Mizter T wrote

was surprised to learn that I made a journey from Kings cross (LU)
to
Hounslow at 5pm and it charged me £4.30. It should have been
£1.70?

Can someone please clarify.

Briefly, fares are charged at peak rate in the evening peak but the
cap is
set at the off-peak rate. I don't think the railcard actually comes
into
it.

In the evening peak, the Railcard still comes into it in the sense
that it
means the holder is eligible for the Railcard-reduced off-peak daily
cap.
However Railcard holders (who have the discount loaded on their
Oyster card)
don't get any special treatment w.r.t. evening peak fares - it's full
whack
for them.

The only addition is to note that if the evening peak journey is on NR
and is the only PAYG journey made that day it can be cheaper to buy a
paper ticket (since the Railcard reduction will be available for that).

--
Mike D