Super Off Peak, Hook to London

[robertbishop]

Hi,

I am doing a jolly up to Carlisle in my April Holidays and as I have sorted out the tickets for the sleeper leg, I am trying to find the best deal up to London. The requirements are not too restricting I hope:

I must arrive at London Euston by 23:50, for the sleeper, but I'd like to depart at around 20:00 from Hook. This is on Monday April 11. Say 20:00 off Hook to London Waterloo/Euston.

The sleeper arrives in London on Wednesday April 13 at around 06:30, but I'd like to depart London at around 09:00, so I am going off-peak. Say 09:00 off London Euston/Waterloo to Hook.

I got a price of £13.45 to Waterloo or £16.45 to Euston. (I'm 15, so child) But I thought of a few things which may make it cheaper - I'm sure I've got into London for under £10 before. When is a Super Off-Peak ticket valid around these times I'm going and how much is it? Why is the difference between Waterloo and Euston £3 when a travelcard is only £2? Would it help if I stayed longer in London on the 13th? How would I get a Super Off Peak ticket from the machine when it may decide to give me normal off peak?

If you think I'm fighting over a difference of couple of quid, so be it and I'll just pay extra but I hope that I will be able to use this in future to get to London for less. I've already shelled out for the sleeper ticket quite heavily so any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Rob

 

[yorkie]

I got a price of £13.45 to Waterloo or £16.45 to Euston.
(I'm 15, so child)

Hook to London Terminals SVR (Child) is £13.45.

I don't know where you got the £16.45 fare from, but to travel between Waterloo and Euston if you have an 11-15 Oyster it will be 70p (peak) or 65p (off peak) each way using PAYG. If not, it will be £1.90 each way on PAYG at adult rate.

Alternatively Hook to South Hampstead +Any Permitted SVR (Child) is £15.15, which works out at 85p for each cross-London transfer, so this seems the best ticket to get.

) But I thought of a few things which may make it cheaper - I'm sure I've got into London for under £10 before. When is a Super Off-Peak ticket valid around these times I'm going and how much is it?

I can't find a Super Off Peak Return (SSR/OPR) for Hook to London Terminals, it does not seem to exist.

The available return tickets are:
Off Peak Day Return (SCO)
Off Peak Day Return (CDR)
Off Peak Return (SVR)
Anytime Day Return (SDR)

Only one return ticket type is valid beyond a one day period.

Why is the difference between Waterloo and Euston £3

No idea where that's from or how it is calculated.

when a travelcard is only £2?

There isn't a Travelcard that would meet your needs for £2, you would need 2 x one day Travelcards at £2 each, or alternatively you would need a 7 day Travelcard.

Would it help if I stayed longer in London on the 13th?

No, but you may get better value for money if you spend a day in London as you're there anyway and explore some lines in the area perhaps.

How would I get a Super Off Peak ticket from the machine when it may decide to give me normal off peak?

There is no Super Off Peak for this flow, well if there is it's not in Avantix, so you can't get one from the machine as it does not seem to exist.

If you think I'm fighting over a difference of couple of quid, so be it and I'll just pay extra but I hope that I will be able to use this in future to get to London for less.

It's always worth asking here! And if you are very interested in fares we are doing some Fares Workshops, some will be in London.

I've already shelled out for the sleeper ticket quite heavily

How much did you pay and what did you get?

Are you travelling alone? If so, there's no point paying extra for Solo because they will put people aged under 16 in a single berth anyway.

Although I have heard from people who did the sleeper when under 16 that some people get suspicious that you are either over 16 (if you look older) or running away from home (if you look younger), I know someone who had their parents contacted many times due to them doing long distance journeys alone when he was under 16.

so any help would be much appreciated.

No problem

 

[Mojo]

yorkie, £16.45 is the fare between Hook and U1*, so the £3.00 comes from the difference between the SVR to London Terminals (£13.45) and the SVR to U1* (£16.45).

The price of a one day off peak child Travelcard for unaccompanied children is also £3.00, not £2.00. The £2.00 child Travelcard is only available for children when accompanied by a Network Railcard, Gold Card, HM Forces or Family/Friends Railcard holder, and only after 10am.

 

[robertbishop]

Thanks for the replies, and wealth of information there!

I did mean to explore the idea of going one station north from London, e.g South Hampstead, and that looks like the cheapest one, thank you. The 16.45 was as Mojo said, the Hook to Zone 1 ticket.

As for Super Off peak, I was unsure when it is available, but I have been able to go London on a Super Off Peak with a travelcard departing Hook at 09:01 and coming back from Clapham/Waterloo after 19:00. Therefore I can see it is only available on a 'Day Return' only basis.

As for travelcards, I now realise I that is a day one and it would be more than £2.

I would probably be absolutely knackered after going up to Carlisle and being out over 3 days, so staying in London wouldn't really be something I'd wanted to do!

As for the Sleeper I've booked the tickets and got them delivered already so I can't do anything about that, but thanks for asking. And yes, I am not running away from home! I will be going with a friend from Basingstoke who is 18.

Thanks again for the help. To the national rail journey planner!

Rob

 

[swt_passenger]

As for Super Off peak, I was unsure when it is available, but I have been able to go London on a Super Off Peak with a travelcard departing Hook at 09:01 and coming back from Clapham/Waterloo after 19:00. Therefore I can see it is only available on a 'Day Return' only basis.

That's correct to the best of my knowledge, back when SWT first introduced the Super Offpeak Day Return there were no period return versions - even on flows from stations much further away from London where the corresponding Offpeak Return is available.

Oddly enough they do explain what a Super Offpeak Return fare is on their website - without actually selling any! :roll: