What is the difference between anytime and off peak
What about specific products? If I have the wrong rail ticket, can I pay the difference? Where can I find out further information about off-peak and peak travel?
Book your Train. Buy tickets More options. First travel date:. Depart Arrive. To purchase flexi please use a newer browser.
Search and buy Advanced search. Add more. Have a promo code? Find Tickets. Government commits to electric rail to deliver decarbonisation and modal shift, and offers a deal for part-time commuters. Rail user help Planning your journey What type of ticket Finding the best price Getting to and from the station Making the journey easy When things go wrong Rail tours Rail-based accommodation Going abroad.
Rail user help. What's on. Watch our free webinar Attracting passengers back to rail recorded on Saturday 3 October. Railfuture near you Branches Rail user groups. Join us , find your local branch , and help campaign for a bigger better railway. Tweets by Railfuture. The best type of ticket to choose is determined by when you need to travel, how frequently you need to travel, and whether you can commit to specific travel times.
If you make similar journeys every day, then a season ticket is the right choice. If you need to make multiple journeys, then a rover or ranger ticket covering the area may be available. If you have a specific journey to make and can commit to specific travel times, then an advance ticket may be the best choice.
Otherwise, if you have to travel during the peak period, you need an anytime ticket, whilst at other times you need an off-peak ticket. Details of each type of ticket are given below. Anytime tickets can be bought as single or return; off-peak tickets can usually only be bought as returns. Usually all ticket types are available as either standard or first class, but there are exceptions — for example Chiltern Railways does not offer first class.
Note also that many metro services do not have first class accommodation. You can look up the different fares available for a journey and see the restrictions without having to plan the journey times at BR Fares. Advance tickets Advance tickets are usually but not always cheaper, but are only valid for a specific train.
If the advance tickets are really cheap, it may be worth buying a second ticket for a slightly later train, in case you miss the first. Are there any extra discounts on Off-Peak tickets?
You can also save on child tickets for all Off-Peak fares! 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. Buy your tickets now 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 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 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.
Usually this will be stated on the ticket, or you can check online for the times your ticket is applicable. Anytime train fares are fully flexible with no time restrictions, so can be used to board a train at any point on the day shown on the ticket. For example, if your ticket is from London to Brighton, you could stop off at East Croyden on the way and then continue your journey later in the day.