Off-peak Day Travelcard Query

[Bella_Ciao]

Long time reader, first time poster.

I have 2 queries regarding the Off-peak Day Travelcard, which are:

1. Can I use Off-peak Day Travelcards to travel to Heathrow on Elizabeth Line?
2. On the way back from Heathrow, can I use an Off-peak Day Travelcard to start my journey on Elizabeth Line and then take the train afterwards? The reason I ask this is because I read somewhere that for an Off-peak Day Travelcards to be valid, journeys must begin on National Rail. Is this true?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jfollows]

There are two types of off-peak day travelcard:

1. One which you buy for use in London zones only, from 09:30 M-F. You can pay different amounts for different zones.
2. One which you buy from outside London, which allows off-peak train travel to/from London, then unlimited use in zones 1-6 in London. “Off-peak” here is defined by the ticket and will be different from different places, but the London part of the ticket will be valid from 09:30 M-F

If your zones in (1) allow it, and always for (2), you can use the Elizabeth Line to Heathrow.
If you have (1) then you do not need to start on national rail, no, and by definition (2) does. Where are you starting from?

A zone 1 to zone 6 off-peak day travelcard costs £15.90; if you use Oyster or contactless the daily cap is £15.60.

For travel in London alone, I use contactless because it’s simpler and cheaper. You can also use contactless on National Rail services around London, as far as Reading, for example, and it will usually be cheaper or the same cost as a travelcard.

If you are making your journeys to/from Heathrow on different days, then there may be better options for you than day travelcards if you can elaborate further on your plans.

 

[Hadders]

1. Can I use Off-peak Day Travelcards to travel to Heathrow on Elizabeth Line?

Yes, Travelcards are valid on the Elizabeth Line to Heathrow.

2. On the way back from Heathrow, can I use an Off-peak Day Travelcard to start my journey on Elizabeth Line and then take the train afterwards? The reason I ask this is because I read somewhere that for an Off-peak Day Travelcards to be valid, journeys must begin on National Rail. Is this true?

Here's an example that I've used that I think applies to you. I needed to travel from Stevenage to Heathrow on a Sunday for a flight, returning the following Sunday.

The cheapest way of doing this way was to buy a Stevenage to London Zones 1-6 Off Peak Day Travelcard for my journey to the airport.
For the return journey, I also used a Stevenage to London Zones 1-6 Off Peak Day Travelcard. There is nothing saying you have to travel from Stevenage to London first, I just started my journey at Heathrow and used the return portion, which is perfectly allowed.

I'm not 100% certain whether you can collect a Travelcard purchased online at Heathrow airport so I made sure I was in possession of the ticket before my return journey before I left Stevenage.

 

[Bella_Ciao]

Thanks both. I plan to travel between Rochester (Kent) and Heathrow, changing at Abbey Wood to Elizabeth Line. Do I need to start on National Rail on my return from Heathrow because it is simply not possible for my return journey.

@Hadders Thanks for sharing your example. I think it is similar to what I am planning to achieve with my journey. Can I ask if you buy 2 Off Peak Day Travelcards - One for each day or is the return journey allowed on the same travelcard after few days?
Thanks.

 

[Hadders]

Do I need to start on National Rail on my return from Heathrow because it is simply not possible for my return journey.

There's no need to use National Rail first.

@Hadders Thanks for sharing your example. I think it is similar to what I am planning to achieve with my journey. Can I ask if you buy 2 Off Peak Day Travelcards - One for each day or is the return journey allowed on the same travelcard after few days?

An Off Peak Day Travelcard is only valid for one day, so you'd need to of them. One dated for the day of your outward journey, the other for the day of your return.

Rochester to London Zones 1-6 Off Peak Day Travelcard is £29.90 (£19.70 with a railcard). Buy one for the day of your journey to the airport. Buy exactly the same ticket dated for the day of your return journey.

Personally I'd buy the ticket online and collect it from the ticket machine at Rochester before you travel. I say this simply because some ticket office staff like to make up their own rules.

 

[cav1975]

I'm pretty sure that it would be cheaper to buy Rochester to Abbey Wood & back as singles (£12.60 each way, potentially cheaper still on the outward journey if you can get an advance single) and then use contactless/Oyster from Abbey Wood to Heathrow Elizabeth Line (£13.30 each way). The only hassle is that you would need to use the footbridge at Abbey Wood that is nearer to the country end of the station as there are no card readers near the other footbridge.

 

[Hadders]

I'm pretty sure that it would be cheaper to buy Rochester to Abbey Wood & back as singles (£12.60 each way, potentially cheaper still on the outward journey if you can get an advance single) and then use contactless/Oyster from Abbey Wood to Heathrow Elizabeth Line (£13.30 each way). The only hassle is that you would need to use the footbridge at Abbey Wood that is nearer to the country end of the station as there are no card readers near the other footbridge.

I wouldn't recommend Advance tickets on the return journey if the OP is flying in to Heathrow.

 

[cav1975]

I wouldn't recommend Advance tickets on the return journey if the OP is flying in to Heathrow.

I agree, I suggested an advance only for the outward journey.

 

[MrJeeves]

I'm not 100% certain whether you can collect a Travelcard purchased online at Heathrow airport so I made sure I was in possession of the ticket before my return journey before I left Stevenage.

I believe you can, but @Mike395's experiences seem to suggest that the tickets will never work a barrier as they're somehow encoded incorrectly.

 

[Bella_Ciao]

Thanks everyone for your respective responses. Although I live in Rochester but my girlfriend lives in Greenhithe (Kent). So there's a chance I might start my journey from there if I sleep at her's the night before the flight. She tells me it is £13/£14 for a travelcard from there if you have a Network Railcard, which I have.

Anyway, may I ask what's wrong with advance tickets on the way back? Though I plan to use Travelcard this time around.
Thanks again.

 

[Hadders]

Advance tickets (not to be confused with a 'normal' off-peak ticket purchased in advance of the day of travel) can only be used on the booked train. Assuming you're getting a flight into Heathrow if you book a specific train there is a risk that you will miss the train if your flight is delayed. Alternatively if you book a later train 'just in case the flight is late' and it arrives on time you'll end up hanging around at Abbey Wood for your booked train.

If your railcard is a Network Railcard just get the Travelcard, as it will be more expensive if you split and use a ticket to Abbey Wood and PAYG from Abbey Wood to Heathrow.

 

[island]

I'm not 100% certain whether you can collect a Travelcard purchased online at Heathrow airport

You can nowadays.

1. One which you buy for use in London zones only, from 09:30 M-F. You can pay different amounts for different zones.
2. One which you buy from outside London, which allows off-peak train travel to/from London, then unlimited use in zones 1-6 in London. “Off-peak” here is defined by the ticket and will be different from different places, but the London part of the ticket will be valid from 09:30 M-F

If your zones in (1) allow it, and always for (2), you can use the Elizabeth Line to Heathrow.

All off-peak day Travelcards cover (at least) zones 1-6 and accordingly may be used at Heathrow LU and EL, subject to the aforementioned 0930 weekday restriction.

 

[Bella_Ciao]

Advance tickets (not to be confused with a 'normal' off-peak ticket purchased in advance of the day of travel) can only be used on the booked train. Assuming you're getting a flight into Heathrow if you book a specific train there is a risk that you will miss the train if your flight is delayed. Alternatively if you book a later train 'just in case the flight is late' and it arrives on time you'll end up hanging around at Abbey Wood for your booked train.

If your railcard is a Network Railcard just get the Travelcard, as it will be more expensive if you split and use a ticket to Abbey Wood and PAYG from Abbey Wood to Heathrow.

Thank you @Hadders for taking time out and explaining. I will certainly get the travelcard and save £££.
Cheers.