How do I know if a train is off-peak?

Okay, so you’re wondering about off-peak trains? It can be a bit confusing, right? I know I’ve scratched my head over it a few times! Basically, it usually kicks in around 9:30 AM on weekdays if you’re in a big city – like London, for example. I remember rushing to catch a 9:22 train there once, thinking I could sneak in an off-peak fare. Nope! Learned that the hard way. Outside of the major hubs, it’s often a bit earlier, around 9:00 AM. So, easiest thing to do? Just check the departure time of your specific train. If it leaves after these times, you’re probably good to go with an off-peak ticket. But – and this is important – there’s often a catch! Evening rush hour can mess things up. You know, everyone heading home from work… so sometimes even if you travel later in the day, it might still be peak. Always double-check, you know? Don’t want any nasty surprises with the ticket inspector! It’s best to look up the specific train company’s rules, just to be absolutely, 100% sure. It’s a bit of a faff, I know, but worth it in the end. Maybe there’s an app for it? There’s an app for everything these days…