How the train fare comparison works
Through cost = (through ticket price + booking fee) x journeys. Split cost = (first ticket + second ticket + two booking fees) x journeys. The saving is the through cost minus the split cost, so a positive figure means the two separate tickets are cheaper for the travel you entered.
The fee is charged once per ticket, which is why a split journey pays it twice. When your retailer charges no fee, enter zero and the comparison reduces to ticket prices alone. All amounts are calculated in whole pence from quotes with at most two decimal places.
Worked example
A through ticket costs 24.50 and the two legs cost 12.00 and 10.00, with no booking fee. For 10 single journeys the through tickets total 245.00 and the separate tickets total 220.00. The saving is 25.00, or 2.50 per journey, which is 10.2% of the through cost.
These prices are illustrative. Substitute the quotes you are actually offered for the dates, times and train companies you intend to use.
When a split ticket is valid
A split journey is only usable when the train calls at the station where you change tickets and both tickets cover the same date and time restrictions. An advance ticket tied to one service cannot be used on a different train, and a split that breaks a connection may leave you without a valid ticket for part of the trip.
Check the conditions attached to each ticket before relying on the saving. This calculator compares prices you supply; it does not check route validity, operator restrictions, seat reservations or whether the train stops where your tickets divide.
Booking fees and refunds
Some retailers charge a fee per transaction rather than per ticket, and some charge none for certain ticket types. Enter the fee that actually applies to your purchase, not a typical or advertised figure. A fee that applies once per transaction should be entered once and then compared with a single through purchase.
Refund and change fees are not modelled. A cheaper split ticket that cannot be refunded may cost more than a flexible through ticket if your plans change, so compare the conditions as well as the headline price.
Limits of this comparison
The calculator assumes both options cover exactly the same travel and are bought at the same time. It does not combine Railcard discounts, season tickets, group discounts or cashback, and it does not compare more than two separate tickets.
For a pass covering repeated travel, use the season ticket calculator instead. For a London journey priced by fare and daily cap, use the TfL fare calculator.
For repeated travel on one route, compare a pass quote with the UK season ticket calculator.
For dollar fares and US terminology, use the US train fare calculator.
Inputs for the train fare calculator
Single journeys compared
Count each one-way trip once. A return journey is two single journeys, so enter 2 for a single return trip.
Through ticket price per journey
Enter the quoted price of one ticket that covers the whole journey from origin to destination.
First separate ticket price
Enter the quote for the first part of the journey bought on its own ticket.
Second separate ticket price
Enter the quote for the remaining part, bought as a separate ticket for the same date.
Booking fee per ticket
Enter the fee charged for each ticket issued. Use zero when the retailer charges no fee.
CALCULATOR QUESTIONS
UK train fare calculator questions
Does this find cheaper train fares for me?
No. It compares the prices you enter. You need a through quote and two separate leg quotes for the same journey, date and time restrictions.
Why do booking fees matter so much?
A split journey needs two tickets, so a per-ticket fee is charged twice. A small saving on the ticket price can disappear once both fees are added.
Can I split a journey more than once?
This page compares one through ticket with exactly two separate tickets. More splits need a separate comparison for each combination.
Is a split ticket always valid on the train?
Only if the train calls at the split station and each ticket covers your travel. Check the ticket conditions before you buy.