From 3rd December 2023, you may notice some changes to peak times and tickets on some routes. This is in preparation for the rollout of contactless pay as you go at more stations across the South East.
Contactless pay as you go is being extended to 53 National Rail stations across the South East including 12 South Western Railway stations.
Changes to Peak Times
For journeys where contactless will become available, fares into and around London will be based on the following times and are determined by the departure time of your train(s), not by when you purchase your ticket.
- Morning peak fares are charged 04:30 to 09:30, Monday to Friday
- Evening peak fares are charged 16.00 to 19.00, Monday to Friday when travelling from or via stations in the London Zones 1-9.
- Off-peak fares are charged at all other times.
It is important to make sure your ticket is valid for every train you’re travelling on.
- If you are making a direct journey, as long as the departure time of your first train is in the off-peak period, you can buy an Off-Peak ticket.
- If you change trains during your journey, and the departure time of any of your trains is in the peak period, you will need to buy an Anytime ticket.
Please check our journey planner to confirm which ticket is required for your specific journey.
Changes to Tickets
To enable contactless pay as you go, from 3 December 2023, Single tickets will cost half of a return ticket on journeys where contactless will become available. You will be able to buy either an Anytime or Off-Peak ticket.
This also means that Evening Out and Sunday Out tickets will no longer be available on these routes. However, the price of Off-Peak tickets has been reduced to reflect this.
Depending on the day and time of your journey, it may be better value to buy 2 Single tickets rather than a Return ticket.
For example, if you make a peak journey in one direction and an off-peak journey in the other, then an Anytime Single plus an Off-Peak Single will be cheaper than an Anytime Day Return.
More information about these changes can be found at nationalrail.co.uk/peak.
Why are these changes happening?
These changes are happening in preparation for the launch of contactless pay as you go. Contactless pay as you go payments will be processed by Transport for London (TfL) to enable connectivity across the London travel zones (1-9). Therefore in order to extend contactless pay as you go across the south east, there needs to be alignment with Transport for London’s (TfL) peak and off peak times and pricing structure.
Why can't I buy a Evening Out or Sunday Out ticket anymore?
We have simplified our fares in preparation for contactless pay as you go, so there will be one Peak and one Off Peak price for journeys where contactless will become available. Off peak fares have reduced for most journeys in the new contactless area.
Can I still buy a return ticket?
Yes, you can still buy a return ticket. However, with the changes to morning and evening peak times on journeys where contactless will be available, it may be better value to buy two single tickets rather than a return ticket.
For example, if you travel during peak time in one direction and an off peak time in the other, then an Anytime Single plus an Off Peak Single will be cheaper than an Anytime Day Return.
What if I am travelling from outside London into London Zones 1-9 during the evening peak?
If you are travelling towards a London station, the evening Peak times will not apply, and you can travel with an Off Peak ticket. However, if your journey requires you to change trains within the London Zones 1-9, via a Zone number lower than the destination station, you will usually be subject to a Peak fare.
For example:
- If you are travelling to Staines – Clapham Junction, your journey is a direct route to a destination in Zone 2, so no evening peak restriction applies.
- If you are travelling to Staines – Wimbledon (via Clapham Junction) your journey involves travel via Zone 2 to a destination in Zone 3, therefore the evening peak restriction will apply.
Please check our journey planner to confirm which ticket is required for your specific journey.
Which South Western Railway (SWR) stations are included?
There are 12 SWR stations that will be getting contactless pay as you go and therefore moving to the new fare structure and Peak time restrictions, these stations are:
- Ashford (Surrey)
- Datchet
- Egham
- Kempton Park
- Shepperton
- Staines
- Sunbury
- Sunnymeads
- Upper Halliford
- Virginia Water
- Windsor & Eton Riverside
- Wraysbury
