Train travel. Tickets times

[Heatherjayne1972]

If I buy a ticket for an 11am train. Can I use the same ticket to get on a train at 9am. If the price is the same. I can’t find the answer anywhere. Does anyone know?

I have before as it normally says something like, this is super off peak rate and can be used on any other super off peak train.

I think it depends on the type of ticket you bought, some you can only travel on the train you booked, some allow you to go on a different time but without the seat reservation.

it will say on the website whether it is meant for a certain time, often cheaper if it is restricted like that

If you have bought an open return, offpeak return or superoffpeak ticket then the only thing tying you to the 11an train is the seat reservation but it's fine to get on the 9am and sit in an unreserved seat.

If you bought an Advance ticket then it's irrelevant that you could have bought an Advance for the 9am train for the same price. The Advance ticket is only valid on the 11am train.

It depends on the terms of your ticket. Some are only for a specific time train. Some you might book for a specific time but the terms mean you can actually travel on any train, or maybe any train at off-peak hours but not peak.

Completely flexible tickets are often more expensive than ones for specific trains.

Sometimes it's not possible to book a specific train (eg my short commuter train into London).

Have a look at this explanation too: www.nationalrail.co.uk/tickets-railcards-and-offers/buying-a-ticket/changing-cancelling-and-getting-a-refund-for-tickets/

It also depends on what day of the week it is. Weekend tickets tend to be more flexible, but a ticket that works at 11am in a weekday might not be valid until 9.30 or later.

the ticket i often get you cant travel between 4 pm and 7 pm

you possibly have to arrive after 9.30 for the cheaper ticket

Depends on the train company and/or the day of the week and can depend on the destination as well. Tickets from my station into London on a weekday are cheaper if the train arrives after 11am.