Split train tickets and missed connections 13 January 2020 at 10:29AM edited 30 November -1 at 12:00AM in Public Transport & Cycling 20 replies 1.3K views

ascribe2

Is there any insurance built in to split train tickets. They are a great idea and could save me £20+ on a £56 ticket, but the trains on my route are often delayed or cancelled, and sometimes the time given for making a connection is under 10 minutes. Does missing a train mean that I would have to buy a ticket for that leg of the journey again (at last minute)? If so, it is a huge risk. Raileasy used to offer low-cost insurance on the tickets but doesn't appear to do so any more.

Voyager2002

I did once buy insurance for the reason you state, but when I later read the fine print I realised that it would not have covered me anyway. So when I use split tickets, I ensure that I change trains at stations that are near to cafes or galleries that I like and allow a couple of hours for the change.

daveyjp

No need for insurance to cover tickets costs. Your split tickets are a contract to get you from the first station to the last.

If you leave the minimum connection time and a service is delayed and your plans are disrupted you have recourse through delay repay or alternative compensation arrangements from the train operating company which caused the delay.

ascribe2

Your split tickets are a contract to get you from the first station to the last.

But, from what I've read on forums, many train companies dispute this and travellers have had a great deal of trouble getting them to pay up. Given the inability of rail services to run on time or at all these days, split tickets would seem a very risky way to travel (and hence more stressful).

NBLondon

Yes - some companies will dispute this - so you may have to be insistent and quote the regulations at them. The link is probably already in this forum....

Not sure what you mean by any insurance built in? Or were you hoping to find a site/app that would work out the best split for you and include insurance by adding on a fee? Don't know if that would be a viable business model but it's an interesting thought.

daveyjp

ascribe2 wrote: »

But, from what I've read on forums, many train companies dispute this and travellers have had a great deal of trouble getting them to pay up. Given the inability of rail services to run on time or at all these days, split tickets would seem a very risky way to travel (and hence more stressful).

Of course they dispute, some people don't know the regulations around rail travel and ticketing and will accept what they are told.

The regs state you can have any number of tickets to make a journey. That's all you need to know if they refuse to refund in full.

ascribe2

Has anyone claimed successfully, and can share your experience with us here? There isn't a lot of info on this in forums, guides, etc. to split tickets.

DUTR

ascribe2 wrote: »

Has anyone claimed successfully, and can share your experience with us here? There isn't a lot of info on this in forums, guides, etc. to split tickets.

I don't understand the query, if I split a ticket , I am on the same train eg Bristol to Manchester (split at Bham) .

A_Nice_Englishman

I believe you'd only have to buy a new ticket if you were travelling on an Advance or other company-specific ticket and weren't prepared to wait for the next train operated by the same company.

ascribe2

My question is what happens when the train on the first leg of your journey is late and you miss your connection. Many split tickets are advance tickets (at least on my route) and so valid only on a specific train.

Owain_Moneysaver

You continue your journey on the next available train - which usually means the same route and the same train operating company.