Nottingham - Sittingbourne SVR

[Skymonster]

Hi folks,

I need to go to Sittingbourne and back from Nottingham tomorrow, and I'm looking to do it off peak to avoid the ridiculous peak fares. Been looking at things like BRFARES

I'm entirely happy with the southbound journey - SVR not valid arriving into London before 1000.

On the northbound trip, the restriction on the NOT-SIT SVR seems to be not valid for trains departing from Sittingbourne between 1630 and 1900. That obviously would mean I wouldn't make it onto a train from St Pancras until well after 2000.

However, if I were to buy a NOT-STP SVR, I have the similar restrictions except that the return restriction is from London not from Sittingbourne - i.e. not valid into London until after 1000, and not valid out of London until 1900. If I then add a separate STP-SIT SVR, that appears to valid for return from SIT anytime, so I could potentially leave SIT at (say) 1700, and then get a train from St Pancras to Nottingham just after the 1900 NOT-STP SVR restriction is lifted meaning if be home earlier. Added to which the two separate SVRs seem to be cheaper than a single one all the way through...

So, question: why is the NOT-SIT SVR restricted for return from SIT until 1900, when separate SVRs NOT-STP and STP-SIT would allow me to leave SIT anytime in the afternoon and thus get an earlier train (immediately after 1900) out of St Pancras to Nottingham?

Thanks,

Andy

 

[John @ home]

On the northbound trip, the restriction on the NOT-SIT SVR seems to be not valid for trains departing from Sittingbourne between 1630 and 1900.

I don't agree. The Nottingham - Sittingbourne Off-Peak Return (SVR) has Restriction 7E, the relevant parts of which appear to be:

• Mondays to Fridays, not valid on trains timed to arrive London St Pancras International before 10:05.
• Mondays to Fridays, not valid on trains timed to depart London St Pancras International before 09:01 or after 16:26 until 18:59.

If you are able to arrive later at St Pancras then the £85.10 Super Off-Peak Return (Railcard £56.15) may be better value than the £130.90 Off-Peak Return (Railcard £86.40). The Super Off-Peak Return (SSR) has Restriction CI, the relevant parts of which appear to be:

• Mondays to Fridays, not valid on trains timed to arrive London St Pancras International before 11:26 or Bedford before 10:30.
• Mondays to Fridays, not valid on trains timed to depart London St Pancras International before 10:29 or after 15:15 until 18:59.

 

[bb21]

There is no restriction on the Sittingbourne - London leg of your ticket due to the Network Area rule/easement.