Fares explained

Class

Single or Return

Valid

Return Journey

Refunds (may be admin charge)

Break of Journey

Booking Deadline

Railcard Discounts

Train Operator

Notes

Flexible Tickets

First Open

First

Both, single costs half of return

Any train, any time on any permitted route

Within one month

Yes

You may break your journey on both the outward and return sections.

Up to time of departure

Yes, except Family and Young Persons

Any

Expensive ticket aimed at the business traveler.

Standard Open

Standard

Both, single costs half of return

Any train, any time on any permitted route

Within one month

Yes

You may break your journey on both the outward and return sections.

Up to time of departure

Yes

Any

Expensive, but flexible ticket.  Aimed at business travelers.

First Day Single or Return

First

Both

Any time during day of issue on any permitted route

On date shown

Yes

You may break your journey on both the outward and return sections

Up to time of departure

Yes

Any

Standard Day Single or Return

Standard

Both

Any time during day of issue on any permitted route

On date shown

Yes

You may break your journey on both the outward and return sections

Up to time of departure

Yes

Any

Semi Flexible Tickets

Cheap Day Return

Standard

Return only

Usually only available off-peak journeys.  Usually after 09.30 weekdays and all weekend

On date shown

Yes

You may break your journey on both the outward and return sections

Up to time of departure

Yes

Any

'Off peak' definition varies between route. Many evening peak services excluded.  Good value fare. 

Saver

Standard

Single or Return, however single is £1 less than return so don't bother!

Usually for off peak journeys on weekdays and all weekend on any permitted route.

Within one month of date shown

Yes

You may break your return journey only - not outward

Up to time of departure

Yes

Any

'Off peak' definition varies between route. Many evening peak services excluded.  Good value fare

SuperSaver

Standard

Return

Off Peak journeys, Sun - Thu and some Saturdays.  This ticket is only available on a few routes now and has been replaced by 'advance' tickets. 

Within one month of date shown.

Yes

You may break your return journey

Up to time of departure

Yes

Any

Good ticket, however it has generally been replaced by 'advance' tickets.  These are often cheaper, if less flexible. 

Advance

(has many brand names - Virgin Advance, GNER Advance, Superadvance, Firstminute, Apex, Pionner Standard Advance etc

Standard (some companies have First class versions)

Return / sometime single.  Two singles may be cheaper than a return.  Often there are different price levels depending on demand. 

Off peak journeys

Only on trains and dates shown

Limited / No

No break of journey

up to 1800 on day before travel, however best value fares only available well in advance.

No, except for a few higher value tickets.

Only specified train operators services.

Best value fares, however they are restricted and don't allow change of travel plans.  Best fares are available well in advance. 

Groups

(Known as many brand names - Friends Fare, Groupsave, FabFour etc)

Standard Class

Return

Off Peak

Only on dates and trains shown

Limited / No

No break of journey

48 hours in advance

No

Only with specified train operators

Great value fare for small groups and families of adults