Off Peak Validity

[Spamcan81]

Can anyone explain why I was able to buy an off peak return to East Grinstead from Stevenage on Monday valid on the 09:01 but on a planned journey to Headcorn on Friday, I can't get an off peak return until the 09:47 departure?

 

[Jan Mayen]

Because the relevant pricing managers have different ideas about when the peak period finishes?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Can anyone explain why I was able to buy an off peak return to East Grinstead from Stevenage on Monday valid on the 09:01 but on a planned journey to Headcorn on Friday, I can't get an off peak return until the 09:47 departure?

Different journey. Different ticket restrictions? By the way, was your ticket from Stevenage to/from East Grinstead on Monday morning actually an Off Peak Day Return?

 

[Spamcan81]

Different journey. Different ticket restrictions? By the way, was your ticket from Stevenage to/from East Grinstead on Monday morning actually an Off Peak Day Return?

Yes. It was an off peak day return.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2024 ==

Because the relevant pricing managers have different ideas about when the peak period finishes?

Who knows? Seems all a bit strange to me.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Off Peak Day Return from Stevenage to/from East Grinstead (fare setter = Thameslink/Great Northern) allows outward travel after 0859 on a Monday weekday. So, you're good to use the 0901 from Stevenage.

The Off Peak (period) Return from Stevenage to/from East Grinstead (fare setter = Thameslink/Great Northern) allows outward travel at or after 0930 on a weekday morning.

Off Peak Day Return / Off Peak Return from Stevenage to/from Headcorn (fare setter = South Eastern) doesn't allow outward travel on any train due into London before 1000. The 0930 departure from Stevenage (for Brighton?) gets into St. Pancras just too early at 0959, so that's why you had to wait for a slightly later departure.

Conclusion: There's no one standard definition of "Off Peak" for journeys from Stevenage. Depends on the exact ticket type, where you're going and, perhaps more importantly, as @Jan Mayen has hinted at, who the fare setter is.

 

[30907]

Off Peak Day Return from Stevenage to/from East Grinstead (fare setter = Thameslink/Great Northern) allows outward travel after 0859 on a Monday weekday. So, you're good to use the 0901 from Stevenage.

Interestingly, a different restriction applies on a ticket from East Grinstead.
Why it differs from the "period" fare is not obvious.

The Off Peak (period) Return from Stevenage to/from East Grinstead (fare setter = Thameslink/Great Northern) allows outward travel at or after 0930 on a weekday morning.

The classic London Suburban area restriction (apart from it being valid more than one day!). Hasn't been altered since the 70s probably.

Off Peak Day Return / Off Peak Return from Stevenage to/from Headcorn (fare setter = South Eastern) doesn't allow outward travel on any train due into London before 1000. The 0930 departure from Stevenage (for Brighton?) gets into St. Pancras just too early at 0959, so that's why you had to wait for a slightly later departure.

The classic Southern Region "country" restriction. Ditto!

Conclusion: There's no one standard definition of "Off Peak" for journeys from Stevenage. Depends on the exact ticket type, where you're going and, perhaps more importantly, as @Jan Mayen has hinted at, who the fare setter is.

 

[Spamcan81]

Off Peak Day Return from Stevenage to/from East Grinstead (fare setter = Thameslink/Great Northern) allows outward travel after 0859 on a Monday weekday. So, you're good to use the 0901 from Stevenage.

The Off Peak (period) Return from Stevenage to/from East Grinstead (fare setter = Thameslink/Great Northern) allows outward travel at or after 0930 on a weekday morning.

Off Peak Day Return / Off Peak Return from Stevenage to/from Headcorn (fare setter = South Eastern) doesn't allow outward travel on any train due into London before 1000. The 0930 departure from Stevenage (for Brighton?) gets into St. Pancras just too early at 0959, so that's why you had to wait for a slightly later departure.

Conclusion: There's no one standard definition of "Off Peak" for journeys from Stevenage. Depends on the exact ticket type, where you're going and, perhaps more importantly, as @Jan Mayen has hinted at, who the fare setter is.

Thanks for the explanation. Another example of the minefield that is train fares.