What is split ticketing?
Split ticketing is a completely legal way of saving money on UK train tickets by buying two or more tickets for different parts of the same journey instead of one through ticket.
In many cases, you’ll stay on the same train for the entire journey while paying less than the price of a single through ticket. Raileasy automatically searches millions of ticket combinations to find the best value for your journey, so you don’t have to.
Split ticketing at a glance
✔ Completely legal under the National Rail Conditions of Travel
✔ Usually no need to leave the train if it calls at the split station
✔ Works with both Advance and flexible tickets
✔ Automatically calculated by Raileasy
✔ No booking fee
✔ Saves money on over 70% of eligible journeys
Why does split ticketing save money?
Train fares in Britain aren’t always priced in a straightforward way. In some cases, buying separate tickets for different sections of the same journey costs less than purchasing one through ticket. Raileasy automatically searches these valid combinations and compares them with the through fare to find the cheapest option available.
How do split tickets work?
Rather than buying one ticket from A to D, split ticketing breaks your journey into separate tickets covering different sections of the route.
For example:
- London Euston → Milton Keynes
- Milton Keynes → Stoke-on-Trent
- Stoke-on-Trent → Manchester Piccadilly
Although you have three tickets instead of one, you may remain on the same train provided it stops at each station where one ticket ends and the next begins.
Raileasy automatically finds these combinations for you, compares them with through fares, and recommends the cheapest valid option.
Example: London to Manchester
Imagine you’re travelling from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly.
Our journey planner may identify cheaper fares by splitting your journey at Milton Keynes and Stoke-on-Trent. Instead of buying one through ticket, you’ll receive three tickets covering each section of the journey.
The best part? If your train calls at those stations, you simply stay on board. There’s no need to get off or change trains.
Is split ticketing legal?
Yes.
Split ticketing is permitted under Condition 14 of the National Rail Conditions of Travel, which applies across the National Rail network.
Provided your train calls at the station where one ticket ends and the next begins, your combination of tickets is valid.
Do I have to change trains?
Usually not.
Many split ticket journeys are completed on one train. The only requirement is that your train stops at the stations where your tickets change.
If a train change is required, we’ll clearly show this during the booking process and in your confirmation email.
Can I still reserve a seat?
Yes.
Where seat reservations are available, we’ll reserve seats wherever possible. Occasionally you may receive separate seat reservations for different parts of your journey, but you can often remain in the same seat if it’s available.
Does Raileasy charge extra for split tickets?
No. We don’t charge a booking fee.
If we find you a saving using split ticketing, we charge a small share of the saving. If no saving is available, you won’t pay any more than buying your ticket elsewhere.
Can I buy split tickets on the day?
Although booking in advance usually offers the biggest savings, split ticket savings are often still available on the day of travel.
How do I use split tickets?
Using Raileasy couldn’t be easier.
Simply enter where you’re travelling from, your destination, and when you’d like to travel. We’ll automatically search for the cheapest valid ticket combinations, including split tickets, and present the best options.
Your confirmation email and eTickets clearly explain:
- where your tickets change
- whether you need to change trains
- your reserved seats (where applicable)
There’s nothing complicated to work out yourself.
Why choose Raileasy?
Raileasy automatically searches millions of valid fare combinations to find cheaper train tickets. Unlike some retailers, we don’t charge a booking fee, and if no split ticket saving is available, you’ll simply pay the normal fare.
We also compare alternative routes, apply Railcard discounts where eligible and provide UK-based customer support if you need help before or after booking.
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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Stay up to date with the latest train travel tips, money-saving guides, product updates and news from Raileasy. Our newsletter is packed with practical advice to help you get the best value from your rail journeys. -
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Split Ticketing
Find answers to the most common questions about split ticketing, including how it works, whether it's legal, if you need to change trains, and how Raileasy helps you find cheaper UK train tickets.
What is split ticketing?
Split ticketing is the process of buying two or more train tickets to cover different sections of the same journey instead of one through ticket. This can often reduce the overall cost of your journey while still allowing you to travel on the same train.
Is split ticketing legal?
Yes. Split ticketing is permitted under the National Rail Conditions of Travel. As long as your train calls at the station where one ticket ends and the next begins, your tickets are valid.
Do I have to change trains when using split tickets?
Usually not. In many cases you remain on the same train throughout your journey. The only requirement is that the train stops at the station where your tickets change.
How does Raileasy find split ticket savings?
Raileasy automatically searches millions of valid fare combinations to identify cheaper ways to make your journey. If a split ticket offers better value than a through ticket, we'll show it automatically.
Can I use split tickets with a Railcard?
Yes. If you have a valid Railcard, your discount will be applied wherever eligible, helping maximise your savings on split ticket combinations.
Can I buy split tickets on the day I travel?
Yes. While the biggest savings are often available when booking in advance, split ticket savings can still be available on the day of travel depending on the route and fares available.
Will I receive multiple tickets?
Yes. You'll receive separate tickets for each part of your journey. Your confirmation email and eTickets clearly show where your tickets change and whether you need to change trains.
Can I reserve a seat with split tickets?
Yes. Where seat reservations are available, we'll reserve seats wherever possible. Occasionally you may receive separate seat reservations, but you can often remain in the same seat throughout your journey.
What happens if my train is delayed?
If disruption causes you to miss a connection on your booked itinerary, your rights are protected under the National Rail Conditions of Travel. You may also be entitled to claim Delay Repay from the train operator responsible for the delay.
Does Raileasy charge a booking fee?
No. Raileasy does not charge a booking fee. If we find you a saving using split ticketing, we charge a small share of the saving. If there is no saving available, you won't pay any more than buying your tickets elsewhere.