Off Peak Return London to Wareham

[Callum J]

Hello.

I've recently booked an Off Peak Return ticket from London to Wareham, outbound on Fri 23rd March. In the booking engine I selected Sunday 25th March as my return date but my email booking confirmation shows 23rd March - 22 April 2018 as the return date. This may be a stupid question but did I mess up or is this fare basically valid for return on any off peak train during this date range?

Also, I selected the 18.05 from Waterloo to Wareham as my outbound train. As the system sold me the off-peak ticket I'm assuming this is not regarded as a peak-time train, even though to my mind a departure at this time is at the height of rush hour. Is that correct?

As SWR doesn't do seat reservations will I be fighting for a seat on this train (18:05 Waterloo - Wareham on a Friday evening) or is it generally a quiet train?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[JB_B]

Presumably you have this ticket...

( http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=WAT&dest=WRM&grpo=1072&tkt=SVR ) - or a railcard discounted equivalent.

If so, the return validity you've been quoted is entirely standard for an off peak return. It's a walk-up ticket so no need to book in advance - you could get the same fare at the station just before departure. As far as I can see the restriction for that ticket (UV) doesn't stop you from leaving Waterloo in the evening peak. It's going to be busy (at first) but I don't think you'll need to fight for a seat.

 

[Callum J]

Many thanks for that helpful reply. So I was panicking unduly about the return leg then! Good to know. It just looked odd on the booking confirmation given that I'd selected a particular train on the 25th March.

The ticket I booked was actually a 4 x Adults with Group Save Discount Off Peak Return, so it seems we've saved ourselves over £20 each by booking as a group.

Looking into it I see that the first scheduled stop for the 18.05 from Waterloo is not until Winchester (I'd assumed it would be Woking and hence full of commuters). Perhaps this will make a difference.

 

[yorkie]

Also, I selected the 18.05 from Waterloo to Wareham as my outbound train. As the system sold me the off-peak ticket I'm assuming this is not regarded as a peak-time train, even though to my mind a departure at this time is at the height of rush hour. Is that correct?

No evening departures out of Waterloo are "regarded as peak time trains" when you hold a London Terminals to Wareham Off Peak Return! Evening restrictions do apply out of Paddington, but not to other terminals; you can take any evening train from Charing Cross, London Bridge, Victoria, Waterloo etc.

There are occasions when a time restricted ticket may be sold at a time that would not normally be valid (this is most commonly due to data errors on the part of the relevant train company who set the fare), but if that happens, the itinerary provided when you purchase the ticket is evidence of the contract and means that the train company you are booked with is contractually obliged to honour your ticket.

 

[Callum J]

Thanks, Yorkie! I noticed on the fare details link which JB_B sent that Paddington evening travellers do seem to get singled out. I wonder what the rationale behind that is?

 

[yorkie]

Because the long distance services out of Paddington are extremely busy and many of these travel very long distances (e.g. to Penzance or Swansea) and are effectively 'premium' InterCity services.

Services out of Waterloo were not considered to be 'InterCity' type services and have generally had fewer restrictions placed on off peak tickets (especially longer distance off peak tickets).

I wouldn't say Paddington passengers get 'singled out' and you can still depart from Paddington on some of the trains throughout the evening peak, just not the barred ones.