Train tickets can be expensive, especially if you’re travelling from one end of the country to the other.
But there is a loophole that could halve the cost of journeys, just in time for Christmas travel.
Travel expert Simon Calder revealed how ‘splitting tickets’ can help cut the price.
The hack involves using multiple tickets for various stations along the journey and it working out cheaper than buying just one, reports The Independent.
For example, according to the publication a ticket from London Paddington to Bristol comes to £137.50.
Passengers can save money, however, by booking a journey from London to Didcot Parkway and then a separate ticket to Bristol, but on the same train. Instead, this comes to just £91 – saving £46.50.
Research for the publication by Independent Rail Retailers (IRR) has priced up train ticket options that can help Christmas travellers save money on December 22.
A train from Bristol Temple Meads to Sheffield at 10.33am comes to £106.20 on CrossCountry’s website.
Simon Calder revealed how ‘splitting tickets’ can help cut the price (stock image)
But a whopping 38 per cent can be saved if the booking is made via Trainsplit and costs £65.49.
The journey is broken up into several parts but the passenger can remain on the same train.
Another trip from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh at 10.03am can cost £142.50 via LNER.
Alternatively it’s priced at £110.90 on Railsmartr and involves splitting the ticket at Berwick-upon-Tweed.
A spokesperson for Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, told the Independent: ‘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.’
Meanwhile, an LNER spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘Through our website and app, we offer the best available fare for our customers, and often have great value advance fares available up to 5 minutes before trains depart.
‘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.’
The Daily Mail approached CrossCountry Trains.
The hack involves using multiple tickets for various stations along the journey and it working out cheaper than buying just one (stock)
It comes as a train ticket rule is set to be scrapped and will save thousands of travellers from £100 fines.
Holidaymakers heading between London and Stansted Airport have been unable to ‘tap out’ with their debit card or Oyster when they reach the busy hub.
Some 6.7 million passengers a year travel to and from the airport and many have received fines from ticket inspectors waiting for their arrival. From December 14, the airport’s railway station in Essex will be able to accept contactless payments.
It comes as the Department for Transport announced 49 other stations across the south-east of England will take contactless cards.
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The train ticket loophole set to HALVE the cost of Christmas journeys, according to travel expert
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