Off peak Watford-Colne

[philthetube]

A friend wants to travel off peak to Colne as early as possible on Monday, the first off peak train from London is the 0930, changing at Preston, however the journey planner shows this as a peak journey if travelling, (and buying a through ticket form Watford Junction).

obviously it is cheaper to split but I thought that if the majority of your journey was on and off peak service then that was what you should be charged.

any advice if this is correct please?

 

[robbeech]

The key here is that your journey would start towards London and you’d be arriving into London before this time. Whilst it isn’t relevant for your journey there are examples where an off peak through ticket is cheaper than an anytime ticket from the origin to London so it’s important for the TOCs to avoid people purchasing this where possible.

As far as walk up tickets go, for a through journey there are a few options that vary in price.
The anytime through fare is incredibly expensive but it’s worth noting that there’s a via Doncaster* anytime fare that is a fair bit lower (though not cheap).
There’s also a not via London fare that is a little cheaper but generally slower despite not needing to double back as it uses slower trains.

As for off peak then again the not via London is the cheapest through ticket saving about £10 off of the Via London. , the via Doncaster ones don’t get a look in here as they’re more expensive.

A simple split at London Euston (or using contactless for that part) is likely the easiest option here although someone like trainsplit will be able to find better options (though some might have a time penalty)


*via Doncaster is in the fares database though I can’t seem to find a journey that gives it to me.

 

[Hadders]

The journey planners are getting confused an implementing the restrictions incorrectly from Watford Junction.

There are no restrictions on the leg of the journey between Watford Junction and Euston under the Network Area Rule. The restrictions apply from Euston.

 

[robbeech]

The journey planners are getting confused an implementing the restrictions incorrectly from Watford Junction.

There are no restrictions on the leg of the journey between Watford Junction and Euston under the Network Area Rule. The restrictions apply from Euston.

I thought (clearly quite wrongly) that that only applied with cross London stuff. Say coming into Paddington and leaving Euston rather than a double back.

 

[Hadders]

As I understand it the OP wants to travel from Watford Juntion to Euston, then from Euston to Preston and onward to Colne using a Watford Junction to Colne ticket routed '+ Any Permitted'.

The ticket restrictions do not apply to the leg between Watford Junction and Euston and v.v. Note that some Pricing Managers wish to see the removal of this rule which is something we should be very aware of - something for the RDG consultation on fares perhaps?

The 'Network area' is defined
as the area in which the
Network railcard is valid. For
details see Network Railcard
map.

Off-Peak tickets for journeys
starting within the Network
Area to destinations outside
the Network Area with travel
via London are valid by any
train to London, to connect
with trains from London.

Off-Peak tickets for journeys
starting outside the Network
Area for travel via London use
restrictions from the origin
station to London and return.
Unless shown otherwise, they
are unrestricted between
London and the destination
station, and return.

 

[robbeech]

Yes.
I was getting confused where the restrictions say :

Not valid on trains timed to
depart:
London Euston after 04:29 and
before 09:26 or after 15:00
and before 18:45, except for
Easements shown below;
.......Watford Junction after 04:29
and before 09:38 or after
15:00 and before 18:38.

So I think from what you say all should be good but how does one achieve a reservation ?

 

[Hadders]

A competent ticket office will be able to do it for you.

Alternatively consider a ticket from somewhere like Watford North, starting and finishing short. I can’t check at the moment as i’m out but it should be the same price and not get caught up in the misinterpretation of the Watford Junction restrictions.

Note that the misinterpretation of restrictions isn’t confined to Watford Junction. Stevenage gets caught up in them as well so does Luton. Passengers must end up getting overcharged because of this.

 

[gray1404]

Or would a webtis booking engine should allow you still to select a fare and buy it without selecting a journey. So if you can get the fare to show (just select travelling in the middle of the day when searching) you can click on it and buy the fare.

 

[Hadders]

It would but you won’t get seat reservations.

 

[robbeech]

Passengers must end up getting overcharged because of this.

The cynic in me might suggest that this is why nothing gets done about it.

It would but you won’t get seat reservations.

There’s probably a wider range of ticket offices able to give you a seat reservation for a ticket you’ve already purchased than sell you that ticket in the first place.

All very good and useful advice.