- When are Off-Peak c2c tickets valid?
- When are Super Off-Peak c2c tickets valid?
- How to find Off Peak c2c tickets
You could save a fortune on c2c train tickets by travelling Off-Peak. This refers to the time of day when fewer people travel and trains are quieter. Peak times, on the other hand, are the morning and late afternoon rush hours, when everyone crams onto the trains to get to or from work. Travelling Off-Peak simply means avoiding this period – here's what you need to know:
Photo by Martin Addison
When are Off-Peak c2c tickets valid?
Off-Peak tickets for c2c are valid during the following times:
Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)
- For trains going from, to or via London (zones 1 to 6), you can use off-peak tickets on c2c trains that depart between 09:30 and 16:00 and after 19:00.
- For trains not going to, from or via London (zones 1 to 6), you can use off-peak tickets on c2c trains that depart between 09:30.
Weekends and bank holidays
- Off-peak tickets are valid on all c2c trains on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
The peak time for c2c is during the morning before 09:30 on weekdays (excluding bank holidays). Off-peak tickets are not valid during this period. There is then an evening peak time on weekdays (excluding bank holidays) between 16:00 and 19:00 – but this is only for trains that go from or via London zones 1-6.
If your train doesn't go from or via London, then this evening peak time doesn't apply and you can use off-peak tickets to travel on any c2c service after 09:30. Remember, these times apply to c2c only – other operators may have different definitions of peak and off-peak.
When are Super Off-Peak c2c tickets valid?
Super Off-Peak tickets aren’t available on c2c services. This operator only has Off-Peak discounts available. Luckily, you can still save more with SplitTickets and other special discounts that are automatically applied when you search for trains on Trip.com.
For other operators, Super Off-Peak tickets are usually valid on trains that leave on weekdays between 10:00 and 16:00 and after 19:00 on weekdays. Every company is slightly different, though, so it’s a good idea to double-check before you travel.
How to find Off Peak c2c tickets
To find Off-Peak c2c tickets, use the Journey Finder on Trip.com, and search for trains after 09:30 on weekdays (or any time on weekends). It will then show you available ‘Off-Peak’ tickets, along with any travel restrictions. If you don’t want to specify a time, just select the ‘Cheapest’ filter on the search results - this will likely show you Off-Peak prices first.