Splitting tickets

[whole diary]

[Zoe]

I've just worked out a cheap way of going to London from Newton Abbot for the day:

NTA^» (Newton Abbott - next trains) - TAU^» (Taunton - next trains) CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')) ^12.80
TAU - WSB^» (Westbury - next trains) CDR ^15.20
WSB - NBY^» (Newbury - next trains) CDR ^13.40
NBY - PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) CDR with Network Railcard ^13

Total 54.40

The earliest arrival into Paddington would be 14:44 due to the lack of trains stopping at Newbury and return could only be on the 19:45 or 20:35 from Paddington.  This does give a saving though of ^14.60.  Would I be pushing my luck trying to buy this combination at Newton Abbot ticket office?

[Tim]

You would be legally entitled to buy those tickets at any office.  As a curtesy, I would avoid busy times and if you have a choice of ticket windows (I don't know Newton Abbot) don't go to the "tickets for today" window because it is supposed to be for quick and easy purchases.

Alternatively, book them online and collect from ticket machine?

[grahame]

Would I be pushing my luck trying to buy this combination at Newton Abbot ticket office?

My understanding is that the ticket office is obliged to sell you those tickets if you ask for them, and my experience is that many staff have a sneaky admiration for people who nave managed to work out such savings.  I would allow good time, and look to buying the tickets at a time so that you don't cause delays so that other people miss their trains. 

My only 'proviso' - would Newton Abbot staff be familiar with the Networker card?

P.S. Networker card works from Exeter via Salisbury - isn't there a lower cost alternative that way?

[Ollie]

Shouldn't be an issue, they would be able to issue any of those tickets.

If they are not aware of the Network Card they will just need to verify the conditions of it to satisfy themselves kind of thing =]

[Zoe]

P.S. Networker card works from Exeter via Salisbury - isn't there a lower cost alternative that way?

Yes there is but it's not very practical to return the same day on this route as it would take longer and there is a lack of trains in the evening.  When I've asked about splitting tickets before the staff at both Taunton and Newton Abbot haven't sounded very happy about it and twice at Taunton they tried to refuse to sell them.

[devon_metro]

Cheaper to buy a Taunton - Bristol Parkway, valid via Westbury!

[Btline]

What we need is that splitting tickets website back...

[grahame]

Cheaper to buy a Taunton - Bristol Parkway, valid via Westbury!

Nuts!   (The system, not the suggestion!)

What we need is that splitting tickets website back...

I had in mind to do something along the lines of that site a while back but decided against it because of (a) time, (b) complexity of issues (c) legal issues and (d) risk of upsetting the industry player with who we are continuing to work for an appropriate TransWilts service

What we really need is a coherent pricing system that means we don't NEED such a site!

[devon_metro]

Nuts!   (The system, not the suggestion!)

Useful 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm.  Such a ticket website would indeed be very useful, devon_metro: can you perhaps recommend such a currently available site?

[grahame]

Nuts!   (The system, not the suggestion!)

Useful 

Oh, yes - the SUGGESTION was indeed useful! 

[Zoe]

Cheaper to buy a Taunton - Bristol Parkway, valid via Westbury!

I doubt the train manger would be very impressed though.

[eightf48544]

What we really need is a coherent pricing system that means we don't NEED such a site!

Couldn't agree more the whole fares issue is a mess. Divide the country into public transport zones as the continent. Same fare and valid on  bus, train, tram and ferry or all four for one journey within the zone. Cross zone fares for local journeys and IC^▸ (Inter City) fast RE^▸ (Religious Education) slow fares based on mileage for longer journies.

[Henry]

 Heard a rumour there are now cross-country dedicated fares which are available between Totnes/Newton Abbot to Taunton and I believe Bristol.

 Cheaper than FGW^▸ (First Great Western) but not available on TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine). Caught FGW on the hop I think.

 

[paul7575]

 Heard a rumour there are now cross-country dedicated fares which are available between Totnes/Newton Abbot to Taunton and I believe Bristol.

 Cheaper than FGW^▸ (First Great Western) but not available on TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine). Caught FGW on the hop I think.

Southern are doing a lot of this sort of thing, the stretch from Cosham to Southampton has SN only fares, about 20p less than SWT^▸ (South West Trains). They do appear on the SWT TVMs, via the 'alphabetic' station search. They aren't on the 'top ten', the sort of 'fares home page' IYSWIM. People have previously suggested that the TVMs work out what 'top ten' to display on the fly depending on time of day, and previous sales.

Incidentally, the ticket office staff must offer these fares to people making appropriate journeys under the impartial retailing rules.
 
Paul