Split ticket etiquette

[neilmc]

If you are undertaking a journey for which you have two or more tickets, what should you show when a ticket inspection takes place - all the tickets or just the one covering the section of route covered at the time of inspection?

Show just the one, and you may be confronted later by the inspector if he realises you haven't got off at the station printed on the ticket you showed.

Show them all, and it looks a bit like you're showing off your cleverness with splitting.

 

[bb21]

It really depends. There are stories on the forum of being told off by the guard for doing either. Some guards prefer to be shown them all in one go while others are only interested in the current leg.

 

[Merseysider]

If I'm using straightforward point-to-point splits where the train calls I only show the portion I'm using at the time, it avoids hassle ("that isn't allowed blah blah blah"). If I'm using complicated splits (eg starting short, ticket with different destination etc) then I'll show them all together in the same ticket wallet and if the guard just glances and assumes there must be something valid there, fine. If he wants to look into it in detail, fine.

I had a guard once exclaim "oh no mate, you're on the wrong train!" when I had a ticket to an alternative destination that was valid via where I was going, along with another ticket for part of the journey and it took a couple of minutes to explain what I was doing. Then I got "Oh, why didn't you say so to start with!". I suppose each guard would have their own preferences.

 

[yorkie]

If you are undertaking a journey for which you have two or more tickets, what should you show when a ticket inspection takes place - all the tickets or just the one covering the section of route covered at the time of inspection?

What journey? Without more information I couldn't possibly say what's best for your journey, though if you wanted a 'one size fits all' answer then I would say show all tickets.

The question crops up from time to time, e.g. Using splits for the first time - advice please! and Ticket inspection on split tickets

The vast majority of Guards won't mind being shown all tickets (and, indeed, would want to see all tickets), but a few do not like it.

 

[dfurn]

Earlier last month I was on a Cross Country service from Newcastle to Edinburgh splitting at Berwick. I showed the guard all of my tickets for the full journey and he commented "You've obviously done this before" and all was well and peaceful.

 

[Bletchleyite]

On the rare occasion I bother with it, I'd show the one that is currently valid with a comment of "I've got another ticket from X, do you want to see it now?" - usually the answer is yes.

Neil

 

[Starmill]

My experiences have shown a positive correlation between the number of tickets offered and the likelihood of an guard getting cross with you. As a result I tend to show only one, and deal with the rest if they come back. They pretty much never do, though.

 

[tony_mac]

Due to a bad previous experience (threatened with BTP), I now only ever show the current leg unless specifically asked for something else.

 

[causton]

I just show the current one (I had an advance + rover combination, and a couple of times two rovers North West and North East) - however it seems that whenever I open my ticket wallet to the Priv pass they generally don't look at any of the tickets

 

[brompton rail]

Earlier last month I was on a Cross Country service from Newcastle to Edinburgh splitting at Berwick. I showed the guard all of my tickets for the full journey and he commented "You've obviously done this before" and all was well and peaceful.

A regular response from XC Train Managers in my experience! Doncaster to Birmingham with
- SY One Day Travelmaster between Doncaster and Sheffield
- Derbyshire Wayfarer (or Day Return if before 0900) Sheffield -Derby
- Day Return Derby to Birmingham
often brings the response.. " Oh, you know what you are doing, fine".

 

[Smethwickian]

I tend only to show the current ticket, on the basis that the meaningless scribbling that some TMs/conductors/guards insist upon doing could potentially cause unnecessary and tiresome quibbles if the tickets are checked again on the subsequent leg and have been made to appear as if they've already been used.

 

[Mojo]

I only ever show the current ticket, unless I am combining with a Rover on a train that does not stop at the split point.

 

[RailAleFan]

I tend only to show the current ticket, on the basis that the meaningless scribbling that some TMs/conductors/guards insist upon doing could potentially cause unnecessary and tiresome quibbles if the tickets are checked again on the subsequent leg and have been made to appear as if they've already been used.

Exactly. I only present the ticket valid for the current leg, as not only that i've sometimes decided to take a break for an hour or two at the split point to explore somewhere new if not pushed for time.