Families planning festive reunions could be hit with sky-high train ticket prices this Christmas. However, a clever booking loophole known as 'ticket splitting' has the potential to slash the cost of journeys by nearly half, offering a welcome financial reprieve.
The Secret to Cheaper Rail Travel
Renowned travel expert Simon Calder has highlighted a simple but effective strategy for cutting rail costs. The method involves purchasing multiple tickets for different segments of your journey rather than a single through ticket. Incredibly, this often works out significantly cheaper, even when you remain on the exact same train for the entire trip.
Research conducted for The Independent by Independent Rail Retailers (IRR) has identified substantial savings for those travelling on December 22, one of the busiest days for pre-Christmas travel.
Substantial Savings in Practice
The potential savings are far from trivial. For instance, a standard ticket from London Paddington to Bristol is priced at £137.50. By splitting the journey and booking one ticket from London to Didcot Parkway and a separate ticket from Didcot Parkway to Bristol, the total cost plummets to just £91. This represents an immediate saving of £46.50 for the passenger.
The savings are even more dramatic on longer routes. A 10.33am CrossCountry service from Bristol Temple Meads to Sheffield is advertised for £106.20. By using a ticket-splitting service like Trainsplit, the fare is reduced to £65.49, a massive 38 per cent saving.
Similarly, a 10.03am LNER train from London King's Cross to Edinburgh costs £142.50 when booked directly. Alternatively, Railsmartr offers the journey for £110.90 by splitting the ticket at Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Industry Response and Important Considerations
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, stated: 'The rail industry has been actively working to simplify fares, improve accessibility, and offer flexible, cost-effective ticketing options. We remain committed to modernising ticketing and ensuring all passengers – regardless of where they book tickets from – can access the best value fares.'
However, a spokesperson for LNER pointed out a potential downside: 'Ticket splitting can lead to travelling on busier trains and also may require customers to change seats or have no seat for part of their journey, which can be tricky and stressful if travelling with luggage or in a larger group.'
Despite these cautions, the financial incentive for savvy travellers is clear. This money-saving hack arrives alongside another positive development for rail users. From December 14, passengers travelling to Stansted Airport will finally be able to use contactless debit cards and Oyster to tap out, preventing inadvertent fines that have affected thousands. This change is part of a wider Department for Transport rollout to 49 other stations across the South East.
