Split Ticketing with railcards

[Miles Bown]

Hello, long-time lurker here, but I have a question. On most split ticketing websites (or all that I've tried, including the forum's own which I have otherwise found to be very good), railcard discounts are automatically applied to every passenger in the journey, and there seems no option to change it. Additionally, you can't apply different railcard discounts to each passenger. This doesn't seem a problem on traditional ticket engines, where multiple railcards can be selected.

Is there a reason for this, and is there any way around it? I suppose each passenger could be booked separately, but this is quite inconvenient especially with reservations and the like. Thank you for your help!

 

[Haywain]

I think you'll find that it's not a problem of split ticketing, as your heading suggests, but of many websites for non-split tickets as well. I guess it's the additional development that would be required to cater for multiple different railcards that is the problem, as you would need to be able to provide breakdowns of fares at various points. There also used to be issues of reserving seats together when such a mix was involved, but that may have been part of the old reservation system that's now been replaced.

 

[AlterEgo]

The forum's site will let you select specific seats off a map with each transaction so you can sit together.

 

[Haywain]

The forum's site will let you select specific seats off a map with each transaction so you can sit together.

Indeed, but it can be a hassle to do that sort of thing if you've booked for several people with different railcards.

 

[Miles Bown]

I think you'll find that it's not a problem of split ticketing, as your heading suggests, but of many websites for non-split tickets as well. I guess it's the additional development that would be required to cater for multiple different railcards that is the problem, as you would need to be able to provide breakdowns of fares at various points. There also used to be issues of reserving seats together when such a mix was involved, but that may have been part of the old reservation system that's now been replaced.

Thanks, it seems odd since it works perfectly fine on some other websites (I usually use lner), especially since the railcard discount is usually the same no matter the type of railcard, and the forum website has no problem buying two tickets with the same railcard discount. As you say, booking separately isn't really worth it at that point so I suppose I'll stick to non-split tickets for journeys with multiple people, especially if they're less savvy than me, which is a shame as otherwise the savings can be quite considerable. That being said, i don't see why it couldn't be fixed since it's not an issue in some places, but I digress.

 

[OscarH]

Multiple railcards and split tickets is a rather complex problem, particularly if you're doing splits "properly" not limited to one or two splits. They make an already large search space much larger.

That isn't to say people aren't working on it, but that's why you're less likely to see multiple railcard support with splits.

 

[30907]

Thanks, it seems odd since it works perfectly fine on some other websites (I usually use lner), especially since the railcard discount is usually the same no matter the type of railcard, and the forum website has no problem buying two tickets with the same railcard discount. As you say, booking separately isn't really worth it at that point so I suppose I'll stick to non-split tickets for journeys with multiple people, especially if they're less savvy than me, which is a shame as otherwise the savings can be quite considerable.

Alternatively, you could research the splits yourself (using hints from a split ticketing website, and even making them a small donation) and book on a site that allows multiple railcards in one transaction.

 

[Haywain]

even making them a small donation

How?

 

[30907]

How?

Isn't that possible via the website?

 

[MrJeeves]

Isn't that possible via the website?

If you book with the forum's site, you can donate to the forum. You definitely can't just donate to TrainSplit!

If you wanted to do this, the logical approach would be two (or more) searches and add them all to your basket and then check out.

Alternatively, you could research the splits yourself (using hints from a split ticketing website [...])

I don't think it counts as "hints" when you just take the point-to-point destinations as gospel and just buy them on another retailer!

 

[Adam Williams]

You definitely can't just donate to TrainSplit!

Might I suggest an alternative? Sending good-quality cider to the Raileasy office in Snaresbrook, marked "FAO Adam"

 

[MrJeeves]

Might I suggest an alternative? Sending good-quality cider to the Raileasy office in Snaresbrook, marked "FAO Adam"

Only if you share.

 

[js517]

Only if you share.

Raileasy encourages responsible drinking.