Virgin Trains Ticketing has launched a new app function that can provide rail customers with spilt fare options up to 78% cheaper than full price rates.

While indirect journey options have long been known to savvy travellers who are willing to research and book each individual leg of their journey, this is the first time a rail retailer has done the legwork - offering these cheaper, indirect routes in one, simple, clickable transaction.

The national train ticketing retailer, which first launched in 2021, is now enabling customers to book split journeys on a single transaction across Great Britain, giving those who are willing to travel for longer, the option to choose a cheaper, indirect route.

The changes will see some customers save more than £90 one-way on some journeys.

Using some of the most travelled routes as an example, the new technology means that customers can now save up to 78% on their tickets by booking through Virgin Trains Ticketing, with cheaper, indirect journeys now showing as an option on a third of searches for peak morning departures.

The new indirect journey options are available just in time for Christmas, when many travellers will have more time to spare or can be flexible about their arrival or departure times, and would welcome a cheaper fare, even if it means taking a longer route to visit friends and family.

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Mark Plowright, director of Virgin Trains Ticketing, says: “We don’t charge booking fees, we offer split ticketing and passengers have earned millions of Virgin Points with us since 2021. In the past 18 months alone, we’ve saved passengers nearly £2 million on their train tickets.

“The bigger picture is that the UK needs a simpler rail fares system and ‘hacks’ like split ticketing are a sticking plaster rather than a long-term solution. But while we wait for fares reform, Virgin Trains Ticketing continues to find new ways to help customers get more value from their train journeys.

"This new technology is all about choice. It means we can serve customers who have more flexible schedules with cheaper travel options, up to 78% in some cases - that’s a £90 saving on some journeys. Passengers can also get double points on all journeys booked before 15 December.”

How does split ticketing work on train journeys?

  • London to Stockport (indirect via Crewe) £26.20, arriving at 11:26am versus £117.70 on a direct train with an arrival time of 09:09am. That’s a 78% saving.
  • Wilmslow to London (indirect via Crewe) £48.00 arriving at 10:24 am versus £144.40 on a direct train with an arrival time of 9:35am. That’s a 67% saving.
  • Derby to London (indirect via Tamworth) £55.70 arriving at 10:24am versus £93.80 on a direct train with the closest arrival time of 9:25am. That’s a 40% saving.