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[Llanigraham]

Since an open return was the only thing suitable for the person I was buying that ticket for, and personally would be the same for me when I attend meetings and don't know when they are likely to finish, I'm afraid you've lost a customer.
And I do think it might be useful if there was a note on the website stating that open returns are not available (yet)

 

[Watershed]

Since an open return was the only thing suitable for the person I was buying that ticket for, and personally would be the same for me when I attend meetings and don't know when they are likely to finish, I'm afraid you've lost a customer.
And I do think it might be useful if there was a note on the website stating that open returns are not available (yet)

If you only want a through ticket and aren't interested in splits, you could disable split ticketing (click the "X" next to "Use Split Tickets") and enter any day for the return journey that's at least a day later. This would then only return through tickets - to see only walk-up tickets, click "Flexible" in the search results.

Obviously it's not quite as easy as just selecting "open return", but the nuanaces of split ticketing do make that difficult to implement.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Just tried to use but not possible to alter the time of travel and as the default showing for the outward journey is 23:15 it, unsurprisingly, can't find any trains for my journey.
Anyone got any ideas?
If it helps my journey was Northampton to Whitehaven out 9th May return 15th May.

 

[yorkie]

Since an open return was the only thing suitable for the person I was buying that ticket for, and personally would be the same for me when I attend meetings and don't know when they are likely to finish, I'm afraid you've lost a customer.
And I do think it might be useful if there was a note on the website stating that open returns are not available (yet)

If your definition of 'open return' is a return ticket which is not tied to a specific train, but may require the return journey to be made on the same day (i.e. the same definition as Trainline and many other retailers use), then you are offered such tickets simply by using the "Flexible" option.

If you further want to avoid any possibly of having to call at any given station, you can turn splits off.

Providing you are on the flexible tab, not fixed, then there is no availablity issue and it's just a matter of terminology. If anyone has any suggestions on how to change the terminology, I am sure the team would consider any such suggestions.

 

[Adam Williams]

Just tried to use but not possible to alter the time of travel and as the default showing for the outward journey is 23:15 it, unsurprisingly, can't find any trains for my journey.

"Not possible to alter time of travel" - what?

 

[yorkie]

Just tried to use but not possible to alter the time of travel and as the default showing for the outward journey is 23:15 it, unsurprisingly, can't find any trains for my journey.
Anyone got any ideas?
If it helps my journey was Northampton to Whitehaven out 9th May return 15th May.

Can you provide a screenshot and/or provide a bit more detail please? Were you trying to alter the outward or return journey time, and what to?

 

[infobleep]

Only the train(s) for which the counted place reservation (or actual seat reservations for non-WMT TOCs) for the ticket in question was made will be encoded into the E-Ticket barcode payload as itinerary legs.

So as much as I would usually strongly caution against doing this, if you don't like the non-mandatory parts of the itinerary being shown on the ticket, I don't think it would be wrong under these very specific circumstances to go as far as altering the PDF accordingly - no need to ToD.

Of course, it's swings and roundabouts - sometimes having the full itinerary there can be incredibly helpful when travelling on less-than-obviously-valid journeys.

I don't have the software available to change the PDF but I know I could get such software if I wished and would be able to figure it out. Not that I'm intending too.

Regardless of what the CoCs say, does anyone know anyone bothers to actually enforce advance restrictions on these services that (in theory) don't have advance tickets? My guess is no, especially because most of the time the ticket inspector is just going to scan the barcode (which doesn't have the restriction encoded) and not look at the itinerary, which may not even be visible on the same screen in some apps (eg Apple Wallet).

I did wonder this.

Depends on whether they have the facilities to scan the Aztec code (not all members of staff who check tickets do), and whether they take any sort of detailed look at it.

On the way up my ticket was only checked between Crewe and Manchester and that was a paper one.

On the way back it was Manchester to Crewe. Crewe to Milton Keynes and at London Blackfaires, which led me to wonder about eTicket info when scanned.

The Blackfairs bit was only due to a power failure. The silver lining was I got to travel on the St Albans Abbey line for the first time and then pass the disused St Albans (London Road) Station whilst walking.

@infobleep can you send me a direct message with concise and precise details of your query please? I will then look into it. Thanks

Thanks I will do that.

 

[Cornish Pasty]

Hi. I am trying to book tickets through the site St Austell to Heathrow T5 and return. When I try to change the allocated seats it is not accepting any choice I make.

Are there restrictions on where you can sit?

There are 2 of us and we like to sit opposite each other over a table.

Thanks

 

[yorkie]

Hi. I am trying to book tickets through the site St Austell to Heathrow T5 and return. When I try to change the allocated seats it is not accepting any choice I make.

Are there restrictions on where you can sit?

There are 2 of us and we like to sit opposite each other over a table.

Thanks

Which day/time are you looking at?

It may not always be possible to change seats, for example if you gaev the last tickets at that price tier.

 

[Cornish Pasty]

Out on 2/6/23 @ 1011 return 22/6 @ 1130 2 adults 2 together railcard 1st class.

Thanks for your help

PS I've just booked tickets on the site for next week with no problem thanks.

 

[yorkie]

Out on 2/6/23 @ 1011 return 22/6 @ 1130 2 adults 2 together railcard 1st class.

Thanks for your help

PS I've just booked tickets on the site for next week with no problem thanks.

There are different options depending on the route you take (i.e. whether you double back via Paddington) but I had the same issue even when selecting flexible fares (error: " Received HTTP UnprocessableEntity") on both legs so I don't think it's an advance availability issue.

 

[Cornish Pasty]

Thanks for looking Yorkie.
I was looking at up changing RDG and Hayes/Harlington arriving 1535 and back Railair to RDG then SA arriving 1608.

 

[Llanigraham]

If your definition of 'open return' is a return ticket which is not tied to a specific train, but may require the return journey to be made on the same day (i.e. the same definition as Trainline and many other retailers use), then you are offered such tickets simply by using the "Flexible" option.

If you further want to avoid any possibly of having to call at any given station, you can turn splits off.

Providing you are on the flexible tab, not fixed, then there is no availablity issue and it's just a matter of terminology. If anyone has any suggestions on how to change the terminology, I am sure the team would consider any such suggestions.

Not being a ticket "anorak" I understood the word "Flexible" to mean that a ticket bought under that heading would be a ticket that was flexible in use, and therefore not tied to a particular time or train. Obviously I was wrong. That is where I think an explanation is needed.

I needed an "open return" because the person I was buying the ticket for did not know exactly when she would be returning home.

 

[yorkie]

Not being a ticket "anorak" I understood the word "Flexible" to mean that a ticket bought under that heading would be a ticket that was flexible in use, and therefore not tied to a particular time or train. Obviously I was wrong. That is where I think an explanation is needed.

No that is correct.

I needed an "open return" because the person I was buying the ticket for did not know exactly when she would be returning home.

The term "open return", as applied by booking sites that use that option, results in tickets being offered that are under the category of "flexible"; the only difference being that you do need to click on an itinerary.

Choosing an itinerary on flexible fares does not in any way mean you are bound by that itinerary; you just need to comply with the ticket conditions.

Other interpretations of the term "open return" do exist (the term is ambiguous) but they are different to how booking engines use that term, so if you have a different idea about what that option means, then websites that do have that option don't actually do what you think they do; see this thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...-being-valid-for-one-day.217813/#post-5153980

 

[Benjwri]

Not being a ticket "anorak" I understood the word "Flexible" to mean that a ticket bought under that heading would be a ticket that was flexible in use, and therefore not tied to a particular time or train. Obviously I was wrong. That is where I think an explanation is needed.

I needed an "open return" because the person I was buying the ticket for did not know exactly when she would be returning home.

Calling it flexible seems a better way to make it clear you still need to use the split points. The term open return could come across as meaning you can take the fastest direct route on the return.

 

[Adam Williams]

Calling it flexible seems a better way to make it clear you still need to use the split points. The term open return could come across as meaning you can take the fastest direct route on the return.

When open returns are added, they'll be through tickets, and the customer will be able to choose the route/time restrictions that suit them

 

[Cornish Pasty]

Is there a customer services number I can ring to try and sort out my query please?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Can you provide a screenshot and/or provide a bit more detail please? Were you trying to alter the outward or return journey time, and what to?

I am not sure what further information you require. It usnit possible for me to alter the time for either departure or return date.

 

[yorkie]

I am not sure what further information you require. It usnit possible for me to alter the time for either departure or return date.View attachment 134329

Thanks for the screenshot; what sort of device are you using? Do you get the same result when using a different device or a different web browser on the same device?

 

[Adam Williams]

I am not sure what further information you require. It usnit possible for me to alter the time for either departure or return date.View attachment 134329

Further information required: What happens when you click the dropdown with label "00" or "15"?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Thanks for the screenshot; what sort of device are you using? Do you get the same result when using a different device or a different web browser on the same device?

Samsung Tablet. A running android version 10.

Thanks to questions from @yorkie we have an answer. It works using Firefox but not Chrome.

Using Chrome no drop down box appears for the time, it just defaults to a time and cannot be changed.

 

[jrh2254]

I already have a trainsplit account. Is it the same log in details or do I have to set up a brand new account ? Thanks.

 

[Mike395]

I already have a trainsplit account. Is it the same log in details or do I have to set up a brand new account ? Thanks.

The same login details can be used with RailUK Tickets too

 

[jrh2254]

The same login details can be used with RailUK Tickets too

Thanks just booked southampton central to durham return (out 11th july, rtn 13th july, 2 people , twotogether railcard) for £139.79
This included a share of savings fee of £2.79
However I did notice a price of £125.30 for a train 30 minutes later (out) with no fee but the arrival time didnt work. Just intrigued that one included a fee and one didnt and the one that didnt seemed just as 'split' ! But it showed no split saving !

 

[ABB125]

However I did notice a price of £125.30 for a train 30 minutes later (out) with no fee but the arrival time didnt work. Just intrigued that one included a fee and one didnt and the one that didnt seemed just as 'split' ! But it showed no split saving !

That sounds like it might be a route that isn't permitted on a through ticket. A (completely hypothetical) example of this might be Warrington to Newcastle: travel via Edinburgh is not permitted on a through ticket, but it's possible that TrainSplit might find a cheaper option involving splitting that does go via Edinburgh. In this case, there's no through fare to compare the saving to, hence no share of saving.
(It is, of course, entirely possible that there's another reason. But without knowing any details, this seems the most likely option.)

 

[Haywain]

Used the site for the first time today, and I have to say that it makes a pleasant change to be able to make a booking and then set up an account without having to enter all my details multiple times.

 

[jrh2254]

That sounds like it might be a route that isn't permitted on a through ticket. A (completely hypothetical) example of this might be Warrington to Newcastle: travel via Edinburgh is not permitted on a through ticket, but it's possible that TrainSplit might find a cheaper option involving splitting that does go via Edinburgh. In this case, there's no through fare to compare the saving to, hence no share of saving.
(It is, of course, entirely possible that there's another reason. But without knowing any details, this seems the most likely option.)

This was it : the £139.79 was the one I purchased, the £125.30 was with no fee.

 

[ABB125]

View attachment 134397

This was it : the £139.79 was the one I purchased, the £125.30 was with no fee.

Interesting - it seems to be only that 1030 itinerary which doesn't have a through fare comparison, yet it's definitely a permitted route. I wonder if it's something to do with part of the journey being on Grand Central - do they accept Two Together railcards?

 

[jrh2254]

Interesting - it seems to be only that 1030 itinerary which doesn't have a through fare comparison, yet it's definitely a permitted route. I wonder if it's something to do with part of the journey being on Grand Central - do they accept Two Together railcards?

I would have thought all rail companies accepted two together railcards , including grand central . Would appreciate other forum members comments? Many thanks.

 

[ABB125]

I would have thought all rail companies accepted two together railcards , including grand central .

Having now checked, Grand Central do indeed accept the Two Together railcard.

Would appreciate other forum members comments? Many thanks.

As would I - I'm now curious as to the reason!