Off peak fares between Christmas and New Year

[ABB125]

Good morning,

I'm currently planning a trip for the 30th of December which involves travel early in the morning. My question is whether off-peak tickets are valid before 0930 on this day. The reason for asking is because TrainSplit is offering off-peak fares for journeys departing before 0930. See the following example journey from Cheltenham to Crewe:

Here you will see the outbound itinerary, return, and the tickets used. Is this correct?
Also of note is that there doesn't appear to be the normal £12 minimum fare for my 16-25 railcard. Is this correct? Here is what the railcard website says:

Can I use my 16-25 Railcard at any time of day?
A: Yes you can. However, for all journeys made between 4.30am and 10am Monday to Friday a minimum fare of £12 is payable. There is no minimum fare when you travel at weekends, on Public Holidays, or during July and August.

If you travel regularly before 10 am, then a weekly or monthly season ticket may be more appropriate, though you won’t be able to get a Railcard discount

I can't see any mention of Christmas and New Year.

Finally, if the above is correct, does it mean that ranger tickets only valid after 0900 won't have ant time restrictions either? For example, the Cheshire Day Ranger or West Midlands Day Ranger?

Thanks very much for any replies. I hope the reason for this isn't something really simple like it being a Bank Holiday (although I'm pretty sure it isn't)!

 

[bb21]

Typically intercity routes have restrictions suspended for the Christmas period.

For this fare see the brfares link, towards the middle of the page it says:

Seasonal Variations

This restriction is lifted all day for the Christmas period, New Year, Easter Weekend and other Bank Holidays:

22-31 December 2018, 1 January, 19-22 April, 6 May, 27 May & 26 August 2019.

This text does not refer to Christmas this year but the same principles normally apply. This is indeed confirmed by the list of dates restrictions apply further down the page, where dates between 21st December 2019 and 1st January 2020 are missing.

Time restrictions on Rangers once again depends on the specific restriction text of each product. Check yours through this link.

 

[Paul Kelly]

Worth noting that GWR, in keeping with all the sneaky new peak restrictions they're bringing in with the timetable change this weekend (which I think by the way is dubious, since major changes are only supposed to take effect in January, May and September) are only easing peak restrictions on Friday 27 December this year. Other TOCs are easing them at the start of the following week as well.

 

[ABB125]

Typically intercity routes have restrictions suspended for the Christmas period.

For this fare see the brfares link, towards the middle of the page it says:



This text does not refer to Christmas this year but the same principles normally apply. This is indeed confirmed by the list of dates restrictions apply further down the page, where dates between 21st December 2019 and 1st January 2020 are missing.

Time restrictions on Rangers once again depends on the specific restriction text of each product. Check yours through this link.

Thanks very much. Do I have to check on the day for the ranger tickets, or does it show in advance?

 

[Haywain]

Thanks very much. Do I have to check on the day for the ranger tickets, or does it show in advance?

Many operators of local services do not lift all restrictions, so I think it may be unlikely that would be a lifting of restrictions for ranger tickets.

 

[Paul Kelly]

It's interesting that the minimum fare (£12 before 10:00) on the 16-25 Railcard has been lifted for the whole Christmas and New Year period too; I presume all TOCs would have to agree jointly to that.