trainJam
Member
For passengers travelling on time-restricted walk-up tickets (for example Off-Peak fares), accurate and accessible information about time restrictions is vital.
Background
With the new (current) ticket format, there is a clear line of text "See restrictions nre.co.uk/XX" to enable passengers (who are able to) - without the need to ask staff - to check the full restriction text (which, in some cases, may not otherwise fit on the ticket), albeit after the ticket has been issued. Whilst I fondly remember the old ticket format, I was unable to recall anything about the 2-character codes. Having a look at the wonderful RailUK Forums ticket gallery, it appears that it used to just show as "Validity XX" (Example with XX = BT and XX = CI https://www.flickr.com/photos/127245740@N06/15443080466/in/album-72157648062674137/ ), which seems about as useful to the passenger as the long string of numbers - I doubt anyone, except those in the know, would have known to look it up. Thus, the new ticket format has made a small improvement in this.
Q: A question raised by the above image - In the case of an excess, which restriction code applies? Is it the original, the new, or both?
My experience
Admittedly, up until a few years ago, I always had the idea that Off-Peak always meant 0930 and after (and NOT (1635 to 1800) for Birmingham Stations). This was reinforced by the signage on the ticket office window. For the most part, in any case, I almost always travelled by Off-Peak Day Returns on weekends when it didn't matter. Locally, super off-peak was 1830 onwards.
In Edinburgh (note: a long time before the current abolishment trial), I discovered that Off-Peak was 0915 there (in restriction code examples, perhaps H1).
Mostly, I think it was when I discovered www.brfares.com that it started to click that there was no easy rule to time restrictions - only a case by case, code by code basis.
It is more complicated than just advance/super off-peak/off-peak/anytime.
For example, Four Oaks to Stafford has JE (after 0859, no evening peak) https://www.brfares.com/!fares?orig=FOK&dest=STA&period=20240205.
Outlook
In general (including outside of this forum), how well known are restriction codes?
They ought to be well advertised - having a look around at different places:
Another thing - when it comes to time-restricted area tickets such as travelcards, rangers or local integrated travel products, it seems that the restriction code is not always displayed in the same way as it does on singles/returns.
Background
With the new (current) ticket format, there is a clear line of text "See restrictions nre.co.uk/XX" to enable passengers (who are able to) - without the need to ask staff - to check the full restriction text (which, in some cases, may not otherwise fit on the ticket), albeit after the ticket has been issued. Whilst I fondly remember the old ticket format, I was unable to recall anything about the 2-character codes. Having a look at the wonderful RailUK Forums ticket gallery, it appears that it used to just show as "Validity XX" (Example with XX = BT and XX = CI https://www.flickr.com/photos/127245740@N06/15443080466/in/album-72157648062674137/ ), which seems about as useful to the passenger as the long string of numbers - I doubt anyone, except those in the know, would have known to look it up. Thus, the new ticket format has made a small improvement in this.
Q: A question raised by the above image - In the case of an excess, which restriction code applies? Is it the original, the new, or both?
My experience
Admittedly, up until a few years ago, I always had the idea that Off-Peak always meant 0930 and after (and NOT (1635 to 1800) for Birmingham Stations). This was reinforced by the signage on the ticket office window. For the most part, in any case, I almost always travelled by Off-Peak Day Returns on weekends when it didn't matter. Locally, super off-peak was 1830 onwards.
In Edinburgh (note: a long time before the current abolishment trial), I discovered that Off-Peak was 0915 there (in restriction code examples, perhaps H1).
Mostly, I think it was when I discovered www.brfares.com that it started to click that there was no easy rule to time restrictions - only a case by case, code by code basis.
It is more complicated than just advance/super off-peak/off-peak/anytime.
For example, Four Oaks to Stafford has JE (after 0859, no evening peak) https://www.brfares.com/!fares?orig=FOK&dest=STA&period=20240205.
Outlook
In general (including outside of this forum), how well known are restriction codes?
They ought to be well advertised - having a look around at different places:
- WMT Ticket Vending Machines have a small red line of text giving the short version of the restriction as well as the link to nre.co.uk/XX. Useful in some cases - it does manage to show the full GF Birmingham Peak restriction - but not when the short text just says "RESTRICTIONS APPLY" in the SK code case (try WMT Euston Off-Peak Return/Travelcard. The machines ought to be able to show the full text - unlike the ticket, the monitor will have space, perhaps on a pop-up window.
- On WMT/XC/anything Trainline-like and NRE sites, there are buttons to go to the relevant NRE page.
- Avanti manages to show the restriction text without leaving the site upon pressing the Ticket Info button.
- Trainsplit and RailUK Tickets give both the code and the restriction text on site.
- I would think that ticket offices can look up restriction codes as well.
Another thing - when it comes to time-restricted area tickets such as travelcards, rangers or local integrated travel products, it seems that the restriction code is not always displayed in the same way as it does on singles/returns.
- Saveaway (bought at Chester) does show "nre.co.uk/Y9" which is good
- West Midlands Day Ranger (on roll) has nothing - code is B3
- Daytripper (both blue stock and roll) has nothing - code is DG
- Off-Peak Travelcard WMT only (bought at Birmingham New Street) has nothing - code is SK
