Split ticketing has become an increasingly popular way for train travelers in the UK to save money on their journeys. The concept involves breaking a train journey down into multiple tickets instead of buying just one ticket from origin to destination. This allows travelers to take advantage of the complex rail pricing system and find cheaper fares. There are now several split ticketing websites that help travelers find and book these split tickets, but are they legit?
What is split ticketing?
Split ticketing is based on the way train operators price tickets in the UK. Instead of having fixed prices for set routes, pricing is very complex and can vary significantly even for the exact same journey. Train companies split long distance routes into different pricing “legs.” It’s often cheaper to buy several tickets that cover each leg separately rather than buying one ticket for the whole journey.
For example, a trip from London to Manchester might be £120 on one ticket. But that journey could be split into a London to Milton Keynes ticket (£40) and a Milton Keynes to Manchester ticket (£60), saving £20 overall by split ticketing.
How do split ticketing websites work?
Split ticketing websites use special algorithms to analyze all the possible fare combinations for a journey. They identify where and how a trip can be split into multiple tickets to save money. Popular split ticketing sites include TrainSplit, Split My Fare, and TicketySplit.
To use these sites, you simply enter your journey details—origin, destination, date of travel, time, railcard discounts, etc. The site then runs millions of fare calculations behind the scenes and shows you the cheapest split ticket options available. You can then easily book the split tickets through the site.
Are split ticketing sites legit?
Yes, split ticketing websites are completely legal and legit. Split ticketing takes advantage of flaws and complexities in the train companies’ own pricing systems. The UK passenger rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), has confirmed that split ticketing does not break any rules and passengers are entitled to use it to save money.
All the major split ticketing sites only sell real tickets provided by National Rail. There are no “fake” or duplicate tickets involved. The sites make their money by charging a small service fee for doing the hard work of finding and booking the splits for you.
How much can you save?
Savings from split ticketing can vary greatly depending on the route and dates of your journey. Some key factors include:
- Short vs long distances – Shorter trips tend to have lower savings
- Peak vs off-peak times – More savings are available during peak times
- Advance Purchase – Buying advance tickets limits split ticket options
- Railcards – Having a railcard opens up more discounted tickets
On average, most travelers save around 30% off the standard fare by using split ticketing. But on some routes during peak times, savings of 50% or more are possible. The more expensive the standard fare, the more you are generally able to save by split ticketing.
What are the potential risks?
There are a few minor risks to be aware of with split ticketing:
- Ticketing rules – If part of your split tickets has restrictions that affect another ticket, you may be denied boarding or required to buy a new fare onboard. Always double check restrictions.
- Train delays/cancellations – With multiple tickets, responsibilities around delays and cancellations become more complex. Make sure to understand your rights.
- Split ticket website fees – While small, the booking fees charged by split sites will eat into your savings slightly.
However, these risks are relatively minor for most travelers. Millions of split tickets are used successfully every year in the UK without issue. As long as you double check your tickets and are aware of the basic terms, split ticketing presents very little practical risk.
Is split ticketing allowed on all train companies?
Yes, split ticketing works across all UK train operating companies. There is no difference whether you are traveling with South Western Railway, LNER, TransPennine Express or any other operator. The split ticketing technique applies nationwide.
Some train companies have occasionally tried to ban split ticketing on their routes or claimed it is not allowed. But they have always backed down after intervention from the rail regulator. All train companies are required to accept split tickets by law.
Does split ticketing work with railcards?
Yes! You can use split ticketing in combination with any valid railcard including the 16-25 Railcard, Two Together Railcard, Senior Railcard, Family & Friends Railcard, Disabled Persons Railcard and others. This allows you to stack the split ticketing discounts on top of the 1/3 off railcard discounts for even greater savings.
When entering your journey details into a split ticketing site, be sure to select any railcard you are using so it will factor that into finding the cheapest split ticket options.
Can you use split ticketing for groups?
Split ticketing works very well for group travel. Simply enter the details for each member of your group into the split ticketing site separately. It will find the optimal ticket combinations for each person. You can then easily book all the split tickets required for your whole group in one place. GroupTravelTickets.com is one good site focused specifically on split ticketing for groups.
One thing to note is you will need to sit separately on the train if each person has different tickets. As long as you don’t mind potentially being in different carriages, split ticketing can help groups save a lot on train fares.
Does split ticketing work for trains to airports?
Yes, you can use split ticketing for airport rail transfers to save money. This includes trains to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and other major airports. The key is making sure the split ticketing site is aware your journey terminates at the airport, as sometimes different rules apply.
One limitation is that not all UK airports are covered by split ticketing sites. But the vast majority of major airport routes are included and can generate good savings through split ticketing.
Can you use split ticketing with a BritRail pass?
Unfortunately split ticketing does not work with BritRail passes. BritRail passes allow unlimited train travel for a set number of days and already offer discounted fares for visitors to Britain. It is against the BritRail terms of use to combine them with split tickets.
For UK residents, split ticketing can be used together with a rail pass like the National Rail 16-25 Railcard. But international visitor rail passes are generally not combinable with split ticket discounts.
Is there an app for split ticketing?
Many of the top split ticketing sites like TrainSplit and Split My Fare have free mobile apps available. This allows you to easily search for and book split ticket options on your smartphone while on the go.
The app experience is basically identical to the desktop site. You enter your journey details and the app shows you the best split ticket options and prices. You can then book the split tickets directly within the app. Having the app is very convenient for looking up splits during your travels.
Split Ticketing Site | Mobile App |
---|---|
TrainSplit | Yes – TrainSplit App |
Split My Fare | Yes – Split My Fare App |
TicketySplit | No App |
Is there a split ticketing app for Trainline?
Trainline does not offer its own split ticketing app. However, Trainline has integrated some split ticketing functionality into its main train booking app and website. When searching for tickets, it will now automatically show split ticket options if they save you money.
While helpful, Trainline’s split ticketing capabilities are fairly basic. Dedicated split ticketing sites analyze far more combinations to find better savings. For maximum split ticket discounts, it is still better to use a specialist site like TrainSplit or Split My Fare.
Can split ticketing save money on first class fares?
Yes, split ticketing can be used to save money on first class fares as well as standard tickets. First class is divided into the same type of pricing legs as standard class. So splitting your journey into multiple first class tickets can lead to big savings versus buying one complete first class ticket.
First class split tickets typically see savings of 25-45% in most cases. Just be aware that split ticketing options and discounts are usually lower for first class since the pricing legs are limited. But it is still worth looking into if you want cheaper first class travel.
Conclusion
In summary, split ticketing websites are 100% legal and legitimate to use according to rail regulators. They provide real National Rail tickets that save you money by splitting your journey intelligently. Millions of passengers in Britain rely on sites like TrainSplit and Split My Fare to save an average of 30% on train fares with little risk.
While not every journey will have cheaper split ticket options, you have nothing to lose by quickly checking these sites. Given the expensive cost of UK train travel, split ticketing provides an excellent and easy way to save a considerable amount of money on your rail journeys.