Train ticket splitting: why is it sometimes so effective?

[nickyboy]

I'm travelling Stockport to Banbury this week. The single ticket I wanted was about £60. I thought that a bit steep so I went to this website

http://splitticketing.co.uk/

And I got the same journey for £28

Of course I have the faff of 4 separate tickets but I'll live with that for the saving. I presumed the big saving is because I'm leaving Stockport at peak time and thus a single ticket is a peak time ticket. So maybe the splitting works on the basis that it gives me some short initial journey at peak rates, then a series of off-peak tickets thereafter?

But that seems not to be the case. I've got an Advance ticket Stockport-Stoke. Anytime tickets Stoke-Stafford and Stafford-Wolverhampton and then finally an Advance ticket Wolverhampton-Banbury

Sadly no splitting savings for the London-Stockport return

 

[ColinJ]

UK rail ticket policy makes no sense whatsoever!

I found a journey the other day where it was cheaper to catch a train from A to B and then switch to a train from B to C than to cycle to B and just catch the B to C train!

 

[Globalti]

Preston to Euston is still expensive, however you try to do it.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I often split tickets on a train journey into / out of London. It's 20 quid cheaper to get a return from Southampton to Woking, and a return from Woking to London Waterloo, than it is to get a return from Southampton to London Waterloo. I just have to remember to only get on the trains that stop at Woking.

 

[palinurus]

Preston to Euston is still expensive, however you try to do it.

I do that journey regularly. It doesn't seem to make any difference if I book way in advance- months- or a couple days in advance, always about the same price.

 

[PK99]

Preston to Euston is still expensive, however you try to do it.

£42 advance single mid morning 15 feb - expensive?

Cheapest return out 15 feb, back 16 feb £44 - expensive?

 

[Bodhbh]

With split tickets, if you miss a connection due to one of the trains being late you can't use the remaining tickets on the later trains? Also you won't be able to get full re-embursement?

 

[subaqua]

With split tickets, if you miss a connection due to one of the trains being late you can't use the remaining tickets on the later trains? Also you won't be able to get full re-embursement?

only if they are advance tickets. and thats dependent on the commercial guard you get.

anytime are just that - anytime. strangely you can book an anytime in advance , it costs a bit more than an advance for a specific train. its what we do in work.

 

[nickyboy]

With split tickets, if you miss a connection due to one of the trains being late you can't use the remaining tickets on the later trains? Also you won't be able to get full re-embursement?

That's the beauty. There is no connection. It's exactly the same train. Getting a ticket from A to E (travelling through B,C and D) cost £60, getting tickets A-B, B-C,C-D and D-E cost me £28. Whenever a ticket inspection takes place, I show them the relevant ticket for the bit of the journey I'm on

The only slight inconvenience is I couldn't organise seat reservations myself so I've got 3 different reservations for different bits of the journey but they're all in the same carriage so no biggy

 

[Racing roadkill]

With split tickets, if you miss a connection due to one of the trains being late you can't use the remaining tickets on the later trains? Also you won't be able to get full re-embursement?

Like has been said, as long as the train actually calls in at the station at which you split the ticket, you don't have to get off the train. You may have some explaining to do, if the train didn't stop at the split station however.

 

[HF2300]

Like has been said, as long as the train actually calls in at the station at which you split the ticket, you don't have to get off the train. You may have some explaining to do, if the train didn't stop at the split station however.

Just tell them you did that thing where you drop off a bridge, run along the roof of the train and swing down through a conveniently open window / door / locomotive cab / tender / etc.; or if you're getting off, tell them you've trained your horse bike to run alongside the train at eaxctly the right speed

 

[marknotgeorge]

It's cheaper to go from Derby to Birmingham, then Birmingham to London, than to go from Derby direct to London. Takes a bit longer, though. Fecking insane.

 

[Brandane]

http://splitticketing.co.uk/

Great site; added to bookmarks.
I was considering a LEJOG at some point, but the £230 single fare to Penzance was one of the negative factors. By using that site I can get the same journey for £110. One less excuse for not doing it now!

 

[Freds Dad]

Preston to Euston is still expensive, however you try to do it.

Go via Lancaster

http://www.lep.co.uk/your-lancashir...y-of-ripping-off-preston-passengers-1-8325638

 

[steveindenmark]

Thats a great site if it works.