split train tickets help!

chicacherrycola

Hi,

I am looking to get from London Paddington to Bodmin Parkway 23rd March returning 30th March.

the return price showing is £92pp. Two singles cost £93.50.


I have tried this split ticket marlarky but just cannot get my head round it.

does anyone have any suggestions as to how this journey can be made cheaper?

Thanks in advance

CCC

Livingthedream

You could try Megabus (they do trains as well) from London Waterloo to Exeter st Davids prices from £6 single per person then an Off Peak Return from Exeter st David to Bodmin Parkway £25.40, total £36.40 return.

Or if you get your timings right (6 minutes minimum connection time) and get some Advance singles (EXD to BOD) from £4 each way per person combine these with your Megabus tickets it could be done for £20 return.

However, Megabus are only selling tickets up to the 4th of Feb at the moment and can be a bit funny about when they release their next batch of tickets but keep checking.

yorkie2

chicacherrycola wrote: »

Hi,

I am looking to get from London Paddington to Bodmin Parkway 23rd March returning 30th March.

the return price showing is £92pp.

That's the price of a walk-up Super Off Peak Return ticket, which is available from the station immediately before travel at the same price, no prior booking required. Return within 1 month. Valid all day at weekends. Mon-Fri restrictions are any train timed to depart Paddington between 1003 and 1510, and then any train from 1901, and on any train timed to depart Bodmin Parkway at or after 0800.

Advance single tickets may be cheaper, but you must get the trains specified. These tickets are generally cheaper but non-refundable and changing the departure times costs an admin fee of £10 per individual single ticket if changed before departure, or a brand new ticket if the train is missed.

chicacherrycola wrote: »

I have tried this split ticket marlarky but just cannot get my head round it.

It is complicated, but you could look at the fares between intermediate stations, most booking sites have an info button that lets you see the calling points (e.g. Reading, Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth are example principle stations along this route), you can try splitting at each of these calling points. It can be a time consuming process.

Splitting works best for day returns on flows where day returns are not available and/or for travelling at peak times. Neither applies here.

chicacherrycola wrote: »

does anyone have any suggestions as to how this journey can be made cheaper?

Advance singles for the 30th March are not yet on sale for this date, so you could wait for them to go on sale and see if there are any decent prices.

I, personally, would not pay any more than £75 at the absolute most for Advance (non-refundable) tickets when the price of a flexible ticket is £93.

It may be cheaper to split en-route, you could also try splitting at Bristol but the journey would be longer.

You could take South West Trains to Exeter and change there, there are cheaper tickets via Salisbury, again the journey would be considerably longer and less convenient.

Megatrain part of the way, as already suggested, is going to be cheapest if suitable times are available.

Livingthedream

chicacherrycola wrote: »

I have tried this split ticket marlarky but just cannot get my head round it.

yorkie2 wrote: »

It is complicated, but you could look at the fares between intermediate stations, most booking sites have an info button that lets you see the calling points (e.g. Reading, Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth are example principle stations along this route), you can try splitting at each of these calling points. It can be a time consuming process.

Splitting works best for day returns on flows where day returns are not available and/or for travelling at peak times.

Remember all, split ticketing isn't the only way to get cheaper fares, going by a cheaper route ie A to B via C can work out a lot cheaper but can mean a longer journey;

Glasgow to Leeds Off Peak Return £94.20
Glasgow to Leeds via Appleby Anytime Return £50.40

That examples down to competition, both take the same time but via Appleby has less trains per day to catch, but others are down to routing guide abnormalities, best way to find out these is via asking on this forum or other more dedicated rail forums.

dzug1

Split ticketing is no guarantee of cheaper tickets - it doesn't always work

However for your journey advance singles, splitting at Exeter St Davids, could make quite a saving. Even from Paddington - you needn't bother with the slower routes though you may still have to change in Exeter for the very cheapest fares

It is a question of trying possibilities until something works - or deciding that it's not going to work