Southeastern Peak Times???

[dippo]

If my train arrives in london before 07:00 does that mean it is OFF PEAK??? and if I were to take High Speed that arrives before 07:00 is that too classed as off peak as i was charged peak upgrade from my normal ticket for a day return.

 

[CheapAndNerdy]

Having a quick look at services on HS1 into St Pancras, it would seem that arrivals into London before 10am require an Anytime ticket.

In general, there is no definitive cut-off time from peak to off-peak and is dependant on the specific journey being made. Can you tell us what ticket you had?

 

[asylumxl]

As said above it depends on the origin, destination and ticket. But I can tell you on Thameslink peak starts from the start of service (even if the trains are abandoned). I imagine SE will be the same.

 

[swt_passenger]

Oyster PAYG can be off-peak for early travel within the zones.

But given you are presumably travelling from somewhere where HS1 is an option, that's irrelevant. For most middle or longer distance travel to London from the southeast off-peak fares will be available at varying times, set for trains due to arrive at the London terminal after 1000.

Unless a definite starting station is mentioned, a firm answer is not possible.

(BTW this should have been started in the fares section of the forum.)

 

[dippo]

Hi Sorry still quite new to this forum, the HS train is from Faversham to London St Pancras, arriving around 6:30
Southeastern are quite specific about peak and off peak when it comes to bicycles stating Peak travel time 06:59-09:59

 

[asylumxl]

The restrictions for your ticket are as follows:

Restriction applies: Monday to
Friday only. No travel
restrictions on other days.
OUTWARD TRAVEL
By any train scheduled to
arrive London Terminals or
Kensington Olympia at or after
1000.
RETURN TRAVEL
By any train

Since the validity of the day return ends at 0429 of the next day, it is safe to assume anything after is peak. So the same as Thameslink.

 

[Kentish Paul]

I think the general rule with Southeastern is that trains have to arrive in London after 10:00 am to qualify for an off peak fare.

However there are a few anomilies. From Ashford International an off peak DAY return can be used on the 08:47 to Victoria and 09:03 to Charing Cross, but an off peak return is not valid until the 09:30/09:33 departures. (Victoria/Charing Cross) All of these trains arrive in London after 10:00 am.

The first HS1 off peak departure remains the 09:43 to St Pancras.

Interestingly the first off peak Southern departure to Hastings from Ashford is at 09:33. In this case the anytime day return fare (At £12.70) is only £1 more than the off peak !

 

[swt_passenger]

I think the general rule with Southeastern is that trains have to arrive in London after 10:00 am to qualify for an off peak fare.

However there are a few anomilies. From Ashford International an off peak DAY return can be used on the 08:47 to Victoria and 09:03 to Charing Cross, but an off peak return is not valid until the 09:30/09:33 departures

That's not actually a local anomaly, it's pretty much the normal case that 'off-peak' and 'off-peak day' have different restrictions. It's possibly why many people, (including some staff as reported in the forums) wrongly assume that there's a blanket 0930 availability for 'off peak day' fares in the first place...

 

[Kentish Paul]

Thanks SWT. I thought that would be the case with regard to differing restrictions to off peak tickets.

It still seems odd that someone who wants to spend a day in London can get an earlier train than someone who wants to spend a day and 1 night in London and both travelling on off peak tickets. Ho hum.

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks SWT. I thought that would be the case with regard to differing restrictions to off peak tickets.

It still seems odd that someone who wants to spend a day in London can get an earlier train than someone who wants to spend a day and 1 night in London and both travelling on off peak tickets. Ho hum.

I've always assumed that even back in BR days they were being aimed at slightly different markets, with the CDR having slightly longer morning validity to encourage day trips with a decent arrival time, whereas the old SVR was possibly considered less time dependent because it was aimed at people going away for a few days, or for a weekend.

 

[jopsuk]

Bike restriction peak times can easily be different to ticket restriction peak times.

 

[telstarbox]

...in that they're quite often ignored.

 

[island]

I think the general rule with Southeastern is that trains have to arrive in London after 10:00 am to qualify for an off peak fare.

I think this is a gross oversimplification.

 

[yorkie]

Saying that there is a "general rule" is going to cause more confusion as people mistakenly think it applies to their ticket, when it might not. As island says, it's an oversimplification.

For example, you can use a Southeastern train to London at ANY TIME on an Off Peak or Super Off Peak ticket if the destination is outside the Network Area! e.g. Dover to Swindon, or Faversham to Rugby, etc...

 

[talldave]

Southern train staff at Gatwick with an incorrect oversimplification of off peak rules. At least knowing that I am prepared for some of the rubbish they come out with!

 

[island]

Guess what trains are peak for an off-peak return from Sidcup to Gatwick Airport route LDN NOT GATWKEXP

 

[talldave]

That would be none??

 

[Busaholic]

If your S.E. station has a journey time of 15-20 minutes say to the terminal e.g. Sydenham Hill and you buy a one day offpeak Travelcard you can use it after 9.30 a.m. and arrive in London brfore 10 a.m.,as I have done many times over the years.