Off-Peak Day Return

Ticket offices and travel centres, self-service ticket machines at stations, rail-appointed travel agents, online at most train company websites or through other online retailers or train company telesales offices.

Tickets can be bought in advance or immediately before travel.

Tickets can be bought in advance or immediately before travel. You can reserve a seat on many longer distance services. Reservations are recommended on busy services. If you wish to change your time of travel 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 travelling 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 (see below).

The outward part of the ticket is only valid for travel when accompanied by the unused return part of the same ticket.

Off-Peak Day tickets may require you to travel at specific times of day, days of the week or on a specific route. Website journey planners can tell you when your ticket can be used - simply enter your outward and return journey times to see the trains you can travel on. If you board a train at a time when your Off-Peak ticket is not valid, you will be charged the difference between the fare you have paid and the cheapest valid fare for the service concerned.  In some circumstances you may have to pay a penalty fare.  

If the route shown on the ticket has a + or † symbol then the ticket includes the cost of travelling between certain London Stations (e.g. between Victoria and Paddington) by either London Underground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) or Thameslink services as appropriate to the route of the journey being made. Tickets will only be accepted by London Underground and DLR up to the last day of validity of the ticket and until 04:29 the following day. Other than to change trains, a break of journey at intermediate London Underground or DLR stations is not permitted.

All tickets and travel are subject to the National Rail Conditions of Travel.

Off-Peak Day Return tickets are valid for travel on the date shown on the ticket and until 04:29 the following morning. All travel must be completed by this time.

The National Rail Journey Planner will automatically work out which tickets are valid for your journey. 

The times when you may use your Off-Peak ticket are indicated by a Restriction Code applicable to the journey you are making. This can be viewed by clicking the link from the Journey Planner ticket terms and conditions page once you have made your selection.

The Restriction Code is a two character (alpha-numeric) code. This is shown on most tickets and the meaning can be found by going to www.nationalrail.co.uk/XX [where 'XX' is the two character code].

You will also be advised of the restriction when buying your ticket.

Break of journey is permitted unless otherwise indicated by a restriction shown against the ticket's Restriction Code.

Off-Peak Day Return tickets are valid for travel on the date shown on the ticket and until 04:29 the following morning. All travel must be completed by this time.

The National Rail Journey Planner will automatically work out which tickets are valid for your journey. 

The times when you may use your Off-Peak ticket are indicated by a Restriction Code applicable to the journey you are making. This can be viewed by clicking the link from the Journey Planner ticket terms and conditions page once you have made your selection.

The Restriction Code is a two character (alpha-numeric) code. This is shown on most tickets and the meaning can be found by going to www.nationalrail.co.uk/XX [where 'XX' is the two character code].

You will also be advised of the restriction when buying your ticket.

Break of journey is permitted unless otherwise indicated by a restriction shown against the ticket's Restriction Code.

Your ticket is refundable. 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 (up to a maximum of £5 per ticket). 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.

If you wish to change your time of travel 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 travelling 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 (see Refund Policy).