Off Peak Return

[Kier]

Hi,

If I buy an off peak return from Nottingham to Reading going via London - if I were to use the return portion of the ticket on two separate days over a week apart would this be allowed? I do not think it would be but thought it would be worth asking.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Hi,

If I buy an off peak return from Nottingham to Reading going via London - if I were to use the return portion of the ticket on two separate days over a week apart would this be allowed? I do not think it would be but thought it would be worth asking.

A regular Off-Peak Return is valid for 2 edit: one days on the outbound ticket, and for one calendar month on the return ticket. Some Off-Peak tickets have restrictions on Break of Journey (i.e. stopping your journey early, starting your journey late, or stopping and then resuming, whether overnight or otherwise). However, these restrictions are only allowed to apply to the outbound leg, and hence on the return leg you can break your journey as much or as little as you like.

So yes, you can indeed use it over two days within a week - as long as you're not making the same part of the journey twice. Obviously, this all doesn't apply to Off-Peak or Anytime Day Returns, which, like the name suggests, are only valid for one day.

If you are looking to buy this ticket, you could probably save a significant amount by either getting Advance tickets, or by getting a Railcard if you are eligible for one (it would be worth it just for this one ticket alone), or by 'splitting' the tickets - this can best be looked up using the www.trainsplit.com website. Basically, splitting means getting two or more separate tickets to cover your journey, rather than getting one through ticket. It can often save money due to the many anomalies and variations in the ticketing system (but is totally legal as long as you stop at the station(s) where you change from one ticket to another).

 

[AlterEgo]

A regular Off-Peak Return is valid for 2 days on the outbound ticket, and for one calendar month on the return ticket. Some Off-Peak tickets have restrictions on Break of Journey (i.e. stopping your journey early, starting your journey late, or stopping and then resuming, whether overnight or otherwise). However, these restrictions are only allowed to apply to the outbound leg, and hence on the return leg you can break your journey as much or as little as you like.

So yes, you can indeed use it over two days within a week - as long as you're not making the same part of the journey twice.

Obviously, this all doesn't apply to Off-Peak or Anytime Day Returns, which, like the name suggests, are only valid for one day.

To clarify the two day thing for the OP:

An Off Peak Return is only valid for one railway day (up to 0429) on the outbound portion. It’s not valid after then unless the journey cannot reasonably be completed in one railway day, in which case an overnight break of journey is permitted. Only then may it be used on the second day.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

To clarify the two day thing for the OP:

An Off Peak Return is only valid for one railway day (up to 0429) on the outbound portion. It’s not valid after then unless the journey cannot reasonably be completed in one railway day, in which case an overnight break of journey is permitted. Only then may it be used on the second day.

Sorry, mea culpa. I was thinking of something else (not sure what exactly!).

 

[AlterEgo]

Sorry, mea culpa. I was thinking of something else (not sure what exactly!).

Anytime Singles are valid for two railway days (not sure why, it changed a few years ago!).

 

[Hadders]

The outward portion of an Off Peak Return is valid until 0429 on day 3. This isn't particularly clear and I wouldn't expect a hassle free journey if you were to use the outward portion on day 2 or 3.

 

[AlterEgo]

The outward portion of an Off Peak Return is valid until 0429 on day 3. This isn't particularly clear and I wouldn't expect a hassle free journey if you were to use the outward portion on day 2 or 3.

I don’t follow. How is the outward portion of an Off Peak Return valid on Day 3? This isn’t mentioned in the Fares Guide.

 

[yorkie]

It's very unclear what you can and can't do on the outward portion of Off Peak Returns.

But in this case the customer is asking to break the return portion over several days, which is absolutely valid.

 

[Hadders]

I don’t follow. How is the outward portion of an Off Peak Return valid on Day 3? This isn’t mentioned in the Fares Guide.

These posts from a helpful member of this forum, who appears to be authoritative in this area are helpful.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=810888&postcount=65

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=814401&postcount=102

 

[AlterEgo]

These posts from a helpful member of this forum, who appears to be authoritative in this area are helpful.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=810888&postcount=65

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=814401&postcount=102

He says 0429 on the third day, but he means a calendar day.

An Off Peak Return outward portion is valid on the date printed only, except where the journey can’t be completed that day, whereupon you may use it the following day.

The railway day runs from 0430 to 0429.

Hence, a ticket printed 10th March is valid:

On the first day:
From 0430 10th March to 0429 11th March.

On the second day (but only if the journey is broken overnight due to being unable to complete the journey on the first day):
From 0430 11th March to 0429 12th March.

It isn’t valid at all after that time - the end of the second railway day of validity.

I think we are saying the same thing, but of course calendar days and railway days are different. Right?

 

[Hadders]

He says 0429 on the third day, but he means a calendar day.

An Off Peak Return outward portion is valid on the date printed only, except where the journey can’t be completed that day, whereupon you may use it the following day.

The railway day runs from 0430 to 0429.

Hence, a ticket printed 10th March is valid:

On the first day:
From 0430 10th March to 0429 11th March.

On the second day (but only if the journey is broken overnight due to being unable to complete the journey on the first day):
From 0430 11th March to 0429 12th March.

It isn’t valid at all after that time - the end of the second railway day of validity.

I think we are saying the same thing, but of course calendar days and railway days are different. Right?

Yes, we are saying the same thing

 

[Romilly]

Hence, a ticket printed 10th March is valid:

On the first day:
From 0430 10th March to 0429 11th March.

On the second day (but only if the journey is broken overnight due to being unable to complete the journey on the first day):
From 0430 11th March to 0429 12th March.

I partly disagree. The ticket is valid throughout the whole of 10th March, i.e. from 0001 to 0429 as well as from 0430 onwards.

 

[Hadders]

I partly disagree. The ticket is valid throughout the whole of 10th March, i.e. from 0001 to 0429 as well as from 0430 onwards.

I agree, subject to any time restrictions.

The decision on overnight break of journey is the passenger's. There is no requirement to 'get as far as you can' on be 'unable to complete the journey' as explained in the posts I linked to in post #9