EMR Off-Peak times: Travel cheaper on quieter services

Kieran Read

Published: Mar 25, 2025

Updated: May 9, 2026

Did you know you can save on your train fares when travelling during quieter times, commonly known as Off-Peak (or Super Off-Peak)? East Midlands Railway (EMR) offer notable discounts when you pick tickets outside of the busiest hours, usually due to the work commute - but when exactly are these times and how can I look out for these tickets?

Photo by Enterprise1701c

EMR Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets explained

If you have a flexible schedule, Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets can be the best way to travel affordably. These tickets are typically valid during quieter times and come with different levels of restrictions:

Off-Peak Day Return – Perfect for same-day round trips during Off-Peak hours.
Super Off-Peak Day Return – Offers an even cheaper fare for same-day travel but with stricter time restrictions.
Off-Peak Return – Allows travel on the outward journey on the date shown on the ticket, but the return journey can be made any Off-Peak day within a month of purchase.

Travelling Off-Peak to London (Monday–Friday)

If you’re heading to London on a weekday, Off-Peak fares apply based on your arrival time:

Off-Peak tickets – Valid on trains arriving into London at or after 10:03.
Super Off-Peak tickets – Valid on trains arriving into London at or after 11:36.
Anytime tickets – Required for earlier arrivals or unrestricted travel.

Travelling Off-Peak from London (Monday–Friday)

If you’re travelling out of London, different time restrictions apply:

Off-Peak tickets – Valid for departures from 08:47 to 16:35 and after 18:47.
- On Fridays, Off-Peak tickets are valid all day from 08:47 onwards.
Super Off-Peak tickets – Valid for departures from 10:05 to 15:34 and after 18:47.
Anytime tickets – Required between 16:35 and 18:47.

Weekend Off-Peak travel

Good news for weekend travellers—Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets are valid at any time on Saturdays and Sundays for journeys to and from London.

How to find the best Off-Peak EMR fares

When booking your ticket on Trip.com, we allow you to filter by the cheapest fares, making it easy to choose the most affordable ticket for your journey. These will typically return tickets for that day during Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak times.

More useful information

UK train Journey Planner

EMR info page

Guide to UK train ticket types

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