Forcing a booking engine to show only route and time restricted fare valid times.

[Titfield]

I am struggling to compel booking engines to display only train times that are valid for fares that are both route and time restricted.

The journey is Branksome > Milton Keynes
Route Kensington Olympia
Super Off Peak Return (BD) and Off Peak Return (UW)
Railcard: Senior Citizen

I know to add Kensington Olympia in the via box but I am still getting fares and times that are for the more expensive "any permitted routes" or advance fares which I don't want because the return leg has to be flexible.

 

[30907]

Are you using the forum site?

 

[Titfield]

Are you using the forum site?

I was using the Trainsplit (non Railforum) version.

I have worked out the train I want to go on (and is route and fare restriction valid) but what I need to be able to find / create is a timetable of the trains coming back that are both route and fare restriction valid because I am not sure what time my meeting will finish. I dont want to get on a train at MKC and then find my ticket isnt valid.

I have noted on the Railforum version of Trainsplit it returns some results with either excessive end to end journey times and / or more changes en route than I would wish.

 

[MrJeeves]

I am struggling to compel booking engines to display only train times that are valid for fares that are both route and time restricted.

What date and time?

 

[Titfield]

What date and time?

Between 1400 and 1700 approx from MKC to Branksome. Wed 21 Oct 2026.

 

[MrJeeves]

Between 1400 and 1700 approx from MKC to Branksome. Wed 21 Oct 2026.

Not sure when the outbound is (I've just put it as the same day) but this search seems to do the trick:

Results | TrainSplit

TrainSplit compares routes & fares to get cheap train tickets for your next journey through split ticketing with no booking fee & saving up to 90%

trainsplit.com

 

[tumbledown]

Or without the splits or ban on Waterloo/Underground, this seems useful?

Branksome > Milton Keynes Central - Search Results

The Split Ticketing Champions - Compare fares and get the best value for money through split tickets and booking cheap train tickets online and on our mobile app, E-Tickets to your phone, no booking fee, save up to 90%

classic.trainsplit.com

 

[MrJeeves]

Or without the splits or ban on Waterloo/Underground, this seems useful?

Well, OP wanted route via Kensington Olympia, so I was trying to give them that!

 

[tumbledown]

Even following my link, you have to select the "Flexible" tab to get what the OP wants - it isn't passed in the URL annoyingly.

 

[Titfield]

Thanks to all. I have managed to solve this but it took a bit of work and I think would confuse the uninitiated.

 

[kieron]

A more straightforward way to find itineraries for tickets like this might be through redspottedhanky.com (it's a system a few TOCs used to use, but I don't think any still do).

There's a "show slower routes" button on the left in the search results which lets you tell it to just show itineraries you can use with a "via Kensington" ticket and a list of tickets at the top which lets you just show ones a super off peak return is valid on.

It doesn't list any more trains than the search Mr Jeeves found did, but it may come in handy another time.

 

[Titfield]

A more straightforward way to find itineraries for tickets like this might be through redspottedhanky.com (it's a system a few TOCs used to use, but I don't think any still do).

There's a "show slower routes" button on the left in the search results which lets you tell it to just show itineraries you can use with a "via Kensington" ticket and a list of tickets at the top which lets you just show ones a super off peak return is valid on.

It doesn't list any more trains than the search Mr Jeeves found did, but it may come in handy another time.

Thanks

I’ll take a look at this.