Peak hours

PEEK OW-erz /piːk ˈaʊəz/
Neutral Neutral

What it really means

The busiest travel times, roughly 6:30–9:30 in the morning and 4:00–7:00 in the evening on weekdays. Fares are higher and trains are crowded during peak hours.

Chinese explanation
高峰时段，大约是工作日早上6:30–9:30和傍晚4:00–7:00。高峰时段票价更贵，车也更挤。

Example conversation

A: Why was my fare more expensive this morning? B: You travelled during peak hours. It is cheaper after half nine.
A：为什么我今天早上的票价更贵？ B：你是在高峰时段坐的车，九点半以后会便宜些。

What you could say back

“I will travel later next time.”

Related phrases

Off-peak Anytime ticket Daily cap / capping

Official sources

Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.

Go deeper

Using UK Public Transport: Trains, Buses and the Tube
All Transport
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team · Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake