Originally Posted by stut

OK, you've got a mix of gated and non-gated stations there. The London termini are now pretty much all gated, but outlying stations like Windsor Central aren't.

If the barriers are operational, you need to put your ticket in to open them, but if they're not, there's no need at all.

Off-peak used to new simple - after 9.30 Mon-Fri (or arriving at London after 10) and all day at weekends. However, several train companies have started evening peaks as well, and others have nearly all day as off-peak away from London.

Permitted routes are even more of a hornet's nest. There is a hugely complex document called the Routeing Guide that gives full details, and I suggest you read it if you are suffering from particularly acute insomnia. On the plus side, you can use it to save yourself a fortune with some creative routings...

The easiest way to figure out off-peak and permitted routes is to try a d book a ticket online and see if it's allowed. The www.eastcoast.co.uk website is good as it greys out fares when they are invalid, and lets you specify via points, slower services, etc. Far easier to figure it out this way than try to get to grips with the arcane rules around it.

Originally Posted by exilencfc

Paddington has electronic barriers which you push your ticket through (assuming it's small and has orange borders at the top and bottom). You need to go through the barriers to enter and to exit the platform areas. Also be careful that you have the right platform at Paddington as all the platforms have individual barriers.
Slough also has these barriers but unless you need to leave the station it won't be a problem - you just walk from one platform to another to catch the Windsor train.
I would think Bath has them too and it's likely Salisbury does.

Victoria and Waterloo will certainly have ticket inspections, I'd assume with the same style of barriers. Vauxhall and Hampton Court almost certainly have barriers, Hackbridge i've never been to and have no idea about and Windsor i'm not sure about but there will most likely be some type of inspection.

To pass through a barrier you do not need a railcard assuming your ticket is barrier compatible. If it isn't you need a barrier with a human operator who might ask to see your railcard (I don't think they do though). All barriered stations have people working at the barriers, if they can't staff them they are left open. You can choose to go through the human operated barrier so this is a good option if in doubt.

London- Bath there will almost certainly be a person checking tickets on the train. They will want to see your railcard. Also if your ticket is for a specific train make sure you catch it, these tickets are not valid on other trains. London-Salisbury is also likely to have a human ticket collector. London-Slough-Windsor i'm not sure. Local trains in this area didn't used to have them but the rail company has hired far more of them lately because they got sick and tired of fare evaders. Against which the train may be so crowded they don't bother.

Off peak/on peak - mostly applies to the morning rush hour. If you have an off peak ticket you cannot travel at certain times. I think the morning peak expires at 10am, be warned that the first off peak train is always heaving. The best thing to do is ask a railway staff member what the restrictions are, it might also say on the electronic boards. You could try googling it but the information is not easy to find

Permitted routes- some tickets are sold that will not allow you to take particular routes. These tickets often have the restrictions stamped on them. I don't think it will be a problem for you, certainly on direct trains you will be fine - it's mostly a problem if you have to change trains and have a choice of multiple routes from A-B.

Originally Posted by David-A

If confronted by gate (that is closed) insert your ticket.

If it is the start of your journey, take the ticket from other point where it comes back out and go through before gates close.

If it is the end of your journey, most gates will retain your ticket. I.e. if you get a gate upon arrival, then you insert it gates open to go though, you wont' get given the ticket back.

Which is a reason for people to request a recipt if needed for expenses, etc. You can't rely upon keeping the ticket itself.

Originally Posted by teflon

Hackbridge doesn't appear to have any gates, nor do either of the Windsor & Eton stations. That's not to say there won't occasionally be someone checking tickets at the exit from the platform.

You can take a virtual tour round any station in the country at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/ - type in the station name, then from the station page, click the Stations Made Easy 'show [station] route' link. Click on the map to expand it, and you'll then be able to mouse over the plan to see pictures of the most mundane details.