Off-Peak Train Tickets
Off-Peak Train Ticket fares are cheaper tickets for traveling on trains that are less busy so if you need more flexibility than an Advance train fare can offer you the Off-Peak rail ticket could be for you.
Where there is more than one Off-peak fare for a journey, the cheaper fare with more restrictions will be called Super Off-Peak.
You can buy Off-Peak tickets any time before you travel. The travel restrictions for your Off-Peak ticket will depend on the journey you are making and will be advised when you buy your ticket.
Restrictions Applicable to Off-Peak Train Tickets
Off-Peak Single (one way) tickets must be used on the date shown on your ticket.
Off-Peak Day Return tickets must be used on the date shown on the ticket.
For Off-Peak Open Return tickets the outward journeys must be made on the date shown on your ticket, but you can make the return journey on any day within one calendar month of the outward journey.
Off-Peak tickets may require you to travel at specific times of the day or days of the week, or on a certain rail route. The travel restrictions will depend on the journey you are making, but you will be advised of any restrictions at the point of booking your train tickets online with Rail Saver.
Super Off-Peak tickets cannot be used on all trains, so please make a note of the train times that Super Off-Peak tickets are eligible for before you travel.
Additional Off-Peak Train Ticket Discounts
Generous discounts that further reduce the cost of Off-Peak Train Tickets are available. These are:-
For Children
Aged 5 to 15 inclusive - 50% discount
Up to two children aged under 5 travel free with each fare paying adult passenger
Rail Card Discounts
Standard Class
34% Railcard discounts apply to Family & Friends, 16-26, Senior, HM Forces and Disabled Persons Railcards
First Class
34% Railcard discounts apply to Senior, 16-25, HM Forces and Disabled Persons Railcards.
Other Railcards
Network Railcard (London & South East): 34% discount on Standard Class fares
Gold Cards (London & South East): 34% discount on Standard Class fares
New Deal Photocard (England and Wales): 50% discount on Standard Class fares
Please Note: Minimum fares and time restrictions may apply to tickets bought with a Railcard or other discount card. See terms and conditions of the appropriate Railcard or discount card for details.
Off-Peak Train Tickets Conditions of Use
Off-Peak Day and Super Off-Peak Day tickets may require you to travel at specific times of day, days of the week or on a specific route.
Off-peak Day and Super Off-peak Day tickets are valid for travel on the date shown on your ticket and until 0230 on the following day.
If the route shown on the ticket has a †, the ticket includes the cost of traveling between certain London Stations (e.g. between Liverpool St and Paddington) by either London Underground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) or First Capital Connect (Thameslink Route) services appropriate to the route of the journey being made. (Note: Tickets will only be accepted by London Underground and DLR on the date shown on the ticket and until 0429 the following day.)
Other than to change trains, a break of journey at intermediate London Underground or DLR stations is NOT permitted.
You must travel in the class of accommodation shown on your ticket.
Railcard holders traveling on a discounted ticket must carry their Railcard when they travel. If a Railcard holder fails to produce their valid Railcard with their ticket, they will be required to pay a full priced ticket for their journey as if no Railcard and/or no ticket were held.
The outward part of a Off-Peak Day and Super Off-Peak Day Return ticket is only valid for travel when accompanied by an unused return part of the same ticket.
First Class Off-peak tickets may provide access to First Class Lounges at stations. Please check the First Class on National Rail page for more information.
Break of journey is allowed on Off-peak tickets unless restricted for the journey you are making. If you intend to break your journey, please call 08457 48 49 50 to check if it is available on your specific journey.
If you break your journey and are still traveling at 02h30 then you may stay on the train to complete that part of the journey, but no further break of journey is allowed and all travel must be completed by 12h00.
If you wish to change your time of travel or class of the ticket, you can pay the difference between the cost of the ticket held and the cost of the ticket that is most appropriate for the journey you need to make. In many cases, if you are still traveling at a time when your ticket is not restricted, no additional fare is payable.
If you wish to change the date of travel, or the origin or destination of your ticket, it may be necessary to buy a new ticket and apply for a refund on your existing ticket.
If you decide not to use your ticket to make all or part of your intended journey then you can get a refund by returning your unused ticket to the ticket office or place of purchase (for tickets bought via websites, telesales or travel agents) within 28 days of the ticket expiry date. You may be required to pay an administration fee.
The refund amount will normally take into account any use you have made of the ticket and in some circumstances no refund will be paid.
Important: Readers are advised that the above guide to train fares and train tickets is merely an easy to read summary detailing the key points of the applicable fares and tickets. As such this guide should be regarded as a layman's reference and not be construed as an accurate interpretation of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage - all of which may be viewed by clicking here.
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