Are you ready to redefine your train travel experience by putting hard-earned money back into your pocket? Welcome to our guide to split tickets, here to ensure you save on your next journey by train.
Split ticketing involves purchasing separate tickets for distinct segments of your train journey instead of opting for a single "through" ticket. By strategically dividing your journey into multiple tickets, you unlock savings that would remain hidden when purchasing a single ticket for the entire trip. While you may end up with more tickets to carry, you won't be required to disembark the train if you are split on a direct service, ensuring a smooth and seamless travel experience.
How do split tickets work?
Imagine needing to travel from point A to D, and instead of purchasing a single ticket, Raileasy identifies strategic stops along the way, allowing you to acquire tickets for each leg of the journey. In simpler terms, you end up with tickets from A to B, B to C, and C to D. The beauty of this process lies in the fact that the train makes scheduled calls or stops at these stations, eliminating the need for you to change trains.
A Practical Example - London to Manchester
Take the classic London to Manchester journey as an example. Our journey planner works its magic and identifies a split at Milton Keynes and Stoke on Trent. What does this mean for you? It translates into a seamless journey with tickets covering London Euston to Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes to Stoke On Trent, and Stoke On Trent to Manchester Piccadilly - all on the same train, with no need to disembark or change trains.
Are split tickets legal?
Yes! Split tickers are permitted under Condition 14 of the National Rail Conditions of Travel, a set of rules which all train operators and retailers abide by.
Do you charge extra for split tickets?
No! Raileasy stands out by guaranteeing a booking-fee-free experience. If we find you a saving using split tickets, we'll charge you a small percentage of that saving, known as our "share of saving fee". No saving found? No extra charge for you!
Can I still get split tickets on the day?
Yes! While the savings may not be as great compared to booking in advance, we are still able to find savings using split tickets on a number of journeys on the day of travel.
How can I use split tickets?
Curious about the seamless process of splitting your tickets with Raileasy? Let us demystify the journey for you.
User-Friendly Journey Planning
Using Raileasy is a breeze. Just share with us your travel details – where and when you plan to embark on your journey – and we'll automatically identify the best savings for you. Whether you're eyeing return journeys or singles, our algorithm kicks in, automatically presenting you with options like Fastest, Cheapest, or Best Value to cater to your preferences. And for those with a railcard, maximise your savings effortlessly.
Detailed Confirmation and Journey plan
The detailed confirmation email serves as your guide, outlining precisely where and when you need to change trains or if staying onboard is the way to go as your tickets split. We'll also provide you a guide on our E-Tickets, identifying where you need to change ticket versus change train.
All Ticket Types Covered
Whether it's Advance or Flexible tickets, we'll consider all available tickets when finding you the best deal. The journey planner might even surprise you with a first-class fare on part of your journey if it proves more cost-effective than a standard ticket. We'll automatically identify the optimal splitting points and book the correct combination of split tickets for you.
Why Choose Us for Cheap Train Tickets?
Raileasy is the main split ticketing site and it is free to use - we don't charge a booking fee!
Our journey planner is more advanced as we are able to find cheap alternative journeys (slower than other routes but at a cheaper rate) not found on other sites. Our customer support is also based in-house to offer you the best level of support and guidance possible.
Will I sit in the same seat if I book split train tickets?
The nature of split tickets means that we will be booking different tickets for different legs of the journey so there is a chance that you may be allocated seats in a different part of the train for different sections of the trip. We’ll do our best to avoid this but, provided you’re not sitting somewhere that has been reserved for somebody else, there’s no need to leave the comfort of your seat for the duration of the journey and you certainly don’t have to get on and off the train at the splitting points. Rather than playing musical chairs, it might be worth disregarding the allocated reservation and sit in an unreserved seat. Technically the guard may ask you to move to the seat that’s reserved for you but in practice this rarely happens. Alternatively the ticket office at the station may be able to offer a through reservation provided you produce a valid combination of tickets for the whole journey.
Our top tips for saving on your next journey
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Book your tickets in Advance
The trick to saving money on train tickets is to book them as early as you can. Cheap tickets, also known as Advance fares, are fixed time fares and usually cheaper than flexible tickets. Advance cheap train tickets are usually released up to 12 weeks prior to travel. Train companies release a limited number of cheap Advance tickets so the prices will naturally increase once they're gone. If you book an Advance ticket, you'll be locked in to that specific train, so make sure you are happy to travel at that time first!
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Don't forget to apply your Railcard discount for additional savings
If you are a regular train traveller, consider purchasing a railcard to save up to 1/3 on your tickets. There are different types of railcards available to suit various age groups such as the 16-25 Railcard, 26-30 Railcard, Two Together Railcard, Family Railcard, Senior Railcard.
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Have time to spare? Look out for cheap alternative journey options
If you don't mind a slightly longer train ride or departing / arriving at a less busy station and you're someone who loves banking in cheap tickets, then be on the look out for alternative journeys. The journey may take a bit longer but the tickets are significantly cheaper.
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Say NO to booking fees
Some sites charge a booking fee just for using them. Trainline, for example, charges up to £2.79 booking fee on their site. Unlike other retailers, we don't charge a booking fee.
If we find you a saving with split ticketing, a small percentage of the saving is charged so we can continue to maintain and further develop the site for a seamless user experience. If there is no saving by splitting the fare, you won't pay any more than you would by buying your ticket elsewhere.
Interested in how we fare against other retailers? We compare ourselves against a variety of other retailers in our FAQ.
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Avoid Peak travel time
Peak travel time is usually busier with more expensive fares. Ditch the rush hour stampede and travel off peak for cheaper train fares on quieter services. Off Peak travel times differ depending on the journey, usually beginning at 09:30 Mondays to Fridays in cities and large towns, and 09:00 across the rest of the rail network. There's no peak restrictions during weekends and Bank Holidays.
Peak versus Off-Peak restrictions vary depending on operator and fares available. Please check the restrictions on your ticket to ensure it is valid for the train you are wanting to take.
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Book split tickets
Split tickets helps you save money especially if you're travelling long distance by booking multiple train tickets along the journey rather than just the one. Our journey planner will automatically find you the best savings using splits, finding savings on over 70% of journeys.
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Book rail tickets as a group and save up to a third!
GroupSave is a discount applied to Off Peak or Super Off Peak fares in standard accommodation, saving you up to a third when you travel as a group of 3 - 9 adults. If you're travelling with children aged 5 - 15, you may want to book them separately so that the adult travellers benefit from this fantastic saving.
GroupSave isn't a railcard, so there's nothing extra you need to carry apart from your train tickets. For your Groupsave tickets to be valid, all passengers booked under the Groupsave fare must travel together at the same time. GroupSave discounts are available all day on Bank Holidays and weekends, and during quieter off-peak times on weekdays. Additional railcard discounts will not apply on top of your already heavily discounted fares.
You can learn more about the GroupSave Discount on the National Rail website.
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Flexibility is key
Tickets may be cheaper on different dates or at different times so do a little browse around before you book. Toggle between the Best Value and Cheap options, hit that Earlier or Later train times button and see what comes up. You may be surprised to find cheaper tickets departing at a different date or time than you originally planned.
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Sign up for fare alerts & newsletters
If you'd like to be the first to hear about any upcoming fares promo or for updates on the release of Advance train tickets, then signing up for ticket alerts or newsletters is a good idea as you will be one of the first to pounce on cheap Advance rail fares when they're released. Most train operators offer this direct with them.
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Receive compensation for delays
Passenger compensation, more commonly known as Delay Repay, is a national scheme which compensates rail travellers for unexpected service delays and cancellations.
If you've experienced a disruption of at least 15 minutes or 30 minutes (depending on the train operator) resulting in a late arrival at your destination, you be entitled to a full or partial compensation amount up to the value of your train tickets. The amount you receive differs, this is calculated by the train company according the how long you were delayed by and the ticket type, whether you've booked a return or single journey. If you are unsure which train company you travelled with, please refer to your itinerary in the confirmation email.
Delay Repay is claimed from the operator of the train that caused your delay. You can learn more about Delay Repay and who to contact on our information page.
Start saving today! Use our advanced journey planner to find and book the best split tickets for your train journey. Join the thousands of passengers who have already benefited from our cost-saving solutions.
Help and FAQs:
Ticket Information:
- Ticket types explained
- Split tickets explained
- Advance tickets
- Cheap Train Tickets
- Cheapest vs flexible tickets
Booking and Travel Guides:
Blog:
Terms and Conditions:
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