{"id":855,"date":"2025-04-21T12:28:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T12:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/?p=855"},"modified":"2025-04-22T12:00:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T12:00:01","slug":"commuters-are-dodging-fares-to-save-50-on-train-tickets-and-its-completely-legit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/21\/commuters-are-dodging-fares-to-save-50-on-train-tickets-and-its-completely-legit\/","title":{"rendered":"Commuters are \u2018dodging\u2019 fares to save \u00a350 on train tickets \u2014 and it\u2019s completely legit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"London\t<\/div>
This hack from London Paddington can save you cash (Picture: In Pictures via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Buying train tickets might seem<\/em> like a simple task, but travellers know just how tricky it can be to get from A to B, without spending a fortune.<\/p>\n

The charity<\/a>, Campaign for Better Transport, has long been calling reform, previously saying: \u2018The rail<\/a> fares system is riddled with absurd inconsistencies which makes buying a train ticket<\/a> time-consuming and complicated.\u2019<\/p>\n

One way that travellers<\/a> have been attempting to save money is by purchasing split tickets<\/a>, which is when you buy tickets for individual segments of a journey, rather than one, straight through ticket \u2014 which is often more expensive. <\/p>\n

While there are many instances of how split-ticketing can save you cash across the UK network, there\u2019s one split-trip that you can\u2019t afford not to know about.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re travelling from London to Bristol<\/a>, don\u2019t forget the \u2018Didcot dodge\u2019, which has been called a \u2018classic example\u2019 of split-ticketing by travellers on X.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Broad\t<\/div>
Get to Bristol for \u00a350 cheaper (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While some jokingly say it \u2018sounds like a 1920s dance move\u2019, this tip can save you big bucks. Rather than buying one single ticket from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, buy one ticket from the capital to Didcot Parkway, and then a second ticket onwards to Bristol.<\/p>\n

It means that, instead of paying \u00a3138.70 for an Anytime Day Single fare, utilising the Didcot Dodge means you\u2019ll pay just \u00a383.80 for the same journey on the same dates (we checked for travel on Thursday May 1, departing at 7.57am).<\/p>\n

A ticket on the same train to Didcot Parkway will set you back \u00a343 from Paddington, and it\u2019s a further \u00a343.80 onward to Bristol.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a pretty impressive saving of \u00a354.90.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, you don\u2019t even have to change trains. You just need to make sure that you\u2019re booking onto a train that does actually stop at Didcot Parkway (as there are some faster trains that don\u2019t).<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Cavalier\t<\/div>
The Didcot Dodge is a favourite among train travellers (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While it might feel like you\u2019re doing something illegal, we promise it\u2019s all legit. The reason for Didcot Dodge is due to the fact that the line that runs from Didcot to Bristol is considered to be a \u2018regional\u2019 service, on which fares are kept lower, compared to those trains that travel to London. <\/p>\n

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