Peak and Off Peak from Waterloo

[KAO]

My son was told at Waterloo the other day at the ticket office that off peak begins at 9.00am. He was trying to pay the extra for his ticket to Egham as his ticket was only valid from 10.00am. The person in the ticket office refused to take more money because he said it wasn't necessary to pay more. Still not convinced, my son asked for something official saying that off peak begins at 9.00am. The person in the office wrote a confirmation on a piece of paper and stamped it with an official stamp. This isn't right is it?

 

[moliones]

Assuming it's an off-peak day return Waterloo-Egham, then it is indeed valid from 9.00 (from Waterloo).
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=WAT&dest=EGH&grpo=1072&tkt=CDR

In general though, the off-peak time is defined for the ticket, so different tickets from Waterloo will have different off-peak times.

 

[KAO]

I really appreciate your speedy response. Can I ask why the prices online are only reduced at 9.30am (slightly) and at 10.00am? Can I ask if the 9.00am off peak starting time also applies further down the line, say Putney to Egham?
Many thanks!

 

[LA50041]

I really appreciate your speedy response. Can I ask why the prices online are only reduced at 9.30am (slightly) and at 10.00am? Can I ask if the 9.00am off peak starting time also applies further down the line, say Putney to Egham?
Many thanks!

Was he using a Young Persons railcard? There is a minimum fare until 1000 so this could be the difference

 

[CheapAndNerdy]

Was your son's ticket discounted using a 16-25 railcard? There is a £12 minimum fare on such tickets if travel is before 10am. A discounted London/Egham ticket is £7.90 and so would not be valid for travel before 10am.

 

[KAO]

No - I don't think the railcard is valid until after 9.30am. I think he had a £7.90 off peak ticket and was trying to pay the difference to increase it to a £12 peak ticket. The guy at Waterloo refused to take any more payment saying his ticket was perfectly valid for travel from 9.00am. Inspectors are often at Egham station targeting Royal Holloway students - he just wants to pay the correct fare. I appreciate your help.

 

[NSEFAN]

No - I don't think the railcard is valid until after 9.30am. I think he had a £7.90 off peak ticket and was trying to pay the difference to increase it to a £12 peak ticket. The guy at Waterloo refused to take any more payment saying his ticket was perfectly valid for travel from 9.00am. Inspectors are often at Egham station targeting Royal Holloway students - he just wants to pay the correct fare. I appreciate your help.

The issue appears to be with the restrictions on the railcard, and not the time restricitons on the ticket itself in that case. The ticket in question (London Terminals - Egham cheap day return, £7.90 with railcard) has restriction code "US", which according to National Rail would allow departure after 09:00. However the fare should clamp at the £12 minimum until 10:00 when using a 16-25 railcard, so to travel between 09:00-10:00 on the fully discounted fare would not be valid*.

*The railcard T&Cs state that this rule doesn't apply in July and August, but that's not relevant here.

 

[KAO]

Many thanks for your answer. It is all so confusing. I would be worried he would have to argue this out with an inspector handing out fines. Can you tell me if the'US' restriction would apply between say Putney and Egham? Many thanks again.

 

[NSEFAN]

Many thanks for your answer. It is all so confusing. I would be worried he would have to argue this out with an inspector handing out fines. Can you tell me if the'US' restriction would apply between say Putney and Egham? Many thanks again.

Do you mean for a Putney-Egham off peak day return? This ticket has restriction "B1", which allows travel after 09:30. Again, the railcard discounted fare should be limited to £12, unless he's travelling after 10:00.

 

[KAO]

My understanding of all this is something like - you can only use railcards off peak (until after 9.30) but tickets can be off peak after 9.00. Many thanks for helping me to get a hold on ticket pricing!.

 

[Starmill]

My understanding of all this is something like - you can only use railcards off peak (until after 9.30) but tickets can be off peak after 9.00. Many thanks for helping me to get a hold on ticket pricing!.

All railcards have different terms.

Assuming it is a 16-25 railcard we are talking about here, it can be used at any time but at certain times (before 1000 M-F) a minimum fare applies.

Other railcards such as the Network Railcard cannot be used until 1000. The Two Together Railcard cannot be used until 0930. The Network Railcard has a minimum fare in addition to this, which applies all day M-F. I could go on and on, but it seems a 16-25 railcard was in question here? Full details.

All tickets have their own time restrictions. These apply in addition to the railcard terms. The train company cannot levy a Penalty Fare for using an in-date ticket outside of the times when it is valid (and they cannot fine customers by themselves - although they could attempt prosecution).

 

[talldave]

Ironically, the full price ticket (without railcard) is £12, so that's the same price as the railcard pre-10am minimum fare. So, with or without railcard, the ticket should be £12 in order to depart between 9am and 10am.

 

[Hadders]

Contrary to popular belief there is no blanket Off Peak time (although many think it's 0930). Each ticket has its own restrictions and new the new style tickets make it easy to find out when you can travel by saying something like 'This ticket can only be used at certain times. For details see staff or go to nationalrail.co.uk/xx' where xx is the specific restriction code.

Some Off Peak tickets are actually valid at anytime (see restriction 8A or 2T for example, other are more restrictive - 9I being an example). It isn't simple but you can bet if it was simplified Off Peak fares would become more restrictive not less.

If you're using a railcard you then need to make sure that you abide by the relevant railcard terms and conditions.