Split ticketing gets a lot of coverage but, with flexible working on the rise, anomalies around break of journey (BoJ) rules could also become quite relevant for passengers travelling around the end of morning peak. Similar considerations may also apply to railcard holders with time restrictions.
Before heading any further, it's worth remembering that these thoughts do NOT apply to advance fares as BoJs are not (in general) permitted, and some off peak fares may also prohibit them on either the outbound, return or both legs, so it's everyone's responsibility to check the specifics of the restriction code.
For the illustration, you want to take a journey B -> C but there is a station A before B, and another station D after C.
These are all the cases I can think of, but I'm sure there are others, and any thoughts on the contentious points would be gratefully received.
Before heading any further, it's worth remembering that these thoughts do NOT apply to advance fares as BoJs are not (in general) permitted, and some off peak fares may also prohibit them on either the outbound, return or both legs, so it's everyone's responsibility to check the specifics of the restriction code.
For the illustration, you want to take a journey B -> C but there is a station A before B, and another station D after C.
These are all the cases I can think of, but I'm sure there are others, and any thoughts on the contentious points would be gratefully received.
- Buying a normal ticket from your origin to your destination (B -> C). Definitely fine!
- Buying a ticket from your origin to a station beyond your destination (i.e. B -> D). Still definitely fine
- Buying a ticket from before your origin station to your destination station (i.e. A -> C).
- If the train you board also called at A and it would have been valid for you to join the train at A given the restriction code, this is clearly fine
- If the train you board didn't call at A, or called at A prior to its validity starting, it starts getting a bit more contentious...
- Buying a ticket from A -> D has the same considerations as the above bullet point.
- Rover/ranger tickets covering an area larger than B -> C
- If there is a specific time restriction (or no time restriction), then this simply holds for the journey you actually take
- In some cases, rover tickets are valid from a certain time or when the off-peak return becomes valid, whichever is earlier. In this case, one could argue that the relevant CDR is whichever is most favourable to the consumer within the validity area, incorporating B -> C, while others might argue it's based on the journey you actually take. I'd be interested for any views on this.