Reading Elizabeth Line off peak confusion

[ajhemingway]

I’ve always been confident of my understanding of peak / off peak distinctions between Reading and Paddington. But the start of through running on the Elizabeth Line has totally thrown me.

I typically travel on an off peak Reading-Z1-6 Travelcard. I usually get the first fast offpeak service (09:32) and then use the Elizabeth Line to Tottenham Court Road. I then do the reverse journey but return on a slow stopper from Paddington around 18:00.

I have purposefully avoided the Elizabeth Line in either direction because of the TFL fares checker, which describes all Elizabeth Line services as peak between 06:30 and 09:30 on the way in to Paddington, and from 16:00-19:00 on the way back. I have taken this to mean I cannot get on a EL train at Reading until after 09:30, or return on one until 19:00 given the ticket I hold. But the GWR website lists Elizabeth Line services as off peak on the way back to Reading in the evening. My confusion is even further compounded by the fact my Z1-6 travelcard element is presumably valid at all times of day, meaning I can get as far as Hayes and Harlington on the way home in the evening regardless of the hour.

I no longer have confidence in how I can use the Elizabeth Line for my journeys. Tying myself in knots and would appreciate a stern talking to!

 

[JonathanH]

The application of Contactless fares on the Reading to Paddington route has no bearing on the validity of 'paper' tickets.

However, an off-peak day travelcard from Reading is subject to a 0931 restriction on journeys from Reading - see https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=RDG&dest=0035&tkt=ODT so the 0932 is the first service on which it is valid.

There are specific restrictions on the return journey from Paddington for GWR fast services but these do not apply to Elizabeth Line services. Consequently, the off-peak day travelcard is valid in the evening peak to Reading on all the Elizabeth Line services regardless of the pricing of Contactless fares at the peak rate at this time.

 

[mangyiscute]

The one thing that always confuses me about this is the the restrictions clearly state that it is not valid leaving reading before 09:30, but you are allowed to take the 08:42 and 09:12 trains to Waterloo as they get to Waterloo after 10am so count as off peak

 

[JonathanH]

The one thing that always confuses me about this is the the restrictions clearly state that it is not valid leaving reading before 09:30, but you are allowed to take the 08:42 and 09:12 trains to Waterloo as they get to Waterloo after 10am so count as off peak

No, the restriction is now 0931 on all routes. You are right that it used to be arrivals after 1000. Therefore 0939 to Waterloo is the first train for a Travelcard from Reading on the Staines route.

There remain some off peak tickets valid on the 0839 and 0909 to Waterloo where they retain a suitable restriction - eg https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=RDG&dest=WAT&grpd=1072&rte=735&tkt=CDR but there isn't a specific 'Via Staines' travelcard.

You can probably get round this by buying a travelcard from Tilehurst at the same £28.00 fare that has a 10 am arrival restriction.

 

[ajhemingway]

The application of Contactless fares on the Reading to Paddington route has no bearing on the validity of 'paper' tickets.

However, an off-peak day travelcard from Reading is subject to a 0931 restriction on journeys from Reading - see https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=RDG&dest=0035&tkt=ODT so the 0932 is the first service on which it is valid.

There are specific restrictions on the return journey from Paddington for GWR fast services but these do not apply to Elizabeth Line services. Consequently, the off-peak day travelcard is valid in the evening peak to Reading on all the Elizabeth Line services regardless of the pricing of Contactless fares at the peak rate at this time.

Many thanks. This is exactly how I originally imagined it to be, before gradually confusing myself.

 

[mangyiscute]

No, the restriction is now 0931 on all routes. You are right that it used to be arrivals after 1000. Therefore 0939 to Waterloo is the first train for a Travelcard from Reading on the Staines route.

There remain some off peak tickets valid on the 0839 and 0909 to Waterloo where they retain a suitable restriction - eg https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=RDG&dest=WAT&grpd=1072&rte=735&tkt=CDR but there isn't a specific 'Via Staines' travelcard.

You can probably get round this by buying a travelcard from Tilehurst at the same £28.00 fare that has a 10 am arrival restriction.

Do you know when this restriction changed, as I use a reading off peak travelcard on the 0842/0839 a few times this summer up to september and all of the staff thought it was valid and were perfectly fine for me to use it - at reading it won't let you through the barriers but if you just say to the staff that you are taking the SWR service they let you through

 

[davews]

You can also buy an any route travelcard from Earley with the 1000 arrival at London Terminals restriction then presumably start your journey at Reading as 'break of journey'.... Like others I was not aware of the after 0930 restriction from Reading.

 

[JonathanH]

You can also buy an any route travelcard from Earley with the 1000 arrival at London Terminals restriction then presumably start your journey at Reading as 'break of journey'.... Like others I was not aware of the after 0930 restriction from Reading.

Also Tilehurst which is still C4.

The restriction appears to have changed when Contactless was introduced as the restriction code is shown as 'O9 OFF-PEAK DAY CPAY AREA'.