With summer approaching and lockdown restrictions lifting, many people will be thinking about booking a train to visit family or enjoy a UK getaway.
Rail travel can be expensive in the UK but you can make big savings by choosing to travel off-peak.
But, what hours count as ‘off-peak?’
Please be seated.
What are off-peak train tickets?
Off-peak train tickets are cheaper than ‘anytime’ tickets and can be used at less busy times of the day.
There will be restrictions on your travel date or time of day, and you’ll only be able to travel on specific routes or companies.
When are trains off-peak in the UK?
While exact times can vary depending on the provider, there is a general rule of thumb for what hours are considered to be off-peak.
Off-peak tends to begin at 9:30am from Mondays to Fridays in cities and large towns and 9am across the rest of the rail network.
In London, off-peak times run from Monday to Friday from the first service to 6:30am, and then again from 9:30am to 4pm, and after 7pm
Weekends and bank holidays operate off-peak fares all day across the country.
You can use the National Rail journey planner to choose your times and tickets to see if off-peak applies to your desired travel time.
What discounts are available on off-peak tickets?
Child discounts (50%) apply for all off-peak fares, while railcard holders can take 34% off fares.
Anyone who has a 16-17 saver card can also get 50% off all off-peak fares.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to upgrade, Senior, HM Forces, and Disabled Persons Railcard holders get 34% off all first-class off-peak fares.
What other ticket types are available in the UK?
Off-peak train tickets are just one possible option The other types are:
- Anytime: These are fully flexible tickets that you can use anytime in the day and on any service/route
- Super off-peak: These offer the same discounts as off-peak but with further time restrictions
- Advance: Booking your ticket in advance often means you can buy certain trips at a different price
- Season tickets: Passengers can get season tickets for travel if they use the same route on a regular basis
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