Aren't the outward portions of Anytime Returns also valid for up to 5 days, in addition to allowing BoJ which the Off-Peak Return, as island points out, in this case does not.

 

[Haywain]

Aside from that break of journey stuff, there has to be an Anytime fare as certain discounts are only available on Anytime fares - in particular, 'Priv' discounts for staff.

 

[island]

Aside from that break of journey stuff, there has to be an Anytime fare as certain discounts are only available on Anytime fares - in particular, 'Priv' discounts for staff.

Although interestingly there are several flows with off-peak return but no anytime return (only anytime day return).

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Just looking at some fares, and for Bangor to Leeds, one can get both an anytime return and an off peak return, yet the off-peak return is valid on any train in either direction, restriction code 8A. How has this come about, and how come it is marketed, since I am sure some people would buy the anytime ticket, not realising that the off-peak ticket is just as good.

I'm sure there are plenty of reasons for this sort of thing, but for those with a cynical mind, when buying a ticket on a train where the origin station had an open ticket office, the guard is not required to sell the Off-Peak ticket.

.... there has to be an Anytime fare as certain discounts are only available on Anytime fares - in particular, 'Priv' discounts for staff.

Might be the case for singles, but not returns. Manchester-Llandudno has only First Anytime Day Single (FDS), First Anytime Return (FOR), Anytime Day Single (SDS) and Off Peak Return (SVR) fares.

 

[IanXC]

I'm sure there are plenty of reasons for this sort of thing, but for those with a cynical mind, when buying a ticket on a train where the origin station had an open ticket office, the guard is not required to sell the Off-Peak Return.

Indeed, it effectively creates a penalty for passengers not buying at an open ticket office, a penalty which from my observation is easier to enforce, and more readily accepted.

 

[VauxhallandI]

I've just had the return leg of my off-peak ticket marked by the ticket inspector. If I can how could I have a BOJ? Surely the next inspector could dispute the validity of ticket as the squiggle has no date?

 

[Hadders]

The existence of a squiggle (or proper stamp for that matter) does not affect your rights to a BOJ.

 

[Merseysider]

I've just had the return leg of my off-peak ticket marked by the ticket inspector. If I can how could I have a BOJ? Surely the next inspector could dispute the validity of ticket as the squiggle has no date?

No marking on a ticket (other than the word VOID) renders a ticket invalid. The marking on the ticket merely shows it has been seen and marked by a member of staff somewhere along the route. When I intend to break journey further along, I ask the inspector to write where he has checked my ticket and have never had a problem.

 

[Starmill]

Indeed, it effectively creates a penalty for passengers not buying at an open ticket office, a penalty which from my observation is easier to enforce, and more readily accepted.

I agree, it's remarkable how, on the rare occasion when I see this policy enforced people simply accept the higher price! Maybe they feel like they're getting something their own way?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

No marking on a ticket (other than the word VOID) renders a ticket invalid....

Or "CANCELLED"..... (or in some cases "Validity advised" or similar).

I agree, it's remarkable how, on the rare occasion when I see this policy enforced people simply accept the higher price! Maybe they feel like they're getting something their own way?

Could be a combination of a number of reasons that they accept the higher price, maybe they have no knowledge of the cheaper fare, perhaps it's no knowledge of the requirement to buy a ticket before boarding, or even something as simple as it being what they have always paid (for the reasons above), might be that the guard 'must be right', or something else entirely of course.

 

[yorkie]

Just looking at some fares, and for Bangor to Leeds, one can get both an anytime return and an off peak return, yet the off-peak return is valid on any train in either direction, restriction code 8A. How has this come about, and how come it is marketed, since I am sure some people would buy the anytime ticket, not realising that the off-peak ticket is just as good.

This was the same under BR, but this applied for all longer-distance non-London/South East area journeys.

It's other journeys, where the old Saver fare has been heavily restricted, where a change has come about. This journey is simply unchanged.

If anyone isn't sure on the restrictions of an Off Peak ticket and is unable to easily find it out, there is no harm in purchasing the Off Peak. The guard can excess the ticket if you travel at a barred time.

Paying more isn't a good idea as you will struggle to get any money back if you didn't need the extra validity.