Is this valid?

[whole diary]

[devon_metro]

Thanks for your information, richwarwicker - and welcome to the Coffee Shop forum! 

When I got the train from Nailsea & Backwell to Swindon to attend the Go! coop launch meeting a couple of weeks ago, I bought my ticket on the train. The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Customer Service chap looked up the return ticket (costing about ^40) and then suggested splitting the ticket at Bath Spa: total cost about ^20. I was very impressed with his 'customer service', too! 

How much!!!!! 

[Brucey]

I think a lot of staff would be happy suggesting splits, but they probably don't know where they are for most journeys.  It is alright for us as we can just sit and play around with the NFM^▸ (National Fares Manual) until we find something, but unless the clerk had a previous request for the same journey, they won't know where the splits exist.

[old original]

Just to reiterate the official line... The clerks should sell A ticket for the complete journey but can sell a combination of tickets "if requested" i.e. if you don't ask, you don't get..

However, well done to those members of staff who take it on themselves to give the best price possible....

[Zoe]

I used to go from Taunton to Newton Abbot every week back in the days when it was cheaper to split at Exeter.  I got the impression from the staff that they were not happy about it but they had to issue the tickets I requested.

[thetrout]

I once took a day trip from Frome > Hayle on business to install a new server for a client. I would have bought the First Anytime Return from Frome > Hayle, but found it was CONSIDERABLY cheaper to split the tickets at Taunton, Exeter St Davids and Plymouth.

On the Plymouth ticket a First Class return to Hayle doesn't come up, but if you buy a Plymouth > St Erth ticket, that is still valid and could be used to break the journey at Hayle if you wish.

Costings:

First Class Anytime Day Return - Frome > Taunton ^26.65
First Class Anytime Day Return - Taunton > Exeter St Davids ^20.15
First Class Off Peak Day Return - Exeter St Davids > Plymouth ^14.35
First Class Off Peak Day Return - Plymouth > St Erth ^13.85

Total = ^75.00

First Class Anytime Return Frome > Hayle ^202.60

Prices include Disabled Railcard Discount... I'm sorry, but that is pure madness and OVER ^100 cheaper!!!

[Brucey]

Another one I've come across recently, provided you make the return journey on the same day (would need 2 day rangers if returning on a different day):

Chester to Plymouth Std Off-Peak Return ^111.80

Chester to Bristol Temple Meads Std Off-Peak Return ^56.20
Bristol Temple Meads to Tiverton Parkway Std Off-Peak Return ^20.40
Devon Day Ranger ^10.00

Total: ^86.60 (Save ^25.20/23%)

Plus you can travel round Devon as much as you want.

[thetrout]

IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly') Splitting at Tame Bridge Parkway saves a few bob too

[JayMac]

Certainly does on Wrexham and Shropshire from Shrewsbury to Banbury!

SHR^» (Shrewsbury - next trains)-BAN First Class Anytime Return (FOR) ^108 or First Class Off Peak Return ^73.60

SHR-TAB (FOR) ^26.20
TAB-BAN (FOR) ^32.00
Total: ^58.20

[readytostart]

Great story and well handled, bignosemac. I applaud you in every respect.

One thing that jumped out at me - according to this forum's acronyms and abbreviations list, a "UFN^▸ (Unpaid Fare Notice, or 'until further notice', depending on context )' stands for "Until Further Notice", and I'm not sure how that would apply in the situation you describe. Can a guard/train manager/conductor actually issue a document called an "Until Further Notice"?

Signed, Easily Confused of Melksham

In XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) training it's abbreviated to UPFN^▸ (Un Paid Fare Notice (used on XC)), should save you any further confusion if that's used instead!

[JayMac]

United People's Front of Nepal? 

[Chris from Nailsea]

I've chosen to overlook the possibility that you two might just be winding me up, so I've also added UPFN^▸ (Un Paid Fare Notice (used on XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)))) to our 'acronyms / abbreviations' page.