Split Ticketing questions

tali

Newbie to split ticketing.
So , i can travel on same trains at change points with split ticketing?I do not need to modify journey , such as getting off earlier or later ?
Ok, when i have attended at a train station, only 1 did a split ticket.The other claimed " it was not any cheaper" and the third asked " where did i want to split the ticket at?" - i assumed their system would automatically split where appropriate ?(Are split ticket websites different from the train station ticket offices -or do they use same splitting ?)
So , is it easier to simply split at the change points ?
I do not buy advance tickets but buy at the ticket office -i don't know if this makes a difference to split ticketing.

Quentin

If you buy at the ticket office you will always miss out on cheaper tickets via nectar points/cashback/loyalty points etc


If you decide to carry on just buying at the ticket office then you need to do the donkey work, their system won't do it for you.


Tell them what tickets you want - it may irritate them, but they are paid to sell tickets! Ignore them trying to tell you it's no cheaper, they just look to want an easy life!

You don't need to restrict your splits to change points (all you need do is ensure the train you are booking will stop at the split points)

You don't need to modify any journey by alighting earlier or later. The idea is to split the tickets not the journey


You need to read the MSE guide to understand this better. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets#split

yorkie2

tali wrote: »

Newbie to split ticketing.
So , i can travel on same trains at change points with split ticketing?I do not need to modify journey , such as getting off earlier or later ?

The National Rail Conditions of Carriage (NRCoC) make it very clear that you may use two or more tickets for one journey.

There is no loss of rights compared to using one ticket (the specific terms of each ticket may be different to the terms of the equivalent through fare, but that's nothing to do with the principle of split ticketing).

tali wrote: »

Ok, when i have attended at a train station, only 1 did a split ticket.

Can you clarify what you mean?

tali wrote: »

The other claimed " it was not any cheaper"

What are the details of this journey and what you ask for?

tali wrote: »

and the third asked " where did i want to split the ticket at?"

It's up to you to ask for whatever ticket(s) you require at a ticket office. If you do not know exactly what ticket(s) you require, you should be offered a through fare if there is one available.

tali wrote: »

assumed their system would automatically split where appropriate ?

There is only one system that automatically offers splits and will sell you a combination of tickets for one journey, and that is trainsplit.com.

Ticket offices are unlikely to use that system as they will not want to lose the additional revenue gained when people purchase expensive through fares which can be undercut by a combination cheaper shorter distance fares.

tali wrote: »

(Are split ticket websites different from the train station ticket offices -or do they use same splitting ?)

Trainsplit.com will offer a combination of tickets (and will charge you a small percentage of any savings, and if there are no savings it will charge you the same price as at the station).

Railway station ticket offices will not.

tali wrote: »

So , is it easier to simply split at the change points ?

You can combine tickets in any way that conforms with the NRCoC, see Split ticketing for details.

tali wrote: »

I do not buy advance tickets but buy at the ticket office -i don't know if this makes a difference to split ticketing.

You are allowed to combine any tickets, whether they are Advance tickets or otherwise.

The_Groat_Counter

yorkie2 wrote: »

There is only one system that automatically offers splits and will sell you a combination of tickets for one journey, and that is trainsplit.com.

Is that statement entirely accurate? MoneySavingExpert's Tickety Split system (run by TheTrainline) also offers split tickets, though only for single journeys.

yorkie2 wrote: »

Ticket offices are unlikely to use that system as they will not want to lose the additional revenue gained when people purchase expensive through fares which can be undercut by a combination cheaper shorter distance fares.

I think it's easier to just say that station ticket offices don't use the trainsplit system (I can't think that any actually would do)!

From what I read, a few ticket office clerks do seem to actively offer split tickets on a few routes where the split is 'obvious', but this is very much the exception.

OP - as a basic rule of thumb, if you want to buy a split ticket from a ticket office, you need to ask for it specifically including the middle 'split point'.

yorkie2

The_Groat_Counter wrote: »

Is that statement entirely accurate? MoneySavingExpert's Tickety Split system (run by TheTrainline) also offers split tickets, though only for single journeys.

TicketySplit does not sell tickets.

All it does is identify a combination of no more than two tickets, and will re-direct you to thetrainline to buy them.

It is extremely limited in its abilities (only two tickets for one journey; it is often cheaper to buy three or more, and as you say, only single tickets, making it useless for many return journeys, especially day returns).

skipness

I started off by using tickety-split but realised its shortcomings....only one split and single tickets only.

Now I am a confirmed user of train split/rail easy .My most recent journey was 300 miles each way with three different TOCs. There are a few drawbacks you need to be aware of.
a) You cannot book a railcard ticket and a normal ticket together. This would not be a problem unless you needed seat reservations. Regular users of Cross Country trains can vouch for the necessity of reservations!
b) Seat reservations are made for each leg of the journey, and you may need to change seats at the split point (or negotiate with other passengers to swap!)