off peak travel times great western railway

• Delay Repay |
• Accessibility Tools
• You are not signed in
• Buy tickets You have no items in your basket

Cheap ticket alerts

• Rangers and Rovers
• Flexi Season ticket
• Weekly season ticket
• Monthly season ticket
• Monthly plus season ticket
• Annual season ticket
• Using a smartcard
• Oyster cards and contactless
• Contactless PAYG extension
• Changes to peak times and tickets on some routes
• Advance tickets
• Anytime tickets
• Off-Peak tickets
• GroupSave train tickets
• Group Travel train tickets
• Evening Out tickets
• Sunday Out tickets
• Super Off-Peak tickets
• Semi Flex Return tickets
• London Travelcards
• Tap2Go pay as you go travel
• 16-17 Saver
• 16-25 Railcard
• 26-30 Railcard
• Two Together Railcard
• Disabled Persons Railcard
• Family and Friends Railcard
• HM Forces Railcard
• Veterans Railcard
• Network Railcard
• Senior Railcard
• Paying with Apple Pay
• Paying with Google Pay
• Family train tickets
• Combined ferry and train tickets
• Price promise
• Business Direct
• Industrial action
• Train times
• Download SWR timetables
• Changes to your journey
• How busy is my train?
• Live times and updates
• Planned engineering works details
• July engineering work
• August engineering work
• September engineering work
• Platform zoning pilot scheme
• Network map
• Car parking
• Live station car parking
• Onward travel
• InPost parcel lockers
• Free Wi-Fi at our stations
• Airport links
• Class 158 "Express Sprinter"
• Class 159 "South Western Turbo"
• Class 444 "Desiro"
• Class 450 "Desiro"
• Class 458 "Juniper"
• Class 707 "Desiro City"
• What can you bring on board?
• First Class
• Window Seater
• Assisted Boarding Points
• Accessibility
• Assistance dogs
• Discounted fares
• Sunflower lanyards
• Wheelchairs, scooters and ramps
• Travel Assistance Card
• Travelling with a bike
• Travelling with kids
• A student's guide to train travel
• Travelling with pets
• Customer Council
• Meet the Manager
• Ticket checks and revenue protection
• Safeguarding
• Our performance
• National Rail Passenger Survey
• Our service quality report
• Destinations
• Things to do
• Day trips and breaks
• Business Life
• Local Highlights
• Sights and attractions

SWR Rewards

• Competitions
• 2FOR1 deals and 1/3 OFF savings
• Upgrading the Island Line
• Heritage railways
• Delay Repay
• Changing your train tickets
• Strike ticket acceptance, refunds and compensation
• Making a claim after disruption
• Lost property
• Smartcard help and support
• Make a complaint
• My Account |
• Accessibility Tools |
• Cheap train tickets
• Season tickets
• Smart tickets
• Ticket types
• Railcards and discount cards
• How to buy train tickets
• Planned improvements
• Planned engineering calendar
• Engineering work weekly summary
• Our train stations
• On board facilities
• Assisted travel
• Customer Experience
• Staying safe
• Performance
• Where Next travel blog
• Island Line
• Train ticket refunds

You’re being redirected to an external website.

• Train tickets /
• Ticket types /

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)
• Southampton Central (SOU)
• Woking (WOK)
• Guildford (GLD)
• Basingstoke (BSK)
• Winchester (WIN)
• Clapham Junction (CLJ)
• Surbiton (SUR)
• Wimbledon (WIM)
• Farnborough (Main) (FNB)
• Bournemouth (BMH)
• Portsmouth Harbour (PMH)

What is an Off-Peak train ticket?

Can you travel outside of the morning rush? If so, get an Off-Peak train ticket. Available for both Standard Class and  First Class  travel, they’re a great way to save money on your fare while still giving you more flexibility than a  Super Off-Peak train ticket.

You can get:

• Off-Peak Day Return tickets – make a return journey on the same day during off-peak hours (see off-peak hours below).
• Off-peak Single Train tickets – valid for a single journey during off-peak hours.
• Off-Peak Return tickets – make a single journey on the date shown on your ticket and travel back within a month during off-peak hours.

Buy your train tickets now

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] .

Be the first to hear when our cheapest Advance tickets go on sale

Buying a ticket with us just got more rewarding!

 What are off peak times for train travel?

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

If you're travelling away from London, Standard Class and First Class tickets have slightly different rules:

Standard Class : travel on any train leaving London Waterloo from 09:00

First Class : travel on any train leaving London Waterloo from 09:00, except trains leaving between 16:00 and 19:00. You also won't be able to travel on:

• Trains leaving Vauxhall between 16:04 and 19:04
• Trains leaving Clapham Junction between 16:07 and 19:09

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 Off-Peak tickets from 12 weeks in advance, right up until the day you’re due to travel (usually up to 10 minutes before departure).

 Are there any extra discounts on Off-Peak tickets?

With a Railcard , you can save up to 1/3 on your Off-Peak tickets. Children and young people can save even more – there’s a 50% discount for children aged 5-15, and 50% off adult Evening Out fares for anyone with a 16-17 Saver Railcard.

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

 How can I buy an Off-Peak ticket?

You can buy your tickets on our website, SWR app , or at the station.

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

You can break your outward and return journey with Off-Peak train tickets on most journeys, but there are some exceptions. Check the full restrictions for your journey to make sure you can break it before you travel.

 I need to travel on a different train - can I change my Off-Peak ticket?

You can use your Off-Peak ticket on any service within the eligible times (see these above). If you already have an Off-Peak ticket but want to travel at a time when it’s not valid, simply swap your ticket for one that suits your travel needs and pay the difference for the fare. We won’t charge you an admin fee for this type of change.

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

If you’ve been delayed by the railway then you can use your ticket on the next train or any other train within the eligible timeframe. If your ticket wouldn’t normally be valid on the train you end up catching you can still travel on another one without paying for a new ticket.

If you have a paper ticket: speak to the ticket office or an on-board team member to get your ticket signed or stamped to allow you to travel.

If you have an e-ticket: you can ask a team member on board or at the ticket office for a Back on Track voucher.

If a delay on one of our trains means you end up being 15 minutes late or more to your destination, you can 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 (such as 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, including the planned engineering work timetable, at the six-week mark.

How to get your tickets

Email, post, print at home, download or collect from the station

Find out if you could save up to 34% off your train tickets with one of the many Railcards

Ticket offers

From half price train tickets to seasonal discounts.

I want to...

See ticket offers

Be inspired

Check live train times

Read the latest news

Book travel assistance

Check engineering works

Engineering works will affect your journey

You need to enable JavaScript in your browser to see Live train arrivals and departures through this website� (and also instructions on how to enable JavaScript)

Browse Help by Category

• Ticket types and prices

When are Off-Peak train times?

Off-peak trains offer flexible tickets at cheaper prices. Before travelling make sure you check ticket for restrictions, it may specify your ticket is only valid to use with one train operator.   

How to check when Off-Peak trains are?  

Unfortunately, there is not one set rule that applies to all Train Operators.  Most Off-Peak tickets are found during weekend travel or through the week outside of commuting hours, but the only way to know for sure is to check an individual journey using our app or website. 

Our app highlights if train times are Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak. If neither is displayed, then it’s a Peak train. 

Visit our train times page , scroll down to the 'Change'  button and enter your journey search for a clear display of what trains are Peak vs Off-Peak vs Super Off-Peak. 

Alternatively, you can search for tickets from our home page by using ‘Get times & tickets’ . The types of tickets presented are an indication of if the train is at an Off-Peak or Super-off Peak time.  Click the earlier/later buttons until you find your ideal one.

Still want to learn more about Off-Peak trains ?

Related Articles

Did you find it helpful? Yes No

Loading service updates...

• Live train times
• Assisted travel
• Delay Repay
• Buy tickets

Service updates

Travel updates Latest travel information and updates

Industrial action Information about upcoming train strikes and industrial action

Timetables Find Thameslink timetables by station and download train times

Planned engineering work Details of planned engineering work on our network

Live map Real-time service status and route display

Cambridge closures Network Rail are constructing a brand new station at Cambridge South

East Coast Digital Programme Upgrading and modernising signalling on some of our routes

Alternative route maps Alternative train, bus and tube maps

Onboard travel

Bikes & Scooters Storage of bikes and scooters on board

Wi-Fi on board Keeping you connected

Baby on board Priority seating for new and expectant parents

Finding a quieter train Want to have the best chance of getting a seat?

Luggage Guidelines and support for carrying luggage on board

Travelling with pets Policies for travelling with pets

Station information

Car parking Parking availability and information across our stations

All stations (A-Z) Facilities, addresses, maps and more, for all stations

Getting to the station Find out about taxis, buses and how to get to the station

Tickets & Payment methods

Off-Peak Reduced fares during off-peak hours

Super Off-Peak weekday Reduced fares during off-peak weekdays

Anytime Tickets valid for travel at any time

First Class Guarantee a seat and power socket

Carnet tickets Buy a book of pre-paid single tickets

Child tickets Child fares and discounts for young people

Advance tickets Discounted tickets booked ahead of travel

Season tickets Discounted long-term tickets for regular commuters

Flexi Season Flexible season ticket options for part-time commuters

Ways to pay eTickets, Smartcard and Oyster card payment methods

Discounts & Offers

Railcards Save up to 1/3 off tickets with railcards

GroupSave Off-peak saving sfor 3-9 adults travelling together

PlusBus Combined train, bus and tram tickets

London 2FOR1 Offers 2-for-1 entry at attractions in London, Brighton and more

Kids for £2 Cheaper child fares starting from just £2

Student Connect If your school or college is in Cambridgeshire you can apply for the Cambridgeshire Student Connect card

Accessibility

Book assistance Our online form for booking assistance for your journey

Assisted travel Assistance for those with access needs

Priority seat card A badge for those who require priority seating

Support whilst you're travelling Information and guidance on accessing our trains

Wheelchairs & Mobility scooters Guidelines for wheelchairs and mobility scooters

Help & Support

Contact us Need help? Find out how to get in touch

Delay Repay Compensation for unexpected delays and cancellations

Refunds & Amendments How to refund and change your ticket

Money Back Guarantee Plans can change, and it's fine to change your mind

Penalty fares Information on penalty fares and prosecutions

Lost property Lost property services, collection and enquires

First Class claim form First class claim form for reimbursement

Off-Peak tickets

Travelling outside rush hour? You can save money and still choose your train with an Off-Peak ticket

Off-Peak train tickets – Great savings, everyday

Our Off-Peak train tickets are a brilliant way to save money next time you take a trip out to the country or into the city. Not on a tight deadline? Free to pick and choose which trains you take? That’s when Off-Peak tickets make perfect sense – quieter times, lower prices and better value.

What’s so good about Off-Peak tickets?

If you’re taking the train at quieter times of the day, Off-Peak train tickets give you much better value than standard Anytime tickets . There are more benefits to going off-peak too:

• More space to grab a seat
• No need to buy in advance
• Single, Return and Open Return tickets available
• 50% discount for children aged 5-15; two kids under 5 go free with each paying adult
• 1/3 off all off-peak fares for Railcard holders
• Use your GroupSave discount when 3 or more travel together

London Kings Cross to Cambridge

Off-peak day return, hitchin to london king’s cross, off-peak day return, london kings cross to ely, when are off-peak train tickets valid.

The times you can use your Off-Peak ticket depend on where you’re going and when you’re travelling. Use the journey planner to check whether an Off-Peak ticket is available for your Great Northern journey. Off-Peak services will only show up in your search results if they are available for your journey.

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.

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

An Off-Peak Return ticket is for one return journey. You have to start the first leg (the ‘outward’ bit) on the date shown on your ticket. But you can take up to one month to come back – handy if you want to spend more time on the Fens or up on the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street.

With an Off-Peak Day return, you have to go out and come back on the same day.

How can I buy Off-Peak train tickets?

It couldn’t be easier to buy Off-Peak train tickets:

• Book Online – collect your tickets at the station or have them sent First Class
• On-the-go using our On Track app ( iOS ) and collect at the station
• Ticket machines at the station, whether you’re travelling today or another day
• Station ticket offices (during opening hours)

Read the general terms and conditions for Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets. Questions about this service? Contact us .

Super Off-Peak - the weekend option

Super Off-Peak fares are available on weekends and Bank Holidays, and cost even less than Off-Peak

More ticket types

Stay up-to-date.

Subscribe to email updates. Get travel inspiration, journey updates and exclusive offers delivered straight to your inbox.

We will not pass on your personal information to any organisation outside of Great Northern.

Should we no longer operate the Great Northern franchise, please be aware that we will pass your details to the Successor franchise or Secretary of State for Transport to allow you to continue receiving service and/or marketing emails if you have consented to them.

Subscription confirmed

Thank you for subscribing to receive relevant updates from Great Northern.

Subscription Failed

Something went wrong with your submission, please try again later.