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Confused about off-peak

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Envy123

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My mother commutes from Huntingdon to Farringdon 5 days a week. She was sold today an off-peak day return. She travels on the 09:12 service from Huntingdon and leaves Farringdon on the 18:11 service.

She bought an off-peak day return and the cashier at Farringdon told her that she doesn't need to excess. But I thought leaving restrictions were between 16:30 and 19:30?

Was she given the correct advice? I'm confused.
 
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JonathanH

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GTR abolished the evening peak restrictions on off-peak day returns introduced by First Capital Connect for journeys out of London relatively recently (start of 2019). Instead, there are Super Off-Peak tickets at a slightly lower price which have a later morning restriction into London and continue to have the evening restrictions

For Huntingdon to London Thameslink the off-peak day return is valid after 0900 for any train.
http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=HUN&dest=4452&rte=208&tkt=CDR

See https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/stevenage-london-fares-now-less-easier-than-ever.175961/
 
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lightbulb

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Off Peak Day Returns from Huntingdon to Farringdon do not have any restrictions on the return journey. If she had bought the cheaper Super Off Peak Day Return, then this has restrictions on returning between 1629 and 1902.

Beaten to it by Jonathan H!
 

Envy123

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Thank you both. The fares system is definitely confusing!

Would it be worth buying a weekly season ticket, considering 4 days are off-peak (same trains to and back) and 1 day is on Saturday (super off-peak)?
 

alistairlees

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A weekly season is £144.30

An off peak day return is £30.90, so four of those are £123.60. A Super Off-Peak Day Return that’s valid at the weekend only is £21.00. So a total of £144.60.

So it’s a close call. If your mother is definitely doing this number of days and would like the flexibility of being able to travel at any time should the need arise, or indeed to go in to London (or even to Stevenage) for free on other days, then the weekly season is better really. And you don’t need to purchase as many tickets / spend so much time doing this.

A monthly season would be better value though. The value can be optimised by buying customised lengths (eg 5 weeks and 5 days) to fit around holidays, without losing any financial advantage.

One other question; does your mother have a railcard?
 

Envy123

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A weekly season is £144.30

An off peak day return is £30.90, so four of those are £123.60. A Super Off-Peak Day Return that’s valid at the weekend only is £21.00. So a total of £144.60.

So it’s a close call. If your mother is definitely doing this number of days and would like the flexibility of being able to travel at any time should the need arise, or indeed to go in to London (or even to Stevenage) for free on other days, then the weekly season is better really. And you don’t need to purchase as many tickets / spend so much time doing this.

A monthly season would be better value though. The value can be optimised by buying customised lengths (eg 5 weeks and 5 days) to fit around holidays, without losing any financial advantage.

One other question; does your mother have a railcard?

She only occasionally goes to a dentist at Hadley Wood on a day off. A weekly would cover that.

She doesn't have a railcard, although since I commute with her once a week, maybe a Two Together railcard could help bring the cost down on that one day?
 

JonathanH

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She doesn't have a railcard, although since I commute with her once a week, maybe a Two Together railcard could help bring the cost down on that one day?

Blanket restriction until 0930 so no good for the 0912 from Huntingdon (until it gets to Biggleswade).
 

alistairlees

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She only occasionally goes to a dentist at Hadley Wood on a day off. A weekly would cover that.

She doesn't have a railcard, although since I commute with her once a week, maybe a Two Together railcard could help bring the cost down on that one day?
If she will travel on lots of Saturdays, then a Network Railcard is worth buying. The initial outlay is £30 (for a year). The saving on the £21 Super Off-Peak Day Return fare on a Saturday is £7.15 (£21.00 to £13.85). So five trips on Saturdays using this railcard and she has saved money. If she is going to do this (say) on 40 Saturdays in the year, then the saving is substantial - £256 (once the initial outlay is considered). This railcard also gives discounts on any journey in the Network Railcard area at or after 10.00 on weekdays; and you can take up to three more adults (and four children) who all benefit from the discount from one railcard.

Careful purchasing of monthly (and slightly longer) seasons may give still better value.
 

Envy123

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Thank you all for your help. My mother decided on the weekly, as she doesn't want to queue for buying tickets everyday.
 

amateur

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Off Peak Day Returns from Huntingdon to Farringdon do not have any restrictions on the return journey. If she had bought the cheaper Super Off Peak Day Return, then this has restrictions on returning between 1629 and 1902.

Beaten to it by Jonathan H!

Source/link please?

Does the same apply to cambridge. Or just to ely and onwards?
 
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