How come websites like thetrainline allows me to buy off peak tickets for peak trains?

Question

I've got a graduate job in London and I'm hoping to commute from Birmingham until I've got enough to move down there permanently. However if I look on websites like thetrainline or virgintrains, with my Young Persons Railcard it allows me to select "saver return" tickets for trains leaving Birmingham at 6:35 and getting to Euston at 8:30, and the return journey of 5:30 to 7:00pm. It allows me to select them and buy them, but does this mean I'd be able to use these tickets on these trains without getting hassle? It seems strange they'd let you buy them if they weren't

valid...

Answer 1

A young persons railcard has an easement during the summer Holidays time July to September where if you have one of these discount cards you get full benefit no matter the time, including savers on peak services.  Once the Holidays are over the standard rules will apply again, which means minimum fare of £16 if during peak, £8 during 9 and 10 am, all Saver tickets not valid before trains arrive at 09.30 in London.

It is quite a surprise to many students who do not read the small print in the pamphlets and all ticket staff are breifed every year on the summer easements.

As for the commuting, ohhhh thats going to be a real journey once everyone is back to work!

Good Luck.

Answer 2

When travelling on Virgin Trains, Railcard holders can use a Saver Return (soon to be renamed Off-Peak Return) on ANY train.

This easement only applies where Virgin set the fare, however.

Answer 3

Think about the times of the trains.  There won't be many people using a train at say 06:35 in the morning so, because they have to run the train and therefore incur costs to do so, they would rather let you travel cheaper than not have a passenger at all.

You won't get any hassle because the tickets are perfectly legitimate and you are therefore a legitimate customer.

The earlier that you book train tickets the cheaper they are.  Also if you use lesser known companies or less attractive routes it could be cheaper again.

I've just booked some tickets for journeys from Newcastle to York in 10 weeks time.  By using First Transpennine Express I am only paying £8 each way whereas Nat Ex East Coast want £15.90 for the same journey on the same dates.

You pay your money and take your choice!!

Answer 4

On the Birmingham to London route, the peak time restrictions only apply to full-price Savers, not Savers bought with a railcard discount.

In other words, you can buy a Saver with your railcard and it will be valid on any train, peak or off peak. If you travel on a peak train, you're effectively getting a double discount.

As for commuting from Birmingham to London every day - yikes! I don't envy you one bit.

Answer 5

it's your responsibility to buy the correct ticket for your train. when you buy tickets in vending machines you can choose an offpeak one even if it's 8:30 in the morning and platforms are packed with people. when you need to show your ticked when asked for it, then you will pay a penalty fare for not having to "correct ticket for you journey" (they even repeat it every 5 or 10 minutes...)

buy the right one. it's cheaper.