Peak times on Northern

[njamescouk]

National Rail Enquires is telling me that an off peak return Penistone to Seascale is good for travel from Penistone at 8:18am. That doesn't sound right to me, I would welcome comments.

 

[alastair]

National Rail Enquires is telling me that an off peak return Penistone to Seascale is good for travel from Penistone at 8:18am. That doesn't sound right to me, I would welcome comments.

Says restriction 8A "valid on any train" according to BRfares, so no problems

 

[mikeg]

Its 100% correct. The ticket is valid at any time only restriction being you can't start, resume or end your journey on the outward leg.

Each off peak ticket has a restriction code which matches to a time restriction and in some cases a break of journey restriction. In this case only the latter is present.

I had fun explaining this to one of my normal friends the otherbday for another ticket which has the same code 8A.

 

[robbeech]

the ticket has restriction code 8A which means both the outward and the return are valid on any train. Here is the ticket

Edit. It appears I have been beaten to it by multiple people, that will teach me for answering a phone call after starting to reply.

 

[alistairlees]

National Rail Enquires is telling me that an off peak return Penistone to Seascale is good for travel from Penistone at 8:18am. That doesn't sound right to me, I would welcome comments.

The Off-Peak Return (£70.00) from Penistone to Seascale is subject to restriction code 8A, which for travel in either direction is valid on any train (I know, it rather begs the question why the Anytime fare which is almost £20.00 more expensive, exists).

If I recall correctly, there are also Off-Peak tickets from Huddersfield to a variety of destinations that are valid on any train.

Anyway, travel on the 08.18 from Penistone with this ticket at your leisure.

 

[yorkie]

National Rail Enquires is telling me that an off peak return Penistone to Seascale is good for travel from Penistone at 8:18am. That doesn't sound right to me, I would welcome comments.

The product used to be called Saver Return and was traditionally valid at that time. It's the same product today, however this was re-named "Off Peak Return" (but retaining the code SVR) at the time of "simplification" in 2008, because the rail industry thinks that the new name is easier to understand than the old name. (Whether this is true or not is subjective )

 

[robbeech]

..................I know, it rather begs the question why the Anytime fare which is almost £20.00 more expensive, exists).

The outward portion of the anytime return is likely valid for 5 days, and break of journey is (therefore) permitted on the outward aswell as the return.

 

[Hadders]

Contrary to popular belief there is no such thing as a peak train, or off peak train.

Off Peak tickets carry restrictions, not individual trains. There are many different restriction codes each with their own restrictions.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

..... (I know, it rather begs the question why the Anytime fare which is almost £20.00 more expensive, exists).....

There are usually a number of potential reasons why they exist, not limited to the extra validity of Anytime Return already mentioned, such as clustering of fares and occasions where a full undiscounted fare might be the only applicable option.

 

[njamescouk]

thanks to all. i booked with northern rail and got an itinerary from northern rail, so I'll just show all the paperwork if there's any trouble. feels as though you need a lawyer every time you get on a train.

 

[Hadders]

thanks to all. i booked with northern rail and got an itinerary from northern rail, so I'll just show all the paperwork if there's any trouble. feels as though you need a lawyer every time you get on a train.

Be careful what you wish for. If the fare was simplified how much do you think your journey at 0818 would cost:

£70.00
£90.10

I'm sure it wouldn't be £70.00!

They could reduce the price of the Anytime Return to £70 and introduce a cheaper Off Peak ticket but the railway will lose revenue if they do this as Off Peak travel would be cheaper than at present.

 

[yorkie]

thanks to all. i booked with northern rail and got an itinerary from northern rail, so I'll just show all the paperwork if there's any trouble. feels as though you need a lawyer every time you get on a train.

You can attend a fares workshop for free

(I am not a lawyer but I know a bit about fares!)

 

[Starmill]

I was very surprised that there was even an Off-Peak fare at all for that sort of journey, until I realised it's still priced by TransPennine Express.

Historically Northern offered almost no Off-Peak fares outside of the former PTE areas. They added lots of short distance Off-Peak Day fares recently, but for long journeys there still aren't any (e.g. Hartlepool to Barrow-in-Furness).

It is no wonder that you're confused.