The Great 'Split Ticketing' Hunt

omelette451

mariafree wrote: »

No I don't change seats as I always have a booked one.
I used to find the situation as you describe but the last couple of times there seems to have been possibly three changes of crew but I'm glad to hear these could have been rogue events. On the late lamented Midland Mainline London/Sheffield they just used to ask new boarders to show their tickets.
The last time I did Sheffield/Oxford the guy sitting opposite me who admittedly had done a longer trip than I told me he had shown his ticket 5 times.
Now I appreciate the TOCS do not want to lose revenue but this seems a mite excessive.

I don't know where the next change of staff is but I very much doubt it's between Brum and Sheffield. Thinking about it, they probably go all the way up to Newcastle. I do know that XC has recently introduced a team of 'revenue protection officers' based out of New St; they usually do a sweep of the train and get off as soon as they've finished (usually Wolverhampton/Stafford or Coventry on the routes I use most), so perhaps this is why you've found it's changed? I should imagine they're in place to cover the busiest sections and the conductor would take over after they've left. I tend to leave my ticket on the table in front of me so it doesn't really bother me if it's asked for more than once, but I think five times would probably be fairly annoying.

flyingirl

Can anyone suggest how to split Reading-Chester return? The standard fare has gone up from £60 to £75 over the new year which is a little excessive methinks.

I have a network railcard (southeast) which covers the stretch from Reading-Banbury. Otherwise I think CrossCountry run the middle stretch of the route. Also have a Virgin credit card which should help getting discounts on their fares.

At the moment the best I can do is to split (1) Reading-Banbury (2, no change, same train) Banbury-Birmingham/Stafford(with change)-Chester which comes to a total of £62-3. Can anyone do better?

Thanks in advance

dzug1

flyingirl wrote: »

Can anyone suggest how to split Reading-Chester return? The standard fare has gone up from £60 to £75 over the new year which is a little excessive methinks.

I have a network railcard (southeast) which covers the stretch from Reading-Banbury. Otherwise I think CrossCountry run the middle stretch of the route. Also have a Virgin credit card which should help getting discounts on their fares.

At the moment the best I can do is to split (1) Reading-Banbury (2, no change, same train) Banbury-Birmingham/Stafford(with change)-Chester which comes to a total of £62-3. Can anyone do better?

Thanks in advance

maybe a daft suggestion but worth a try - advance purchase tickets Reading - Newport and Newport - Chester. Both can be cheap if purchased at the right time

flyingirl

dzug1 wrote: »

maybe a daft suggestion but worth a try - advance purchase tickets Reading - Newport and Newport - Chester. Both can be cheap if purchased at the right time

I wasn't sure I could travel short. Chester station has barriers so they might not let you get back on?

I found Banbury-Chester on Virgin trains for £40.20 plus £14.85 from Reading-Banbury which takes the total down to £55. Woohoo...

omelette451

dzug1 wrote: »

maybe a daft suggestion but worth a try - advance purchase tickets Reading - Newport and Newport - Chester. Both can be cheap if purchased at the right time

That's not a daft suggestion, it's likely to be the cheapest option if you pick the right time.

Other routings to try:
RDG - Crewe and Crewe - CTR
RDG - Stafford, Stafford - CTR (possibly another split at Crewe)
RDG - Brum and Brum - CTR (two routes available for the latter part, one via Shrewsbury and one via Crewe)
RDG - London Paddington and Euston - CTR (you'd be surprised!)

As for a virgin credit card, I don't see how this will help you save anything. Unless you go for the London route you're unlikely to use virgin trains at all; they certainly don't serve Reading.

mpchooligan

• Journey: Doncaster to Leeds, Day return
• Split tickets at: South Elmsall
  
• Standard Fare: £11.40
• Split ticket cost:£6.50
• Saving: £4.90

THIS SPLIT TICKET IS ONLY FOR USE ON THE NORTHERN TRAINS SERVICE FROM DONCASTER TO LEEDS (The tatty bangers, not the National Express ones!).

dzug1

flyingirl wrote: »

I wasn't sure I could travel short. Chester station has barriers so they might not let you get back on?

I found Banbury-Chester on Virgin trains for £40.20 plus £14.85 from Reading-Banbury which takes the total down to £55. Woohoo...

You wouldn't be travelling short. You'd travel from Reading to Newport (the one in Gwent S Wales) on one ticket and then from Newport to Chester, most probably changing at Shrewsbury, on the second. To come home reverse the route

£10 singles are potentially available for each leg so £40 return if it works out

kookier11

Any suggestions of how to get split tickets from Durham to London?? Planning to go there in April and have a YP railcard too - but would love to get it cheaper!! :rolleyes:

alanrowell

When are you going

lathos

kookier11 wrote: »

Any suggestions of how to get split tickets from Durham to London??

Splitting at Doncaster will save you 15%