I don’t have a car and travel by train. For bookings, I have become reliant on Trainline (thetrainline.com), but would it be cheaper to buy tickets another way? It’s confusing with so many railway websites.
Jeremy Jackson, Birmingham
Trainline is often cheaper than other booking methods, including rail franchise websites. This is because it operates a SplitSave feature utilising ‘split-ticketing’, a method of buying multiple tickets for a single route.
If this sounds complicated, another way of putting it is: you’re buying several single tickets, rather than one, taking advantage of Britain’s chaotic rail pricing. But you don’t have to get off your train as each ticket ends. You just have different tickets for each segment of the ride. All perfectly legal.
For example, a 4h 57m journey on the 12.03pm from London Paddington to Penzance in Cornwall next month costs from £85.50 via Great Western Railway, the operator (gwr.com). But on Trainline, it’s £82.29 – the underlying ticket (£85.50), plus a booking fee (£2.79), minus £6 of SplitSave.
However, bear in mind these split-ticketing prices are not available for every journey on Trainline – only those marked by a wavy blue-and-white symbol beside the price. But here’s the catch: only a fraction of fares features the symbol – and Trainline won’t divulge the precise percentage. So, going back to the route above when there’s no split-ticket saving, prices are more expensive on Trainline. For Paddington to Penzance, it’s £89.49 with Trainline, above the £86.70 charged by GWR.
A4h 57m journey on the 12.03pm from London Paddington, pictured, to Penzance in Cornwall next month costs from £85.50 via Great Western Railway but on Trainline, it’s £82.29
Trainline says its average SplitSave reduction is £13 – a high figure due to certain off-peak tickets offering big savings. For example, from London Euston to Penrith in Cumbria, a reduction of £30 was available on a Thursday 2.38pm departure next month, meaning the ticket was £59 not £89.
Trainline has other pluses. Its app is extremely user-friendly. You can store tickets in mobile phone wallets. It offers ‘real time’ rail updates. ‘Ticket alerts’ advise on rock bottom fares (usually released 12 weeks ahead). And it has a new AI Agent allowing you to ask: ‘Can I have a refund?’ Then it actions this, if you qualify.
Of course, consult individual rail franchise websites, too, especially regulars who can join loyalty discounts schemes. Also, cross-reference with Trainsplit.com – an excellent website that specialises in split-ticket prices. But Trainline remains a good bet.
Could you suggest some good, affordable Spanish cities for my wife and I, who are fit 70-somethings? We want to stay for a month over winter?
William Andrews, via email
The Plaza de Espana in Seville, which sees average high temperatures of around 16C to 17C from December to February
Seville would make a great choice. It’s in the south and the average high temperature is around 16 to 17C December to February, while it’s 20C in November. A beautiful city with labyrinthine, tapas bar-packed lanes, you also have the magnificent cathedral and intriguing Alcazar to enjoy. There’s a lovely market in the Triana neighbourhood, which would make a good base. A month in an apartment is from £1,740 (airbnb.co.uk). You could also consider Grenada, Almeria and Jerez.
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