Off Peak tickets Manchester to Brighton

[joejoe]

Hi There,
I'm looking to get a return ticket Manchester to Brighton - offpeak with a railcard, the only problem is that the offpeak online requires me to put down specific times of trains there and back - is it possible for me to do this and use a later train if needs be or an earlier train, as long as its offpeak?
Or can I purchase an offpeak ticket in advance which doesnt stipulate a specific train time. (I guess it also means I can't break the journey)

Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[bb21]

Off-Peak Single / Return are flexible walk-on fares and can be bought at any time prior to departure. Subject to time restrictions, if any, there is no requirement to travel on the booked train. You may use any train that is not restricted.

There is no price reduction for purchasing Off-Peak tickets in advance.

Advance tickets are sold as singles and can be considerably cheaper if booked far enough in advance. You must travel on your booked train(s) if you have an Advance ticket.

Roughly what time do you intend to travel? We can look it up and tell you what the restriction on the ticket is. What railcard do you hold?

Or can I purchase an offpeak ticket in advance which doesnt stipulate a specific train time. (I guess it also means I can't break the journey)

You need to specify a time in order to buy tickets online, so that the journey planner can ensure that a valid itinerary exists. There is no requirement to travel on the specified train if holding an Off-Peak Single / Return ticket.

This has no bearing on Break of Journey conditions, which is something completely separate.

Break of Journey is not permitted if you have an Advance ticket.

 

[LexyBoy]

Just to add to that, if you opt to reserve seats on an Off Peak ticket, it doesn't affect the ticket's validity- it's still valid for any train (subject to time restrictions) and for break of journey. You only get a reserved seat on the chosen train though!

 

[John @ home]

joejoe should also take into account that Railcard discounted Off-Peak Returns for journeys wholly on Virgin trains are valid at any time, even at peak time. But this concession no longer extends to tickets for journeys which include travel by another company.

In these circumstances, I would consider buying separate Manchester - London and St Pancras - Brighton tickets. St Pancras is 10 minutes' walk from Euston and has through trains to Brighton every 15 minutes for much of the day.

If there is a possibility that joejoe may wish to return at a "peak" time for these tickets (leaving Euston M-F 1501-1844), then this split may well be worth the extra £5.50.

Manchester Stations - Brighton route + Any Permitted Railcard Off-Peak Return (SVR) £58.50. Validity code 2C

Manchester Stations - London Terminals route + Any Permitted Railcard SVR £46.20. Validity code 2C
London St Pancras - Brighton route Not Underground Railcard SVR £17.80. Validity code 4J
Total £64.00.