Off-peak return
The off-peak return is a type of train ticket used on British Railways (see National Rail). The ticket was introduced as the saver return in 1985 , being rebranded to its current name on 7 September 2008. A super off-peak return (known as a supersaver return before 2008) is also available.
Validity
The outward journey must be made on the date shown on the ticket, and the return journey can be made at any time within one calendar month from this date.[1] Some train companies prevent use of this type of ticket during the early morning and early evening, especially for services beginning or terminating at London. An example of these restrictions is quoted below:
Tickets which do not involve travel to, from or via central London are generally restricted in the morning period only. Typically, Off-Peak and Off-Peak Day tickets are valid after 08.45 or 09.00 outside Greater London, and after 09.30 for journeys outwards from the London suburbs, and Super Off-Peak Day tickets are valid after 12.00.[2]
Misuse
On routes where the chance of there being a ticket inspector is low, commuters have been known to buy one off-peak return in each direction and keep reusing the return portion until either the ticket gets inspected and stamped, or the month expires. The gradual introduction of ticket barriers across stations is removing this misuse as the ticket is retained by the barrier upon completing the journey.