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Off-Peak tickets

If you don’t need to travel in rush hour you can choose an Off-Peak ticket and save money.

Off-Peak Tickets – Everyday great savings

Do you have the flexibility to choose which trains to take? Can you travel outside of rush hour? If so, then our Off-Peak tickets make perfect sense. Whether you want to escape to Brighton beach or explore historic architecture in London, take advantage of cheaper travel at quieter times of the day.

Why choose Off-Peak tickets?

Off-Peak tickets are a great way to save you money if you’re taking the train outside the busiest times of the day. Here’s how choosing off-peak will benefit you:

• More cost effective than an Anytime fare
• Choose from single, day return and open return tickets
• More space to sit down
• For just £2 each, you can travel with up to four children aged 5-15
• Railcard holders can enjoy 1/3 off all off-peak fares
• Those with a Senior, HM Forces or Disabled Persons railcard can take advantage of 1/3 off all First Class Off-Peak and First Class Super Off-Peak fares

London St Pancras to Brighton

Off-peak day return, st albans city to london, off-peak day travelcard, bedford to london blackfriars, when are off-peak tickets valid.

You can use our journey planner to check if the time you want to travel has Off-Peak fares available. Off-Peak tickets will only appear on the booking system if they are available for your journey. The times you can take advantage of Off-Peak prices depends on where and when you’re going.

What are the times for Peak and Off-Peak travel?

The morning peak is generally from when the first train of the day leaves to the last train arriving in London before 10:00am. In the evening it is generally between 16:30 and 19:01 for services leaving London. Anytime outside of this, would generally be considered off peak travel.

What’s the difference between Off-Peak Day Return and Off-Peak Return tickets?

If you buy an Off-Peak Day return ticket, you must leave and come back on the same day.

An Off-Peak return ticket gives you a little more flexibility if you’re not sure when you’ll be coming back. You need to start your journey (the ‘outward’ part) on the date shown on the ticket. Then, you have up to a month to return . This is useful if you’re visiting friends or family and want to stay a little longer.

How do I buy Off-Peak train tickets?

How do i buy off-peak train tickets.

• Buying Off-Peak train tickets is easy. You can:
• Book Online – collect your tickets at the station or have them sent First Class
• Book via the On Track app ( iOS and Android ) and collect at the station
• Use a ticket machine at the station
• Buy at your station ticket office (during opening hours)

Read the general terms and conditions   for Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets. Got a question? Contact us .

Travelling outside busy times?

Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets will save you money

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All about Off-Peak tickets

Here’s what you need to know about our Off-Peak tickets.

What are Off-Peak tickets?

Off-Peak tickets are for trains that run at quieter times of the day. They’re great value if you don’t need to travel at busy times.

Are Off-Peak tickets single or return?

You can use them for both a single and a return journey. If you book a return, you can travel back on any day within 30 days of your outward journey. So that’s a nice bit of wiggle room.

When can I use Off-Peak tickets?

You can use Off-Peak tickets on any journey during these times:

• Outside the rush hours on Monday-Thursday
• All day Friday if your journey starts or ends at London Euston only
• All day Saturday on all journeys
• All day Sunday on all journeys

Want Off-Peak tickets for Monday – Thursday?

Check your journey below. Please note some journeys have extra restrictions on Off-Peak tickets.

See Off-Peak train times

When can I buy Off-Peak tickets

Can i reserve a seat.

Yes of course, just choose one when you book.

All about Super Off-Peak tickets

Super-Off Peak tickets are even better value than Off-Peak tickets. However they are only for quiet times of the day and for journeys to and from London Euston or to and from Milton Keynes Central.

What are Super Off-Peak tickets?

Super Off-Peak tickets are for trains that run outside busy times and for certain journeys only.

Are Super Off-Peak tickets single or return?

Both. Want a return? You can travel back on any day within 30 days of your outward journey.

When can I use Super Off-Peak tickets?

Only on these journeys:

• Trains to or from London Euston, Monday- Sunday
• Trains to or from Milton Keynes Central, Monday-Sunday

Only at these times:

• If you’re travelling towards London, your train must not arrive at London Euston before 1pm
• If you’re travelling away from London, your train must not leave London Euston before 10.30 am and between 4pm and 7pm

These times apply even if you’re leaving or joining the train at Milton Keynes Central.

When can I buy Super Off-Peak tickets?

You can buy these tickets at any time.

Yes, just pick your seat when you book.

What if I want a different journey?

You may be able to get Super-Off Peak tickets from another train company. You can still book through us.

Get to know Off-Peak travel

Go anywhere.

The West Coast is your oyster.

Go at these times

After the morning and afternoon rush hours weekdays, all day weekends.

Friday trains to and from London Euston are Off-Peak all day. Yay!.

View Off-Peak train times

Learn Super Off-Peak travel

Go to or from.

London Euston or Milton Keynes Central only.

After 1.00pm for trains to London Euston

After 10.30am up to 4pm, then after 7pm for trains from London Euston

Monday-Sunday

Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak?

Choose off-peak if:.

• You want to save money on your ticket
• You’re happy to travel outside popular times
• You don’t want to be restricted to trains running to and from London Euston or Milton Keynes Central

Choose Super Off-Peak if:

• You want to save more
• You’re happy with a smaller choice of trains
• You’re happy to have more restrictions on the time you can travel
• Your journey starts and ends at either London Euston or Milton Keynes Central

When can I travel with an Off-Peak return ticket?

You can book your Off-Peak tickets at any time, but you must travel during the middle of the day, in the evenings or at any time on weekends, avoiding the morning and late-afternoon rush hour. Our weekend Off-Peak hours start from Friday morning for Euston departures, meaning customers can travel on any train from as early as 05:05 to make the most of the weekend.

Off-Peak Friday offer excludes journeys from Milton Keynes to London Euston. Our journey planner will always show you Off-Peak tickets for valid journey times, so just enter your journey details to find your best ticket options.

Can I get a refund for Off-Peak tickets?

If you can no longer use your ticket, our Off-Peak are both fully refundable, minus a £5 administration fee. If you purchased your ticket from our website or app, you can apply for a refund through the My Account section of our website.  For more information on Refunds then please use the link below:

Click here for more information on refunds

Can I break my journey?

Break of journey is allowed on the outward and return portions of Off-Peak tickets unless otherwise indicated by a restriction shown against the ticket's validity code.

You may start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station along the route of travel on Off-Peak tickets unless the ticket restriction for the journey you are making does not allow it.

Many of our Off-Peak restrictions involve the time you arrive or depart London Euston. As such, if you plan to break your journey further north, you may be able to travel at what's locally a Peak time, but is still valid for your ticket if you've left London or will arrive in London at an Off-Peak time.

For example, you could be travelling from Shrewsbury to London but would like to break your journey in Birmingham. An early morning journey solely from Shrewsbury to Birmingham might be Peak on its own but, if your ticket's restrictions only refer to arrival times in London, you can make one leg of your journey at 'Peak' time, break your journey in Birmingham, then arrive later in London as per your ticket restrictions.

If you intend to start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station, please call 03457 48 49 50 to check if it is available on your specific journey.

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If you're travelling on one of our trains, you must have a ticket that's valid for travel on that service. To make it fair for everyone, there are different ticket types available and our team are onboard to help with any queries.

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Off-peak train tickets.

Travel at quieter times and save money

Travel Off-Peak and save

Our Off-Peak train tickets offer great savings on journeys outside of the busiest travel times, every day of the week.

On weekends and Bank Holidays, you can travel at any time with an off-peak ticket. On weekdays, there are no evening peak restrictions on Southeastern operated services when travelling with an off-peak ticket, however, some time restrictions apply to journeys in the morning.

• If you are travelling from Kent & East Sussex into London, Off-Peak tickets are valid on trains that arrive into London after 10am*.
• If you are travelling from London to Kent & East Sussex, Off-Peak tickets are valid on trains departing from London after 9.30am.
• If you are travelling entirely within the London Travelcard Zones 1-6 area, Off-Peak tickets are valid on trains departing after 9.30am.
• From 3 December 2023, for journeys from and between Bat & Ball, Dunton Green, Eynsford, Otford, Sevenoaks and Shoreham (Kent), new peak and off-peak restrictions apply, including a new evening peak restriction for travel away from London. These changes have been made in preparation for the rollout of pay as you go with contactless  at 53 National Rail stations in spring 2024. For more information about these changes, please visit the National Rail website , where more detail is provided.

*Exceptions apply to a few services arriving prior to 10.00am dependent on the type of Off-Peak ticket please check our journey planner before you travel.

Whether you're exploring the city sights of London or taking a trip out to the coast, travelling at Off-Peak times can save you money.

Plus, you could get another 1/3 off the price if you are a railcard holder or take advantage of our other discount tickets valid for Off-Peak journeys.

Buy your Off-Peak ticket from a station ticket office any time before you travel. Or, for convenience why not use our contactless smartcard The Key . You can buy tickets via the Southeastern app  or online, load them to your Key card, tap and go. 

Alternatively, buy your tickets via the Southeastern app or website and you can collect your tickets from a self-service machine at a Southeastern station within 5 minutes – you just need to bring any payment card and the collection reference number provided in your order confirmation.

You can also find great savings with our Super Off-Peak tickets .

Find out how much you can save by travelling Off-Peak

Fares correct at last date of publication 03/03/2024

You can check the full terms and conditions for Off-Peak fares at National Rail Enquiries.

Buy Off-Peak Tickets

• Railcard holders get 34% off all Off-Peak fares.
• 16-17 Saver holders can get 50% off all Off-Peak fares.
• There may be minimum fares and time restrictions on tickets purchased with a 16-25, 26-30, Senior, Two Together or Network Railcard. You should check the terms & conditions of your Railcard or discount card to see if they apply to you.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

What are the off-peak hours for trains in the UK?

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If you’re keen to spread your wings and travel more in 2022, after two years of Covid restrictions, you could do a lot worse than venture somewhere by train – especially if you’re planning a break somewhere in the UK.

Rail travel can be expensive in this country, 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?

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Your star sign’s tarot horoscope for the month of May 2024

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

MORE : How much does a Lumo train journey between London and Edinburgh cost and how long does it take?

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Off-Peak train tickets

Buy your ticket at any time and travel in off-peak hours with a swr off-peak ticket, buy train tickets to any destination in britain – no booking fee.

• Popular stations
• London Waterloo (WAT)
• Surbiton (SUR)
• Woking (WOK)
• Winchester (WIN)
• Guildford (GLD)
• Southampton Central (SOU)
• Basingstoke (BSK)
• Farnborough (Main) (FNB)
• Bournemouth (BMH)
• Portsmouth Harbour (PMH)

What is an off-peak train ticket?

Off-Peak tickets are a great way to save money on train tickets by travelling on quieter trains, but still giving you more flexibility than a Super Off-Peak ticket . They're ideal for days out where you want to avoid the morning rush, or for a working lunch that means you might have to return during the evening commute. They're available for both Standard Class and First Class train ticket .

We offer Off-Peak Day Return tickets that allow you to make a return journey on the same day, but only during off-peak hours and Off-Peak Single Train Ticket: Similar, valid for a single journey during off-peak hours.

SWR offer great deals in corporate train tickets, through their free platform Business Direct. To know more about our corporate train service, business train tickets deals and more, contact us at [email protected] .

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 What are off peak times for train travel?

Off peak train time to and from London

Travelling into London? You can travel on any train arriving at London Waterloo (or any station in zones 1 to 6) after 10:00.

Travelling away from London? You can travel on any train leaving London Waterloo from 09:30.

Off peak train time

You can sometimes travel earlier, particularly if you're travelling long-distance - these are called easements. For the best way to find out which trains you can use your ticket on, book through our website.

When can I buy an Off-Peak ticket?

You can buy anytime from twelve weeks before you travel, right up to when you arrive at the station from the ticket office or machines. To help make sure customers don't get on the wrong train with a ticket that's not valid, some of our ticket machines won't sell Off-Peak tickets until shortly before they can be used.

Are there any extra discounts on Off-Peak tickets?

With our super off peak tickets you can save 34% extra with all railcards on Standard Class Off-Peak fares and up to 34% on First Class Off-Peak fares if you hold a  Senior ,  HM Forces  or  Disabled Persons Railcard. You can also save on child tickets for all Off-Peak fares!

If you’re travelling in a group of 3 to 9 people, you can save a third on tickets with  GroupSave  discounts.

How can I buy an Off-Peak ticket?

The easiest way to buy your ticket is through our website, on our app or at any ticket office or machine

Find out more about ways to buy your ticket .

Can I break my journey with an Off-Peak ticket?

Generally, yes. You'll normally be allowed to break your journey with an off-peak ticket. Some journeys may mean that you can't, and you should check the full restrictions on your ticket to see if you can or not.

I need to travel on a different train - can I change my off peak ticket?

Off-Peak tickets give you some flexibility - if you can still use an Off-Peak ticket on the train you now want to travel on, you can just catch that one instead!

If you want to travel during peak time, you'll just need to pay the difference between the Off-Peak fare and the  Anytime train ticket fare. There's no admin fee to pay but you will need to do this before you travel - even if you plan to do it on board the train, you might still be liable for a Penalty Fare if you board without making sure your ticket is valid.

What happens if I miss my next train because of a delay?

If you've been delayed by the railway (for example, if you miss your connecting service because of a delay to your train) then you can use your ticket on the next train. If your ticket wouldn't normally be valid on that train (for example, if it's a peak time train) then speak to the ticket office or on-board team to get your ticket stamped or signed to allow you to travel.

If you've been delayed by something that's not within our control, then you can use your ticket on the next Off-Peak service.

If a delay on one of our trains means you end up being 15 minutes late or more to your destination, you may be entitled to claim compensation under our  Delay Repay  scheme

There are engineering works now and I don't want to travel. Can I get a refund?

If there's a change in journey times or mode of travel (a bus replacement service) and you no longer want to travel you can claim a full refund on the unused tickets from your original retailer.

If you're buying your tickets more than six weeks before you travel, we always recommend that you check timetables again at the six-week mark and the planned engineering work timetable.

How to get your tickets

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Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets

Travelling after the morning rush hour? You can save money when you buy an Off-Peak ticket.

Off-Peak tickets

Are you travelling after the morning rush hour? Save money on your journey when you buy an Off-Peak ticket.

If you don’t have to be somewhere during the busiest times of the day, this could be the perfect option for you. Whether you’re taking a trip into the city or out to the countryside, this ticket gives you the chance to enjoy quieter train journeys at lower prices.

Why choose Off-Peak train tickets?

When you choose to travel Off-Peak, you can benefit from:

• More seating available during these quieter parts of the day
• A choice of single, return and open return tickets
• 1/3 off Off-Peak fares with your Railcard
• On some routes up to four children aged 5 to 15 can travel with you for just £2. Book online for an automatic discount

When are they valid?

You can travel Off-Peak on weekdays outside busy times. You can also use your Off-Peak train tickets to travel at any time on weekends and bank holidays. The times you can use your tickets vary, so use the journey planner to check for Off-Peak services.

What are the timings?

Off-Peak singles and the outward portion of Off-Peak returns are valid for travel on the date shown on the ticket and until 4.29am the following morning. When using Off-Peak Day tickets, all travel must be completed by 4.29am on the following morning of the date on the ticket.

What are the times for Peak and Off-Peak travel?

The morning peak is generally from when the first train of the day leaves to the last train arriving in London before 10:00am. In the evening it is generally between 16:30 and 19:01 for services leaving London. Anytime outside of this, would generally be considered off peak travel.

How do I buy Off-Peak train tickets?

It’s simple to book your Off-Peak tickets:

• Online – collect from the station or have them posted out
• On-the-go using our On Track app ( iOS ) and collect at the station
• Buy from ticket machines at the station
• Head to a ticket office at your local station

Terms and Conditions

To find out more about Off-Peak tickets, read the terms and conditions . If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch .

Eastbourne to London Victoria

Super off-peak day return, brighton to london victoria, off-peak day return, horsham to london victoria, super off-peak day travelcard, travelling outside busy times.

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Train strikes in May 2024: Full list of dates and lines affected

Rail lines are set for disruption in the week following the first May bank holiday as train drivers at 16 rail companies strike on different days.

Monday 29 April 2024 09:17, UK

Train drivers will stage a fresh wave of strikes and overtime bans in May, causing disruption to the rail network.

The strikes are part of a long-running dispute over pay.

Members of Aslef union at 16 rail companies will walk out on different days from 7 to 9 May.

Additionally, all members will refuse to work any overtime from 6 May to 11 May.

Here is a full list of the services affected by strikes and when.

Rail strike dates

Tuesday 7 May

Strikes will affect c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway.

Wednesday 8 May

Strikes will affect Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains.

Thursday 9 May

Strikes will affect LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express.

Overtime ban dates

From Monday 6 May to Saturday 11 May union members will not work overtime.

Overtime bans, an action short of a strike, means some services may not be running or may be reduced as drivers refuse to work their rest days.

People are advised to check before they travel, as some areas may have no service.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

How do strikes and overtime bans affect services?

Strikes tend to mean services on lines where members are participating are extremely affected or cancelled entirely, whereas overtime bans often lead to reduced services.

Are there strikes on the Tube too?

There have been regular strikes on London Underground too recently, and while there aren't any planned walkouts for drivers, customer service managers are set to walk out on Friday 26 April in a dispute over terms and conditions.

There will also be an overtime ban for the customer service managers on the following days:

Monday 29 April

Tuesday 30 April

Wednesday 1 May

Tuesday 2 May

Wednesday 3 May

Thursday 4 May

Friday 5 May

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) says the action by its members is likely to cause Tube stations to close at the last minute, including on the Saturday following the strike (27 April), while TfL has said on its website "some stations may need to close at short notice".

Despite the warning, a TfL spokesperson has said they aren't expecting significant disruption.

This action follows strike action taken by the same workers on 10 April, which the TSSA said had a "real impact" with "many stations shut at short notice".

They say they are "extremely concerned" about TfL's 'Stations Changes' proposals.

"We have made it clear that our union will not accept the continued threats to our members' roles, locations, terms, and conditions to stand unchallenged," a TSSA spokesperson said.

"We will continue to take sustained action until London Underground is prepared to negotiate with us in good faith."

Commenting on the impending strikes, a TfL spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that TSSA is continuing with this strike action following a consultation process.

"While we don't expect this action will cause significant disruption, we urge TSSA to continue to work with us to help find a resolution.

"There are no planned job losses as part of these vital changes which will improve the service we provide to customers at our stations."

How can I stay in the loop?

You can use the National Rail's journey planner to see when trains are running.

Be sure to check it close to when you plan to travel, as it will be updated regularly.

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Why are the strikes still happening?

Aslef rejected a two-year offer of 4% in 2022 and another 4% this year, saying it is way below inflation, and is linked to changes in terms and conditions.

Aslef said train drivers have not had an increase in salary for five years, since their last pay deals expired in 2019.

The union said after its members voted overwhelmingly in February to continue taking industrial action, it asked the train operating companies to hold talks.

General secretary Mick Whelan said the year-old pay offer of 4% and another 4% was "dead in the water".

Related Topics

• London Underground
• Rail strikes