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Split tickets in Trainline app
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Alex365Dash
Member
Given that their help page appears to be only accessible via the link (I also got 'SplitSave' tickets for somewhere I searched for), it's probably a new feature they're quietly introducing. Of course, it's still amazing they added it!
It's been available to selected customers since at least late November.
It will be interesting to see if it can match existing split ticketing providers.
Of course even if Trainline were to match these for price, Trainline's decision not to offer a seat selector could still leave Trainsplit in the lead, due to Trainsplit offering that facility.
But the biggest issue here is that most people who use Trainline are probably unaware that they can get split tickets and seat selection elsewhere; their huge advertising budget makes them a household name. This will massively increase the number of passengers using two or more tickets to make one journey, compared to at present.
Using two or more tickets for one journey is totally legitimate, but it's rather like using route specific tickets (e.g. "via Birmingham") in that it adds restrictions which novice users might struggle to realise exist or understand. Some people are prepared to pay a premium for an "any permitted route" anytime fare and such people are more likely to be Trainline customers.
It will be interesting to see what forum members think of it and it will be interesting to see how train companies react too...
It will be interesting to see if it can match existing split ticketing providers.
Of course even if Trainline were to match these for price, Trainline's decision not to offer a seat selector could still leave Trainsplit in the lead, due to Trainsplit offering that facility.
But the biggest issue here is that most people who use Trainline are probably unaware that they can get split tickets and seat selection elsewhere; their huge advertising budget makes them a household name. This will massively increase the number of passengers using two or more tickets to make one journey, compared to at present.
Using two or more tickets for one journey is totally legitimate, but it's rather like using route specific tickets (e.g. "via Birmingham") in that it adds restrictions which novice users might struggle to realise exist or understand. Some people are prepared to pay a premium for an "any permitted route" anytime fare and such people are more likely to be Trainline customers.
It will be interesting to see what forum members think of it and it will be interesting to see how train companies react too...
I heard this on the news this morning and I see there are several stories online. This is certainly going to make split ticketing very mainstream. I suspect that long term there'll be a couple of possible outcomes:
- The TOCs embrace it and it becomes the norm. It ends up with combinations of Advance fares being issued as one 'through' ticket. Not sure what would happen to walk on tickets though.
- The rail industry cries foul, says ticketing system is arcane, a mess, needs reform etc. Ticketing system gets 'simplified' but results in price rises through the back door, loss of flexibility, compulsory reservations on inter-city services etc.
- The TOCs embrace it and it becomes the norm. It ends up with combinations of Advance fares being issued as one 'through' ticket. Not sure what would happen to walk on tickets though.
- The rail industry cries foul, says ticketing system is arcane, a mess, needs reform etc. Ticketing system gets 'simplified' but results in price rises through the back door, loss of flexibility, compulsory reservations on inter-city services etc.
AnkleBoots
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It's not in their interests to go too far with the splitting, as they will get less commission.
AnkleBoots
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Just did a quick check on the journey suggestions in this thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/london-to-sheffield-8th-feb.197509/
And trainsplit picks up way more cheap options than trainline, even where trainsplit has a higher fee.
And trainsplit picks up way more cheap options than trainline, even where trainsplit has a higher fee.
Wallsendmag
Established Member
Won't it just
Adam Williams
Established Member
Last I checked it was limited to one split point, I believe. So not particularly surprising to me that it does a worse job than the incumbents.
That said, I think they have done a nice job with their app & website's UX.
That said, I think they have done a nice job with their app & website's UX.
brad465
Established Member
This seems to now have made the news today, if it's the same thing: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51077807 (also present on other newspaper websites).
The BBC also has the Didcot split as one of its examples, which is the one I got familiar with while a Bath student as it happens.
The BBC also has the Didcot split as one of its examples, which is the one I got familiar with while a Bath student as it happens.
Andrew1395
Member
Yes, but they are more interested in snuffing out the competition. Anyone who creates a USP in selling tickets will find Trainline after them. Growing the totality of transactions going through trainline will increase their turnover and profits.
paddington
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Once you're aware of other ticketing sites, why would you ever use trainline (website) again? The only people I'm aware who use it are people who are not aware that you can buy tickets elsewhere, or misunderstand trainline's advertising.
I don't know about the app as I don't use apps for purchases where mistakes can be costly.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
I've used the Trainline app for on the day purchases of e-tickets on my phone (they don't charge fees for that). I slightly prefer the Avanti app UI though, even though it does those odd "e-ticket as m-ticket" hybrids. (You still get an actual e-ticket in your email if this is needed for any reason).
Possibly, although ticket sales on Virgin’s website since they lost the franchise aren’t handled by Trainline.
Paul Kelly
Verified Rep - BR Fares
I don't think so, unless the press have got it all wrong - plenty of headlines this morning talking about Trainline "locking horns" with Virgin and suggesting they've rushed this out to pre-empt their plans. Also the new Virgin site is clearly operated by Assertis (a rebadged Traingenius) which again suggests they're unlikely to be working with Trainline.
precursor
/prɪˈkəːsə/
noun
- a person or thing that comes before another of the same kind; a forerunner.
Andrew1395
Member
I dont know the answer. Only to note that many competitors have given up, and Trainline keeps growing. From a financial journal:-
Trading for the nine months to 30 November from Trainline (TRN) saw revenues, (which in the uk is commission and fees for white label sites), jump 26% to £198m, with net ticket sales up 18% at £2.86bn.
The company, which sells train tickets in the UK and across Europe through its website and app, also stuck to its annual guidance given its ‘continuing strong progress’ in its year to date. Revenue growth is expected to be in the ‘low to mid-20% range’ and net ticket sales set to be in the ‘high-teens’ percentage wise.
Analysts at Megabuyte said market consensus for the firm’s full year revenue growth is 25%, implying to £261m. Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) is expected to be £82.6m, which would represent a 57% increase on last year.
Its not cheap being a rail fares retailer; there are many overheads and the rates of commission are small (and have reduced over the years)
Trainline are a household name due to the huge amount of advertising they do; many people dont notice the booking fee or aren't too bothered by it.
Of course most people on this forum know that you can avoid booking fees and even get access to a free seat selector by booking elsewhere, but the average person who isn't particularly price conscious or savvy will just go to a site they have heard of and aren't too fussed if there is a fee
Trainline are a household name due to the huge amount of advertising they do; many people dont notice the booking fee or aren't too bothered by it.
Of course most people on this forum know that you can avoid booking fees and even get access to a free seat selector by booking elsewhere, but the average person who isn't particularly price conscious or savvy will just go to a site they have heard of and aren't too fussed if there is a fee
Go and speak to the average person in the street and they think Trainline is the only place to buy cheap tickets. They have absolutely no idea that they can buy exactly the same tickets from many other retailers. People accept booking fees as they think it’s the norm.
Where I work I’ve acquired a reputation as a rail fares guru, and people and genuinely amazed at my level of knowledge. Much of this is basic stuff, like telling someone who’s got an annual season with a Gold Card that they can get a discount on Off Peak travel in the GC area, informing many about Boundary Zone fares and then the best one of the lot - a colleague commuting from Sussex to City Thameslink, buying an annual Travelcard when a ticket to London Terminals will suffice!
Where I work I’ve acquired a reputation as a rail fares guru, and people and genuinely amazed at my level of knowledge. Much of this is basic stuff, like telling someone who’s got an annual season with a Gold Card that they can get a discount on Off Peak travel in the GC area, informing many about Boundary Zone fares and then the best one of the lot - a colleague commuting from Sussex to City Thameslink, buying an annual Travelcard when a ticket to London Terminals will suffice!
Thats all down to their massive advertising campaign - honestly you dont see much from TOCs themselves on the box anymore and its a shame that Trainsplit cant do much advertising(or i havent seen it if they have) because i use them regularly now.
D365
Veteran Member
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Exactly this. Why would train companies want to provide cheaper fares to Trainline than to their own website or stations?
Adam Williams
Established Member
Some folks definitely prefer the UI and overall booking experience they get - I have some friends in this position (and yes, they know they're often paying more as a result - I've told them!). I think it's important not to underestimate the influence a good UX has, combined with strong marketing. Particularly where the consumers see the fees as inconsequential and don't really care about paying the extra as a result.
On a related note, Trainpal's YouTube advertising has (anecdotally) served them pretty well with getting the name out there.
Solent&Wessex
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I would encourage split ticketing as much as possible, and use it myself regularly.
However, as Yorkie alludes to, Trainline offering splits will dramatically increase the number of people using split tickets. This in itself is no bad thing, BUT, 95% of people buying such tickets from Trainline will not be aware of what they are doing, or any restrictions which may come as a result. Inevitably this will result in more complaints as people may well end up getting charged again for some journeys, simply because they hadn't read or understood what they were doing.
The same can be said for ordinary point to point tickets- it is spectacularly amazing how many people (claim) not to have the faintest idea of the restrictions of their Advance or TOC X Only ticket, I am fairly sure that many people just tap away, see the cheapest price, and buy it, without paying much attention to what it is they are buying.
Split ticketing becoming more common increases the likelihood of the unwary wandering into a situation where they unintentionally end up getting charged extra, because they simply won't have read and understood what they are buying.
Adam Williams
Established Member
This is exacerbated by the UI flow too, I think. The split suggestion just shows automatically without the user performing any positive action to request that the app find split tickets.
The initial modal window that's popped up on the first search doesn't warn of any loss of flexibility - it just states "There's no difference to your journey".
There is some small grey text on the payment page that states "Specified train(s) only.", but this is the only warning users get. I'm not sure I'd blame users unfamiliar with rail ticketing who get it wrong as a result.
Lemmy99uk
Member
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- 5 May 2015
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- 459
I’ve never used a split ticketing site but I have just had a play about as a result of this post.
One thing I’ve noticed is that Trainline offers me split tickets on Avanti services all the way up to mid June whereas Trainsplit won’t allow me to input dates beyond mid April.
If I was to buy a split ticket I would probably head to Trainline for fear that the cheapest tiers would sell out before becoming available elsewhere.
One thing I’ve noticed is that Trainline offers me split tickets on Avanti services all the way up to mid June whereas Trainsplit won’t allow me to input dates beyond mid April.
If I was to buy a split ticket I would probably head to Trainline for fear that the cheapest tiers would sell out before becoming available elsewhere.
Solent&Wessex
Established Member
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I wouldn't blame users either in all cases. The Trainline is very unclear about lots of things, including TOC Only tickets. I have 3 people on my train now, all travelling separately, but all with TOC X Only Anytime tickets purchased from Trainline, all of whom claim they didn't know anything about the tickets being TOC X Only, it didn't say anywhere and it just said is was Anytime so thought that was OK. They aren't valid and aren't desperately happy they have to pay again. Having said that, there are situations where the information is presented and people simply don't read it OR often simply just don't understand it.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
I must admit I have erroneously purchased a TPE Only ticket on the Trainline app - it indeed doesn't make it very clear at all. Fortunately the next train was a TPE.
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