London to York splits?

[TonyR]

A friend is going to York from London next Friday 26th for a meeting at 13:00 coming back later the same day. The best price on the East Coast site (no railcard) is about £22 going and £29 coming back. Are there any good splits that would make it cheaper without extending the journey time too much?

 

[SickyNicky]

A friend is going to York from London next Friday 26th for a meeting at 13:00 coming back later the same day. The best price on the East Coast site (no railcard) is about £22 going and £29 coming back. Are there any good splits that would make it cheaper without extending the journey time too much?

There are very few splits available on that route and to be honest, those prices sound quite reasonable for a journey only a week or so away. I would grab them while you can.

 

[maniacmartin]

If you're using APs, the best place to try for a split is Newark Northgate.

Some East Coast trains terminate at Newark Northgate - if you are willing to get one of those and change trains to the one behind, then you can save some money sometimes

 

[yorkie]

Agreed, changing at Newark for a train that starts there can be worthwhile. If you wish to remain on the same train, then Grantham is more productive in my experience. Splitting usually costs more, but it can be cheaper, depending on the quotas.

 

[westv]

I never realised that some EC trains started at Newark. Learn something new every day.

 

[yorkie]

I never realised that some EC trains started at Newark. Learn something new every day.

I think it's due to a lack of sets. It would be far more useful if the York stoppers were hourly, but in the hours they don't to/from York, they start/terminate at Newark.

 

[Deerfold]

I think it's due to a lack of sets. It would be far more useful if the York stoppers were hourly, but in the hours they don't to/from York, they start/terminate at Newark.

These are the services which were originally supposed to extend to/from Lincoln - but this would have required extra trains and there's only 1 a day does actually go each way.

 

[TonyR]

Thanks Looks like £50 it is then.

 

[westv]

On the subject of split ticketing, what happens if the train you have split AP tickets for is cancelled and the next service to your final destination doesn't call at the split point? Do you have to wait for the next service that calls at the split station even though it may not call at your destination station - thereby incurring a potential even longer wait?

 

[yorkie]

On the subject of split ticketing, what happens if the train you have split AP tickets for is cancelled and the next service to your final destination doesn't call at the split point? Do you have to wait for the next service that calls at the split station even though it may not call at your destination station - thereby incurring a potential even longer wait?

I don't think we can possibly say "what happens" in all cases, but if you seek the advice of staff, more often than not, you would be advised to take a train that would minimise your delay.

 

[westv]

I don't think we can possibly say "what happens" in all cases, but if you seek the advice of staff, more often than not, you would be advised to take a train that would minimise your delay.

Ok thanks.

 

[transmanche]

On the subject of split ticketing, what happens if the train you have split AP tickets for is cancelled and the next service to your final destination doesn't call at the split point? Do you have to wait for the next service that calls at the split station even though it may not call at your destination station - thereby incurring a potential even longer wait?

I don't think we can possibly say "what happens" in all cases, but if you seek the advice of staff, more often than not, you would be advised to take a train that would minimise your delay.

To give a specific example; a couple of months ago I was travelling from Chester to Newcastle with two Advance tickets; Chester to Carlisle (via Crewe) and Carlisle to Newcastle. The first VT train failed to couple at Chester, so we were loaded onto the ATW shuttle. Having missed my connection at Crewe; the VT person at the customer desk authorised travel via Manchester (on VT and TPE, with a printed & stamped itinerary). Thus saving me a two hour delay if I'd had to stick to my original route.

So yes it 'should' happen; but as yorkie says, no-one can guarantee what will happen in every case.

 

[kieron]

To give a specific example; a couple of months ago I was travelling from Chester to Newcastle with two Advance tickets; Chester to Carlisle (via Crewe) and Carlisle to Newcastle. The first VT train failed to couple at Chester, so we were loaded onto the ATW shuttle.

Did you ask about your journey before leaving Chester? Unless there was engineering works on the Warrington line, Crewe seems a bit of a detour to me. You were no longer travelling on Virgin Trns Only, after all.

 

[transmanche]

To give a specific example; a couple of months ago I was travelling from Chester to Newcastle with two Advance tickets; Chester to Carlisle (via Crewe) and Carlisle to Newcastle. The first VT train failed to couple at Chester, so we were loaded onto the ATW shuttle. Having missed my connection at Crewe; the VT person at the customer desk authorised travel via Manchester (on VT and TPE, with a printed & stamped itinerary.

Did you ask about your journey before leaving Chester? Unless there was engineering works on the Warrington line, Crewe seems a bit of a detour to me. You were no longer travelling on Virgin Trns Only, after all.

The original ticket itinerary was routed via Crewe as that was the quickest journey at that particular time (16:35 from Chester) - the timetable just pans out like that sometimes. (I did ask a VT person on the platform, they suggested taking the ATW to Crewe. I'm glad I did, as I'd have got home two hours late if I'd gone via Warrington. So it saved VT a chunk of RTVs!)

 

[kieron]

The original ticket itinerary was routed via Crewe as that was the quickest journey at that particular time (16:35 from Chester) - the timetable just pans out like that sometimes. (I did ask a VT person on the platform, they suggested taking the ATW to Crewe. I'm glad I did, as I'd have got home two hours late if I'd gone via Warrington. So it saved VT a chunk of RTVs!)

Sorry; I was thinking of the Crewe and Manchester trains going from Chester at somewhere near the same time, but they stop doing this at 4pm.

 

[CockneySparrow]

Peterborough might be a good point for a split, certainly it is if you come from East Anglia

 

[westv]

I suppose I'm a little surprised that there isn't a clear rule regarding split AP tickets and what happens when the service you are booked on is cancelled and the next service doesn't call at the split point - there seem to be rules and regulations for everything else. Is it because split ticketing whilst perfectly legal doesn't quite fit the norm??

 

[Sleepy]

Ticket splitting on non-stop services is starting to be noticed higher up the TOC tree, expect more clueless passengers getting nasty surprise from grippers !