What counts as PM off peak?

[whole diary]

[Marlburian]

Thanks for that, Stuving. Handy, as my first visit to London since the new timetable was introduced is next week. My business will be completed by around 1700, so it's a choice between catching one of the very few semi-fast trains listed or killing time - something I can do in the summer wandering around parks and Olde London, but not so pleasant in February...

As a gentleman of a very certain age, I need to bear in mind where toilets are available. Until a year ago, I visited London a couple of times a month and over five or six hours would drink a fair amount of liquid (but hardly any alcohol), especially as I have a dry mouth. (And in summer heat we are enjoined to drink lots of water.)

This week's visit includes lunch with a close friend in a Strand restaurant, then coffee with another friend in Highgate. No problems with getting to Paddington afterwards, but I'm conscious that, given the very limited rush-hour choice, I may end up on a TfL^» (Transport for London - about) train that takes 55 minutes or so (plus any delays) to Reading without any toilets.

I was not impressed by the TfL explanation that the average Crossrail journey will take 20 minutes.

So I'll be limiting my liquid intake. Fingers crossed for my journey - but hopefully I won't have to cross my legs.

Marlburian

[stuving]

I've moved this here - it was in response to a post on another thread.

As to the next bit ... that does seem odd; it's not a contradiction between GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s different versions as they all say the 18:56 is not allowed.

I should modify that. Somebody has been tinkering! But one result is a new (I think) contradiction.

First, the restriction code: from Slough, the CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')) code is O9 - a new version starting today (9/3/20). Its text list of banned trains does not include the earlier semifasts marked in red in (the old) T10 - 16:50 & 16:56. The "unpublished restrictions" (which feed all OJPs^▸ (Online Journey Planner), remember) don't match the text - the gap in blackout times is 1654-1657 (exclusive), catching the 16:50 and letting the 16:56 pass.

The current on-line timetable T10 (a PDF created on 20/2/20, with an "updated" flash on the cover) shows the 16:56 as OK on off-peak tickets - but not the 16:50, which is cyan (I think that had changed from red already?). So if this was intended, the text list in code O9 is wrong. However, the OJP is right by the (now) published timetable. Has there been any publicity for this relaxation? If I'm in Reading tomorrow (and I remember -  important caveat these days) I'll look for a new handout.

[stuving]

... If I'm in Reading tomorrow (and I remember -  important caveat these days) I'll look for a new handout.

No new leaflet - just the same 641894. But there were copies of the new "updated" (and new season's colourway) timetable booklet.