Super off-peak on Great Northern

[Jimcam]

I've been looking at returns from Cambridge (CBG) to King's Cross (KGX). One part of the Great Northern website (see screenshot1) says that Super Off-peak returns are available only to London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras (ie not King's Cross). Yet another part of the website (see screenshot2) is happy to sell me a Super Off-Peak return on the 1002 from CBG, which runs directly to King's Cross and terminates there. What am I missing, to understand which is correct please?

 

[WAB]

I've been looking at returns from Cambridge (CBG) to King's Cross (KGX). One part of the Great Northern website (see screenshot1) says that Super Off-peak returns are available only to London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Farringdon and St Pancras (ie not King's Cross). Yet another part of the website (see screenshot2) is happy to sell me a Super Off-Peak return on the 1002 from CBG, which runs directly to King's Cross and terminates there. What am I missing, to understand which is correct please?

The general rule is if it sells you the ticket to an itinerary, then it is valid on that itinerary regardless of anything else.

From the National Rail website:

When you book your journey online, any ticket offered at that time in connection with the journey planner results will be accepted as a permitted route.

 

[Jimcam]

Thanks, that's helpful and reassuring. But why does the GN website show those restrictions which exclude King's Cross?

 

[HughT]

The GN website is simply wrong. The ticket's sold to the generic "London Terminals", and KGX us definitely one of those! Plus GN don't operate to St Pancras.

Possible a copy/paste error from a Thameslink original?

 

[Silver Cobra]

I would agree it's a simple copy/paste error from the Thameslink website that they didn't update properly for the Great Northern website. The description in the second picture would match up perfectly for a Cambridge to London Thameslink super off-peak ticket, which is valid to St Pancras but not Kings Cross. A Cambridge to London Terminals super off-peak ticket, which is the one you are purchasing here, is valid to Kings Cross, St Pancras, Liverpool Street, Old Street and Moorgate.

 

[Edvid]

Tickets between GN stations and London Thameslink are generally also valid at King's Cross - see below:

Tickets with Origin/Destination London Thameslink​

[...]

GREAT NORTHERN ROUTE

[...]

London Thameslink will be valid to travel to/from

• St Pancras International
• Farringdon
• City Thameslink
• London Blackfriars
• London Bridge and
• Elephant & Castle.

It is also valid at Kings Cross but ONLY for break of journey purposes to allow passengers to continue their journey via St Pancras International to/from listed above.

It is NOT VALID for travel to/from Old Street/Moorgate

Unless break of journey is barred in the specific ticket conditions, then per NRCoT para. 16.2 it is perfectly valid to stop/start short at King's Cross.

 

[HughT]

But beware - CBG fares to "London Thameslink" are more expensive than to "London Terminals". Not a lot, but...

 

[Haywain]

There are two different Super Off Peak Returns from Cambridge, one to London Terminals and one to London Thameslink. They are priced differently and have different validity. Therefore you need to be careful which one you buy.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

There are two different Super Off Peak Returns from Cambridge, one to London Terminals and one to London Thameslink. They are priced differently and have different validity. Therefore you need to be careful which one you buy.

Indeed. Just to further clarify, the (route Any Permitted) Super Off Peak (Day?) Return to "London Terminals" is priced at £29.40 (weekdays) and will get you to which London Terminals exactly from Cambridge?

Whereas the one to "London Thameslink" (route Not Underground) is higher priced at £31.40 (weekdays) but potentially allows travel to which other stations that the London Terminals version doesn't?

 

[Haywain]

Indeed. Just to further clarify, the (route Any Permitted) Super Off Peak (Day?) Return to "London Terminals" is priced at £29.40 (weekdays) and will get you to which London Terminals exactly from Cambridge?

Liverpool Street, Moorgate, King's Cross and St Pancras International.

Whereas the one to "London Thameslink" (route Not Underground) is higher priced at £31.40 (weekdays) but potentially allows travel to which other stations that the London Terminals version doesn't?

The Thameslink core stations (St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, London Brisge and Elephant & Castle) and King's Cross, although strictly only for interchange purposes in the latter case.