Off Peak Restrictions between Christmas and New Year

[Searle]

Hi guys, a merry christmas to you all!

I'm looking at going into London on Friday 27th, and was wondering if there are any ticket restrictions being lifted on that day (or any others). I've searched for a list of them but to no avail

I'm specifically looking for whether a Hertford North Off Peak Z1-6 Travelcard is valid before 0914 (which is usually the first train it's valid on).

Thanks!

 

[causton]

National Rail Enquiries suggests not

 

[CyrusWuff]

No mention of restrictions being lifted on the FCC site. May be worth sending them a Tweet.

Normal restrictions apply on TfL services (except on Boxing Day) throughout, so Off-Peak Travelcards aren't valid 'til 0930 Monday to Friday.

 

[Searle]

Ahhh that sucks Oh well, on the contrary I get a bit more of a lie in!

Thanks for your help

 

[ashworth]

I got caught out with this one last year with car parking charges!

I made use of the great value £10 Northern Rail Day Ticket that was available last year between Christmas and New Year.
Whilst it was great value to be able to travel anywhere on Northern trains for £10, I was rather surprised at having to pay the peak rate charge of £10 to park my car at Chesterfield station. I usually travel off peak or at a weekend and so only usually pay £5 to park.
I hadn't really thought about parking charges between Christmas and New Year. I was surprised that they were still charging £10 on what was obviously an off peak day for travel when very few cars were actually parked in the car park in comparison to a normal working day.
I do think that, as the majority of people are not at work between Christmas and New Year, that Off Peak fares and parking charges should apply all day as they do at weekends.

 

[Crossover]

This may be of interest that I asked last year related to railcards

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=76213

Also, I utilised a South Pennines Day Ranger last year in the festive period and it had its usual weekday restrictions in place

 

[tractakid]

New Year's Day I need to travel from Llandudno to St Michaels at 0634. It would probably be easiest for me to buy from the guard. (I also haven't bought a ticket from a guard before, so I'd like to try it! :P ) Booking engines seem happy to sell me off peak tickets, would the guard also be happy to sell me off peak, or should I make the effort to buy online and print the itinerary?

http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=LLD&dest=STM&rlc=YNG&tkt=CDR

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Ticket restrictions over the Christmas/New Year period tend to be entered into the restriction codes these days and so online journey planners should automatically account for them. As far as I know there are no relaxations for Llandudno-St Michaels, however the Off-Peak Return (SVR) is code 8A, which is 'valid by any train'. The guard should be able to sell the Off-Peak ticket.

Also remember the as New Year's Day is a bank holiday, no time restrictions should apply.

 

[yorkie]

New Years Day should not have any restrictions as this is a bank holiday.

However if you were talking about "between Christmas and New Year" then I do not believe the Off Peak Day ticket, which is the ticket you link to, is valid on weekdays that are not bank holidays.

would the guard also be happy to sell me off peak

The guard would be within his/her rights to charge you 20p more for an Off Peak Return, on weekdays between Christmas and New Year.

or should I make the effort to buy online and print the itinerary?

If you purchase online, that forms a contract, so if you see a good deal that may not be available on the day, then it's worth booking.

However the case of travelling on New Years Day I do not believe you will be required to pay £14.85 for an Off Peak Return, and the Off Peak Day Return at £14.65 should be sold.

But if travelling on a weekday between Christmas and New Year, then if the Off Peak Day Return is offered online, I would book online if you don't want to pay the 20p extra.