Sense check - itinerary sold by Greater Anglia doesn't seem valid?

[sadgit]

Hi,

Just hoping someone can make sense of this!

Booked two Off Peak Singles as suggested by the GA booking engine for the times selected - one 0830 NRW-LST, one 1800 LST-NRW.

Restriction code 9A on the return ticket: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ticket-types/validity/9a/

Outward travel:

• London Liverpool Street before 04:30 and after 09:29 and, to Ipswich and beyond, also to Brandon and beyond via Cambridge, before 16:29 and after 18:34.

Return travel:

• London Liverpool Street after 09:59;

This ticket would appear to be caught by the outward travel restriction (as two singles, rather than a single return) and so not valid as it departs to somewhere beyond Ipswich between 16:29 and 18:34...

Am I missing something here?

 

[Watershed]

What are your travel dates?

Greater Anglia have easements around school holiday periods, where they disapply their usual evening peak restrictions out of Liverpool Street. These are described in the "Seasonal variations" section of the restriction code text.

They haven't actually included the 2025-26 dates in there, but the Norfolk county council website (referenced in the Seasonal variations section) says that the upcoming October half term is Mon 27th to Fri 31st October. If you're travelling during that week, that would explain why you've been offered the Off-Peak ticket.

Regardless of how you've come to be offered the Off-Peak ticket, you're always contractually entitled to travel on the itinerary you select when booking. So you don't need to second-guess why it's been offered to you - any mistake made is between the train company and the retailer to sort out. If you buy your ticket from GA's own website then that makes it even simpler!

 

[Haywain]

If you’ve bought two singles your outward ticket has a 1A restriction code. As for the return, the restriction you mention does not appear to be there in the “unpublished” electronic restrictions, so this could be an oversight by GA.

 

[Sleepy]

The evening peak restriction has been messed up recently so even if it isn't half term your booked itinerary makes it valid on the 1800.