Chesterfield - Birmingham 1607 13/04

[chessie]

Hi all

Apologies in advance total novice here but would really appreciate your advice.

I usually travel on the spur of the moment and have never booked an advance ticket before but for once I'm half organised and know I will be travelling on the 1607ish train from Chesterfield - Birmingham tomorrow, will be getting a lift back so only a single ticket required (no railcard etc). I spotted an advance single for £16 on national rail which I thought was good value but then I read info on this site re splitting and alas you can get this fare down to £10.50 by splitting at Derby. My questions are:-

Is this allowed?
If it is allowed do I have to collect physical tickets from Chesterfield/Derby or when booking do you get an email confirmation of purchase you then show the guard (or something like)?
...the guard wont tell me off for doing this will he lol

Thanks in advance

 

[bb21]

Hi all

Apologies in advance total novice here but would really appreciate your advice.

I usually travel on the spur of the moment and have never booked an advance ticket before but for once I'm half organised and know I will be travelling on the 1607ish train from Chesterfield - Birmingham tomorrow, will be getting a lift back so only a single ticket required (no railcard etc). I spotted an advance single for £16 on national rail which I thought was good value but then I read info on this site re splitting and alas you can get this fare down to £10.50 by splitting at Derby. My questions are:-

Is this allowed?
If it is allowed do I have to collect physical tickets from Chesterfield/Derby or when booking do you get an email confirmation of purchase you then show the guard (or something like)?
...the guard wont tell me off for doing this will he lol

Thanks in advance

You can split Advances, provided that the combination giving you a cheaper fare is still available. There is no issue with that. You won't get told off.

You cannot just show your proof of purchase. You need to either collect your ticket from a machine or print the ticket out if using Print@Home tickets.

 

[maniacmartin]

Yes, it's allowed as long as the train you're on is scheduled to stop at (and not merely pass through) Derby, which the 16:07 is .

Unless the website which you buy from specifically states that you have been sold an e-ticket or Print@Home, then you must collect the tickets or actually print the Print@Home onto A4 paper before you travel. You can buy them both in the same transaction and collect then at the same time from Chesterfield. An email confirmation will not suffice on it's own.

One thing to note is you can buy from any Train Operating Company's website with no hidden fees, but third-party sites such as TheTrainline will charge a booking fee, so avoid them.

If you're not using "Advance" tickets, then you can also purchase on the day from the ticket office for the same price. They are able to sell tickets valid from other stations such as Derby

 

[chessie]

Thanks for the quick response bb21. Do you know if I would be able to collect both the Chesterfield - Derby and Derby -Birmingham tickets at the ticket machine in Chesterfield. Also whats print@home tickets, do you get this option when booking your ticket?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
maniacmartin, thanks you answered my next question before I even asked

 

[LexyBoy]

Avoid using Print@Home.

Book using any train company's site except for CrossCountry, and select "collect at station". You will be offered a list of stations to set for collection - it doesn't matter where you choose though, the list is just to make sure you don't try and collect from a station where the facility is not available. You will be able to collect from your departure station (indeed you will have to, otherwise you won't have a ticket for the second part of the journey, assuming it's on the same train).

I read info on this site re splitting and alas you can get this fare down to £10.50 by splitting at Derby.

Why alas? Have you already bought the through ticket?

 

[chessie]

I'm rubbish with words lexyboy lol, ticket not booked yet....just checked and split still available so off to book now. You've all been brill, thanks again

 

[bb21]

Avoid using Print@Home.

I was going to say this but the OP is purchasing the ticket for himself and paying for it himself so the main potential issues are not likely to be a problem as long as he brings his payment card along with him.