What is split-ticketing? The simple train ticket hack could save you hundreds on UK rail fares

YOU typically use split tickets when you need to use more than one train for your journey.

They could even save you hundreds of pounds - so here's how you go about buying them.

What is split-ticketing?

Split ticketing is when your journey is broken down into two or more parts with a separate rail ticket for each section - rather than just one ticket from departure point to destination,

For instance if you want a train from London to Manchester you might get a train ticket from London to Stoke-on-Trent and a second ticket from Stoke-on-Trent to Manchester.

Britain's rail fare system means that splitting your ticket by booking a train ticket to an intermediary station and then a different ticket from there to your destination is often cheaper than the cost of a conventional ticket.

By buying separate tickets for different legs of each journey you can save a small fortune - and you don’t even have to change trains to do it.

How does it work?

For example, an off-peak single from Birmingham New Street to Inverness costs £164.70.
But separate tickets from Birmingham to York, and then York  to Inverness costs £101.55 – a saving of more than £63.

A return from Cardiff Central to Newcastle is £161 with two changes at Manchester and York.

But split the tickets by buying from Cardiff Central to Derby and Derby to Newcastle the price drops to £90 for the journey, saving you £71.

If you’re travelling from London Victoria to Gatwick on Southern Trains it will set you back £16, but split by buying tickets to east Croydon and on to Gatwick and it’s £12 - saving you almost £4.

Is it legal to use split-ticketing?

It’s all above board and legal, as long as the train you are on stops at the station you are buying a ticket to.

Don’t worry that it’s all too complicated – there are special websites that take the brain ache out of it, including Moneysavingexpert.com, splitticketing.co.uk, TrainSplit.com, and TicketySplit.

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